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Designing your home is a very big task and you want to make sure you get in everything that you want and need. Another thing that some people like to consider is the environmental impact of your home and what kind of carbon footprint it will be leaving.
Besides, having a sustainable single-family home has many advantages. For example, when your dwelling is made from eco-friendly materials, you can get the most out of comfort and healthy lifestyle. You can also consider it as a significant long-term investment since it doesn’t need a lot of repairs due to its durability. With all these things being said, there’s no question why a sustainable single-family design idea has been popular among new and established homeowners.
So, if you are designing your home and you want to know some eco-friendly alternatives or you’re investing in a single-family home that needs an upgrade then keep reading to see some of the best ways to design a sustainable home.
Your Home
Here are a few ways you can make the interior of your home as eco-friendly as possible.
Plan as much as you can
Keeping your home design sustainable is a matter of planning and the first steps you need to take are all about where your home is going to be. Keep in mind that the further you are away from amenities, the more you will have to drive or rely on delivery so try and keep your home near public transit areas.
Once you have chosen a good area you can start designing the layout of the home based on the natural features in the area. Make sure you try and catch all of the natural light, especially if you have solar panels for your energy supply. You should also keep size in mind when you’re designing as it’s much easier to heat and maintain a smaller home than a larger one.
On the other hand, if you need help in designing a sustainable single-family home, you may talk to experienced home designers in your area. Given their experience and expertise in the designing industry, they can surely advise you on how to make your dwelling sustainable. They can also help you design your home using eco-friendly building materials.
Pick your materials
Choosing the materials for your home is important and it will ensure that the home is built to last. When you’re deciding what materials your home will be made out of, there are a few things you should consider:
Location
Buying wood from a lumber yard might mean that the source it came from isn’t the best for the environment or it could mean that the wood has traveled a long way to get there. Major wood processing companies are not always transparent about where their materials come from unless it has come from a sustainable source. Choosing wood that is processed and taken from land nearby is a good way to ensure you’re not adding any extra traveling emissions.
Recycled/Reclaimed
The best way to get great materials that are sustainable and good for the environment is by using materials that are already processed, treated, and close by. Look for sales nearby or talk to a local demolition company about getting your hands on some recycled wood from buildings that are being demolished. You will need to make sure the wood you are getting is still in building condition and is free of any major flaws like cracks or pests but you can usually get together enough wood from multiple sources to avoid the lumber yard completely.
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Sustainable Sources
If you are unable to acquire recycled or locally based wood then there is no harm in purchasing what you need as long as it comes from a good source. Look into the ethics and environmental impact of a company before you make a large wood purchase from them. Luckily there are a few companies that have regrowth programs and you can look for them by finding the FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) logo on the label.
Find the Best Options
The frame of your home is built using many different materials and construction styles so look into what is normally used for each step and try and find sustainable sources for each one. Insulation can be replaced with several things such as wool, recycled plastic, or a plant-based polyurethane foam instead of the usual fiberglass.
But aside from these sustainable materials, you can also insulate your home with the use of an insulated render system. It’s made from rigid form of insulation materials, like blocks or sheets, which are reinforced by a finishing coat, render base coat, and a reinforcing mesh.
With these eco-friendly insulation materials, you can make your home more sustainable by boosting the heat retention properties of the walls. Not only that but they can also give your dwelling a fresh look.
So, if you’re looking for the best insulation materials for your home, you may check some reliable manufacturers of wall insulation like Building Insulation Solutions and other similar providers online. You may seek recommendations from your loved ones or conduct a web search to obtain a list of prospects.
Inside Your Home
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The interior of your home can be customized in many ways and it’s easy to find alternatives to many common materials that are eco-friendly. Let’s take a look at a typical room and see what options are available that are better for the earth.
Floor
Get rid of traditional plastic carpet and ceramic tile and stick to cork, rubber, and jute instead. These are all great options for any room and they all use recycled or sustainable materials. If you want a carpet option then look for wool carpets and for tiles, recycled glass tiles (made from wine and beer bottles!) are a much better option.
Paint
You might not realize how many chemicals are in regular interior house paint but lucky for you, there are plenty of options that are much better for the air in your home. There are a few companies online that make smaller quantities of paint for small projects like children’s furniture but if you want to cover a room then larger companies like Sherwin-Williams, Benjamin Moore, and Behr all have their own eco-friendly line that is available at most paint stores.
Appliances
To keep your home energy efficient, switch to appliances and lights that are Energy Star rated. These are the best choice for keeping your energy bill and carbon footprint low. They often come with an automatic off-timer or a lower usage option so make sure you are using the device properly otherwise it won’t be saving you energy at all.
Your Yard
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Your yard is your little slice of nature and you want to do your best to keep it maintained while keeping it natural. Here are a few tips to keep your yard on the greener side.
Use locally growing plants and grasses to help maintain the natural ecosystem
Use mulch as a natural way to keep your yard moisturized after rainfall and allow a longer gap in between watering times. You can also collect rainwater to use for your irrigation and make your own compost heap to provide your plants with a natural fertilizer.
There are so many ways you can make your home sustainable and these are just a few. Do your research into each step of the process to figure out how you can make changes and reduce the carbon footprint of your home.
You can also keep the information mentioned above in mind, so you’ll have an idea of how to design an eco-friendly single-family home.