We’re passionate about living with sustainability, going green and using renewable energy. In order to achieve this, designing an eco-friendly home is a natural solution in the continuous process to protect our planet.
If your need is to reduce your carbon footprint and have the opportunity to design your own dream home, you should follow these four tips on how to do it while taking care of the environment.
Bigger Isn’t Always Better
One of the reasons for this tiny house movement to be popular is that smaller homes are better for the environment. One study of 80 tiny homes found they used 45% less energy.
The smaller your house is, the less of an impact it will have on the environment. The main thing is when you are designing of your house, you need to consider how the final product can remain practical and also affordable.
When the house is big, there is more floor and wall space to clean. It also means more energy is used for cooling and heating. Saving space not only saves money, but also uses less energy. Your interest should be for a house that’s just big enough for your needs. It should allow you to live simply.
Let the Sun take up your burden
One important factor to keep in mind when designing your home is solar heating. Before you begin your design, finding a proper location that gets sunlight and strategically positioning the house to maximize the use of the sun is needed. By maximizing sun exposure, you’ll be using this powerful natural resource to your advantage. While an initial expense, solar panels are hugely beneficial in the long run. Solar will reduce your overall energy consumption.
The added benefit for the investment is the tax credit for installing a solar energy system. This applies for home installations. Up to 26% of the installation costs can be deducted from your federal taxes.
Make sure your plan budget for eco-friendly lighting and energy efficient equipment. This is an upfront expense. But, it comes with long term savings, both electrically and financially.
Save Water with Tanks and other Features
Don’t waste rainwater. A rainwater harvesting system can gather the rainwater from your roof. You ca store it in an overhead tank, designed to suit your home. This is an easy way to supply water for gardening or your toilet systems.
When it comes to finer details, installing a low flow faucets and showerheads as well as a dual flush toilet to save as much water as possible is beneficial, while you enjoy your new home.
Select Sustainable Building Supplies
From the floor to the roof and interior finishes, sustainable building supplies should be your solution. Pick environmentally friendly building products or eco-friendly products, made of natural and renewable materials. These materials will decrease the effect of the house’s construction on your natural surroundings.
Block work, brick and sustainably sourced timber are all eco-friendly options. Usage of thick materials will attract and collect heat during daylight thus maintaining a pleasant indoor temperature at night. Use flooring such as polished concrete that adds warmth to an interior.
Recycled newspaper, wood or sheep’s wool are excellent environmentally friendly insulating products. They have the added bonus of being biodegradable, reusable and recyclable. Correct insulation will enable sufficient heating and cooling without any air leaks. This will noticeably reduce your electricity bills.
Make Your Home More Environmentally Friendly to Protect the Planet
To enjoy living in it even more be mindful of how your home’s designed, with lasting benefits for the future. You can rest assured knowing that present and future generations can continue the legacy that you’ve started: taking care of the earth one eco-friendly house at a time.
Final words
Embracing a lifestyle centered around sustainability and eco-friendliness is crucial in our collective effort to safeguard the planet. Designing an eco-friendly home serves as a significant stride towards this goal, allowing us to reduce our carbon footprint and contribute positively to the environment. By adopting a few essential principles, such as prioritizing smaller and more efficient spaces, harnessing the power of solar energy, conserving water through innovative systems, and selecting sustainable building materials, we pave the way for a greener and more responsible future.
As we embark on the journey to create our dream homes, let us remember that each mindful choice we make in design and construction echoes beyond the present, laying the foundation for a harmonious coexistence with nature for generations to come. By nurturing the symbiotic relationship between modern living and ecological consciousness, we become architects of change, fostering a legacy of responsible stewardship and inspiring others to join in our noble endeavor. Through these deliberate actions, we can proudly pass on a legacy of care and commitment, fostering a chain reaction of eco-friendly homes that protect and preserve our planet.
