Essential Design Elements That Make A Home Sustainable

Sustainability is emerging as a popular home design trend. Whether you build from scratch or upgrade your living space, you will probably want to focus on the goal of sustainable and energy-efficient living space. Thankfully, a careful choice of materials and design can go a long way in helping you create a sustainable, healthy home and also protect you from ever-rising energy bills in the long run. Although a design and architecture specialist can help you with these choices, it makes sense to do some research on sustainable homes at your end. Here are some design elements to prioritize if you want to build a green living space.

Pick the right location

When it comes to sustainability in home design, the location can make all the difference. One that is close to your workplace and other amenities can save you a lot in terms of fuel costs and reduce your carbon footprint as well. The home’s orientation is also significant to deliver the advantage of passive heating and cooling. The idea is to maximize natural sunlight and heat for the place in the winter months. Similarly, the presence of foliage around the house can help maintain cooler temperatures during summers.

Invest in enough insulation

Although passive heating and cooling can do their bit in making your place sustainable, you cannot overlook the value of insulation in design. Incorporating more insulation in the structural elements such as the roof, walls, and floor can go a long way in retaining heat and making the house sustainable. Cutting corners on insulation may save you some dollars on construction, but you will have to pay a lot more with heating and cooling bills later.

Go the extra mile with energy-efficiency

It is easy to go the extra mile with energy-efficiency in design by settling for one with fewer gaps in the structural envelope. Although you must have enough ventilation, it must be only as much as you require. Proper air tightness exerts less pressure on your heating system during the freezing months. You can Read more about avoiding a no-heat emergency during winters because a system running awry or out of fuel can push back your sustainability initiatives. Ensure that it is well-maintained to run optimally without consuming a lot of heating fuel.

Stick to green materials

Apart from sustainability with design, you also need to be careful with the choice of the materials you use for the construction and decor of your living space. Pay attention to their origin, source, and the length of transport. Essentially, green materials are the locally-sourced ones that reduce emissions from transportation. Also, look for eco-friendly options, such as engineered timber, low-VOC paints and adhesive, and natural, renewable materials like cork and bamboo.

Sustainability is an excellent choice for homeowners who want to do their bit for the environment. It doesn’t cost a fortune but can make a great deal of difference to making the world a better place to live in. Embracing these design ideas can be the first step you can take towards a more conscious lifestyle.