Sustainable Home Design

Sustainable homes are properties that have fewer negative effects on the environment compared to regular houses. There are numerous ways to make a home eco-friendly. If you want to find out the sustainability solutions that make a home design green, you can read this article.

Size and Layout of the House

The size of the footprint, and the floor layout are very important factors for a sustainable home design. When a house is smaller, energy usage becomes more efficient. Because a smaller house becomes warmer and brighter when it gets daylight. So, for energy efficiency, you should consider a smaller footprint.
Apart from the size of your home, you should consider the floor layout for energy efficiency. A well-designed compact floor plan can be heated easily. However, a very wide and spread-out design would cause trouble in heating and lighting. Besides, you should also pay attention to the orientation of the building. When the building faces south and gets more daylight, it would be easier to reduce energy usage. All of these factors demonstrate that daylight is essential for energy efficiency.

Local and Recycled Materials for Construction

A sustainable design covers all the aspects of a building, including the construction phase. During construction, the local and recycled materials should be used for an eco-friendly design. Recycled glass, recycled metals and tile, reclaimed bricks and reclaimed wood are perfect for green construction. In addition to that, roofs and roof shingles can be made out of recycled materials as well.

Preferring local materials is also beneficial. In this way, the need for shipping and long distance transportation is eliminated. Besides, local materials are more efficient because they respond better to the local conditions. So, they tend to be more sustainable and resistant.

Finally, for sustainability, there are some materials that need to be avoided, which are called Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC) that are unhealthy to inhale. There are many VOC-free paints and carpets in the market for a healthier indoor environment.

Limiting the Energy Consumption

For a sustainable home design, there are numerous ways to limit energy consumption. Since HVAC (Heating Ventilation Air Conditioning) is highly important in energy consumption, you need to be aware of that. To limit the usage of HVAC, you should start using smart thermostats. Also, you should buy pieces of equipment that run efficiently with an Energy Star rating. So, you should search for them while shopping.

Another solution that restricts the consumption of energy is the window and door selection. This technology keeps the home warmer during winter and cooler during summer. So, the need for HVAC usage is reduced. There are many Energy Star double-pane and triple-pane windows in the market. You should decide on one of them based on your needs and budget.

Through sustainable home design solutions, you can reduce the negative impact you have on the environment. By being aware and applying the solutions, it is possible for us to live in a more sustainable environment.