Sustainable houses have been a growing trend among homeowners in the recent past. Homebuyers consider sustainable features in a home before making a decision to buy. Some states are also offering tax credits on home’s energy efficiency.
So, why all the hype about sustainable houses? Why are they so important?
Ideally, building sustainable houses, also known as green building, is a building concept that seeks to be more environmentally friendly during construction and the entire lifespan of the house. It seeks to save natural resources usage and reduce material wastage during construction, as well as increase efficiency in the usage of the home. It also uses materials that reduce carbon print in the environment and are more durable, eliminating the need for regular replacements.
Here is why it is important to design a sustainable house.
- Saving the environment
We are living in an era where we can clearly see and feel the adverse effects of global warming. For any environmentally conscious person, conserving the environment should be a top priority. Notably, a bigger percentage of natural resources go into manufacturing building materials, designing, and constructing houses. In addition, upon completion, these houses continue the consumption of these resources in daily operations.
By using recycled materials, water-saving showers, renewable energy, and the like, sustainable houses reduce this usage by a large percentage. In addition, using durable materials in construction reduces the waste that goes into landfills during renovations and repairs.
- Cleaner indoor air
The indoor air that we breathe plays a part in our health. When the air is clean, it reduces the possibility of contracting diseases. In addition, it calms the mind, reducing stress, and enhancing mental health. Sustainable buildings use construction supplies with little or no harmful chemicals, thus improving indoor air quality.
To enhance quality air further, you can use indoor plants for your décor. These are also known to purify the air by removing harmful toxins. If you are worried about your plants getting enough sunlight, you can supplement it using LED grow lights. These lights have a technology that mimics the sun spectrum, providing the plants with all light requirements.
- Lower utility bills
Utility bills contribute a huge share in the total operational costs of a home. These costs are greatly reduced in a sustainable home. For starters, most use renewable solar energy, lowering utility bills in a home. The houses are also fitted with water-efficient plumbing and water-saving appliances to reduce water usage in the home. For those who are able to drill a well, water bills become a thing of the past.
In addition, the technique used in constructing sustainable houses eliminates leakage of heat in and out of the house. The technology incorporates green features such as the sealed attic, closed foam insulation, and low-emissivity windows. This means that the houses retain heat during winter and keeps heat away during summer, which reduces HVAC expenses by a huge percentage. In fact, this idea of sustainable homes is becoming also appealing for hotels. Many family vacation rentals are now starting to practice this, as it lowering their costs, and at the same time bringing them more business because people are now favoring more environmentally-friendly methods.
- Low maintenance
Simply put, sustainability means something that lasts. This only goes to say that a sustainable house is built to serve your family for several generations. The materials are durable and easy to maintain- talk of pine floors, hardwoods, and the like. That means that maintenance costs are minimal throughout the lifespan of the building.
In addition, durability and low maintenance are factors that homebuyers look for when buying properties. These two can greatly increase the resale value of the house.
- A wider selection of designs
People have different interests and likes when it comes to house designs. If you are in the real estate business, you want to increase the number of house sales. Having houses in a variety of designs and fashions increases the number of prospects.
Besides being aesthetically beautiful compared to other houses, sustainable house designs come in a variety of shapes to choose from. Some of the common shapes in the market include tree houses, round homes, straw bale houses, domes, and earthships among others.
Conclusion
Considering all the features included in sustainable houses, it tends to be expensive to set up. However, with low maintenance and utility expenses, the cost pays for itself in the long run. Furthermore, besides allowing the occupants to live a healthier and happier life, it allows the chance to be kind to the environment by using green features and reducing wastage.
Thanks for the blog. I have been looking for a good blog on sustainable house designs for quite a while and was pleasantly surprised to have come across yours. This blog will definitely help me to keep up to date with the latest topics related to sustainable homes. You have explained each and every point in a very informative way. Keep up the good work.