When people think of sustainable home design, many tend to envision small homes set back into nature or modern yurts made out of recycled shipping containers – but those aren’t the only styles worth considering!
Minimalist decor, non-toxic paints and adhesives, organic fabrics, and renewable insulation are all eco-friendly construction materials that offer exceptional construction quality. Solar panels, geothermal heating and cooling systems, low flow plumbing fixtures and drought resistant native landscaping all help minimize energy use and costs while improving construction quality.
Energy Efficiency
Energy efficiency is one of the cornerstones of sustainable home design. Reducing fossil fuel dependence and climate change while simultaneously cutting expenses and ecological footprint are just two advantages gained through its implementation.
Installing energy-efficient appliances is an affordable and effective way to increase the energy efficiency of your home. Keep an eye out for appliances bearing the ENERGY STAR label to find energy saving appliances.
Landscaping and outdoor spaces can help make your home more eco-friendly, such as by installing native plants with permeable surfaces to reduce water usage and runoff while creating habitat for local wildlife. Furthermore, planting food forests could supply hyper-local fresh produce. Integrating sustainable features early in the design process makes them simpler to implement during construction – saving both money and time!
Water Conservation
Water conservation is an integral component of sustainable home design. Water resources are becoming scarcer worldwide, so effective conservation practices can help alleviate future shortages.
Water efficiency can also be achieved using appliances such as energy-efficient dishwashers and washing machines, low-flow showerheads and water aerators. Utilizing natural lighting and eco-friendly finishes in interior spaces are additional ways to conserve both energy and water resources.
Landscaping water efficiency can be achieved using drought-tolerant plants, succulents, and grass alternatives that require less maintenance. Earthship homes provide another great example of sustainability as they harvest their own water while simultaneously creating energy from solar panels and an earth chimney to power energy needs – features which truly define a green house environment.
Waste Reduction
Waste reduction plans created early in the design process can help improve waste management and cut costs significantly, providing everyone on the design team with clarity about goals and objectives for waste minimization.
By choosing recycled materials and limiting purchases of new products, you can reduce your environmental footprint. Furthermore, selecting local-produced materials will lower embodied energy emissions caused by manufacturing and transport.
Modular furniture, natural lighting and eco-friendly finishes are among the newest home design trends that prioritize sustainability. While they may cost more upfront, these elements could save on energy bills in the long run while increasing property values. Other sustainable designs include Earthship homes (which combine different materials), straw bale houses and prefab options.
Eco-Friendly Materials
Selecting materials with sustainability in mind can have a dramatic impact on the environmental footprint of your home. Green building materials made from renewable resources and can reduce energy bills significantly; other options could include reclaimed wood and recycled plastics.
Use eco-friendly household products, like reusable produce bags, glass straws and washable makeup remover pads – to reduce plastic waste in landfills. This approach will also save money.
Eco-friendly paints and stains are another great addition to your home design, eliminating harmful chemicals and fungicides that pollute air quality. Furthermore, these are readily available at most paint stores.
Open Shelving
No matter where it first caught your eye – on Pinterest or a shelter magazine page – open shelving has quickly become an iconic trend in kitchen design. Simply put, this trend allows homeowners to do away with upper cabinets in favor of displaying all of their favorite dishes, vases, and trinkets on open shelves instead.
Making your open shelves visually engaging is crucial. Try mixing up their heights so the eye travels from shelf to shelf. Don’t be shy about adding seasonal touches like evergreen branches for Christmas and pumpkins during autumn!
Open shelving offers several benefits that make it more cost-effective than installing cabinetry. Plus, it works well in unique spaces–such as slanted walls or half walls. However, keep in mind that items stored on open shelves are subject to dust and grease more frequently than those kept within cabinets.