Building an Eco-Friendly House 101: From Hiring a Contractor to Decor Styles

Building an Eco-Friendly House 101: From Hiring a Contractor to Decor Styles

Great architecture and clever design has always been on high demand, but what if now we can take the best practices of residential design and apply them with sustainability principles? Many local governments are supporting eco house designs and floor plans that allow homebuilders to use advanced construction technology and create sustainable and low-impact homes. Eco-friendly practices can be applied in a variety of ways – through reducing waste during the construction, choosing sustainable and locally sourced materials, or even orienting your home to make the most out of passive cooling and heating. If you want to make your new home more sustainable, here are some ideas to consider.

Designs that Reduce Energy Use

A well-designed home has many ways of reducing its dependence on coal-powered electricity. This may include increasing the natural light with skylights or highlight windows, using energy-efficient LED fixtures, as well as WELS rated water fixtures and hot water-saving systems. Also, no matter how sustainable your building materials, a larger home will always have a worse energy footprint. This doesn't mean you have to restrict yourself at all costs, just be more thoughtful about the space that is available and that you need. Planning your eco house design with your lifestyle in mind is probably the best way when shopping for the design.

Make Your Roof Cooler

The materials you use for the roof can make a huge difference in your homes energy dependence. You should choose a product that reflects the suns energy from the roof, cools faster at night, and holds less heat for less time. Slate, terra cotta, white tiles, and special reflecting membranes, as well as metal roofing, are often cited as popular eco-friendly options. They are typically more expensive upfront, but you’ll recoup those costs through energy savings. A living roof allows you to hold plants that grow on the roof to catch and filter rainwater while providing excellent insulation to your home. While these green roofs are nowadays mostly used in commercial buildings, they are suitable for residential roofs as well.

Choose an Optimum Insurance Package

Although sustainable homes are in many ways different from regular ones, they are still liable to more-less the same insurance obligations. Some argue that finding the right home insurance is even more important in passive homes, as the value of advanced products such as smart home technology, and even rooftop solar panels need to be covered. Much of the sustainable materials you’ll use inside are naturally-sourced, which are often neither fire-proof nor watertight. When shopping for the right insurance package for your passive home, choose a provider that allows you to tailor your policy to your needs and budget.

Apply Passive Design Principles

Passive design refers to a set of sustainable building measures that rely on local climate and site conditions to maintain a comfortable temperature at home. While in traditional homes about 40% of the household’s entire energy usage is dedicated to heating and cooling, with passive design principles, this amount can be reduced to almost zero. This means that first and foremost, careful attention is given to the home’s position and orientation. In the southern hemisphere, eco houses designs and floorplans make most of the north aspect, harnessing the power of the sun. While in the summer this can be moderated with various shadings and overhangs, in winter this orientation allows deep sun penetration. To keep inside temperatures more stable, homeowners might use elements of higher thermal insulation, such as double- or triple-glazed windows, or natural cross-ventilation.

Use Sustainable Materials

To build and furnish a more sustainable home, you should consider materials that are recyclable, reconstituted, or sustainably harvested/produced. Aluminum takes a lot of energy to produce but can be recycled over and over again. It’s important to extend the sustainable theme beyond the construction and make sure that every part of your house including cabinets, counters, insulation, floor covering, and even furniture is environmentally friendly. Some eco-conscious furniture manufacturers use reclaimed or recycled wood, glass, and iron. Wood is a popular reclaimed material as it retains its durability over the years even if mishandled. Other sustainable materials include bamboo, cork, and linoleum, all of which are natural, highly-renewable materials.

By their very nature, homes aren’t very environmentally friendly – a lot of energy is wasted in hauling the materials to the site, not to mention the construction waste, and all the industrial-grade materials that go into an average home. However, each of us can make an impact and minimize our footprint by using design, products, and practices that are sustainable, and created with water and energy saving in mind while reducing wastage and pollution.

Guest Contributor, Tracy Clayton