How to Build a Sustainable Home the Right Way

It is important to think about the future when you are planning on building a home. That means that sustainability should be at the top of your list.

The demand for green homes is skyrocketing. Americans spent over $119 billion on green homes in 2019 and this figure is expected to grow much higher in the post-pandemic economy.

People who consider this will have homes that last longer and use less energy, which makes them more environmentally friendly. There are a lot of ways to make existing homes eco-friendlier, but it can be better to simply build a new home from the beginning. The following things will help you build a sustainable home the right way: location, cost, orientation, materials used, design features, and systems installed.

Location

Living on a busy road or in the middle of a bustling city means you will use more resources and energy than if you lived on the outskirts. When we live closer to people we tend to walk less and use cars as our main form of transportation. Homes that are not exposed to as much activity save both energy and resources because they do not have as many visitors using electricity, water, and heating/cooling systems. Another great thing about creating your home further away from people is the fact that you can build it right next to green spaces, which makes it even more environmentally friendly.

Cost

Building your sustainable home further away from people means that it will be more expensive. The best way to determine the cost of constructing a house is to use construction estimating software. This will give you an idea of the amount of money you need to save or borrow for the whole project. The cost of the land is one thing that comes into play here, but then you also have to take into consideration the cost of transporting materials and building the home. That doesn’t mean you should cut corners when it comes to making your home green because it could end up costing you even more if something goes wrong with the appliances or systems later on.

Orientation

Building your home with an L-shaped plan ensures that all rooms will get plenty of sunlight throughout the day. While this is great for the environment, you also need to think about your energy bills. You can design your home with solar panels on the south side of the building that will collect heat from the sun, which means you will not have to rely on electricity or gas for heating. The sun will do all the work! This can be as simple as offering a discount on an item that was previously abandoned

Materials Used

One way of reducing your carbon footprint is by using recycled materials when building a new home. These materials are perfect because they already require fewer resources and energy to create, but they last just as long as traditional materials without sacrificing quality. A variety of old things can be used to build everything from walls and flooring to cabinets and countertops. When choosing these items make sure they are durable so that your home lasts longer and you do not have to worry about replacing them again in the future.

Design Features

Home designs today are all about making rooms feel open and spacious, which is great because it allows more natural light to enter the building. You can create large windows on the exterior walls of your home that will allow sunshine to fill every room throughout the day. A lot of newer homes also come with skylights or solar tubes that replace electricity for natural lighting. Another environmentally friendly design feature is having a compact home instead of one that has long hallways leading to various rooms like kitchens and bedrooms. A compact design makes it easier for people to walk around without using too much energy because they do not need to go as far as one place to another. It also keeps homes warmer in the winter and cooler in the summer, which means you will not have to run an air conditioner or heater constantly.

You should also pay close attention to green home design trends. These trends will be important if you want to sell your home at a later date, because keeping up with them will help ensure that your home earns a decent valuation.

Systems Installed

All green homes should be equipped with systems that help them use less water and electricity than a conventionally built home. These systems can vary depending on your location and climate, but they typically include things like solar panels, batteries, and rainwater collection systems. Using these features allows homeowners to create their energy without relying on public power grids, which saves money over time. When it comes to water collection, building your home near a body of fresh or saltwater is ideal because then you can collect rainwater for washing dishes, taking showers, and watering plants. If this is not an option in your area, you can always use waterless urinals and low-flow toilets to reduce your water usage.