How To Create A Sustainable Home

35+ Innovative Ways to Build a Sustainable Living House

Sustainable housing is one that makes efficient use of resources and energy with minimal impacts on the environment. The overriding principle in sustainable housing is ensuring it promotes a better quality of life and involves less waste, better reliability, lower life-cycle environmental impacts, less maintenance, and more reuse. These are some of the ways that are used to make a home more sustainable.

Making our homes sustainable is a simple task and does not need to cause a lot of anxiety during or after construction. If a house is already constructed, there are many improvements that are needed to make it more sustainable. Some of them are immediate and are cheap, while others take longer and are more costly. For new homes, there are so many ways it can be made sustainable.

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Each one of us matters, has a role to play, and makes a difference. Each one of us must take responsibility for our own lives, and above all, show respect and love for living things around us, especially each other

~ Jane Goodall

Contents

35+ Innovative Ways to Build a Sustainable Living House
- 1. Insulation of walls and the floor and having a ceiling board
- 2. Install double-glazed windows
- 3. Make use of the sun
- 4. Choose appliances that have more energy-efficiency
- 5. Selection of non-toxic building materials for constructing the house
- 6. The use of local materials
- 7. Minimizing resource wastage
- 8. Usage of renewable electricity sources
- 9. Building the house with comfort taking care of the future will make it more sustainable
- 10. Selection of local or native plant life for landscaping and interior design is an essential element
- 11. Installation of solar panels and temperature-regulating walls
- 12. Putting up of energy-saving bulbs in the house.
- 13. Usage of extension loads types of equipment
- 14. Building compost for kitchen waste
- 15. Use of organic beddings
- 16. Use of windows that are energy efficient
- 17. Planting of spider plants in the room
- 18. Creating a comfortable eco-house with a passive design
- 19. Design to create a microclimate
- 20. Design for a good life.
- 21. Creation of efficient heating and cooling without buying air conditioners in the house
- 22. Build water tanks to collect rainwater
- 23. Use of drought-tolerant plants for landscaping the house environment
- 24. Use solar or wind power
- 25. Establishing lockable taps
- 26. Installation of programmable thermostats
- 27. Install low-flush toilets
- 28. Reuse of the furniture
- 29. Use of eco paints for the walls during construction will make the house more sustainable
- 30. Installation of monitor sensing lights in the room
- 31. Installation of skylights in the room
- 32. Use of sustainable flooring materials
- 33. Install a drip irrigation system
- 34. Install a cool roof
- 35. Install a water filter that removes microplastics
- 36. Energy-efficient exterior doors and draft-proof doors and windows
- 37. Tankless water heaters
- 38. Non-toxic carpet
- 39. The HVAC system
- 40. Talk to sustainability experts

35+ Innovative Ways to Build a Sustainable Living House

Most of these sustainability aspects are applicable when renovating or when constructing a new building. Here are 35+ innovative ways to build a sustainable house.

1. Insulation of walls and the floor and having a ceiling board

This will help to aid in cooling purposely to save on energy costs. Insulation will help in saving money on energy bills and make the house more comfortable because the insulation will bar heat passing in and out of the house.

It will maintain a comfortable temperature inside regardless of the outside temperature. Insulation allows the temperature to remain balanced even in winter or summer.

2. Install double-glazed windows

Double glazed windows help to insulate the house, making it cooler during the summer and warmer during the winter. One can as well use thermal blackout curtains in place of double glazed windows in case they are too costly.

3. Make use of the sun

Orientate a new home for maximum sunlight. This involves passive solar heating designs and making use of daytime lighting fully. By the use of passive solar, the windows can let in energy, and the heat absorbed reduces the need for warming the house during cold periods such as winter. Seeking advice from the architect for more ideas is necessary.

4. Choose appliances that have more energy-efficiency

Swapping of the regular electrical appliances with energy-saving certified products is highly desirable for a sustainable house.

5. Selection of non-toxic building materials for constructing the house

Non-toxic building materials lower life-cycle environmental impacts the house might pose.

6. The use of local materials

Using locally available materials is appropriate to reduce the degradation of the environment during transportation.

7. Minimizing resource wastage

During construction, recycling of wastes can be done to reduce the accumulation of wastes as much as possible. For instance, materials can be sourced by demolished products that have been recycled.

8. Usage of renewable electricity sources

This is done through the installation of a small-scale wind turbine or micro-hydro system. Choosing the power company that generates renewable sources is also recommended.

9. Building the house with comfort taking care of the future will make it more sustainable

If the plan is to stay longer in the room, then the indoor and outdoor access will be a requirement; it will also avoid future extension of the house as well as renovation so as to reduce future expenditure in the house.

10. Selection of local or native plant life for landscaping and interior design is an essential element

It will make the house look beautiful and attractive, as well as creating a calm environment for sustainability. Plants also act as natural air purifiers.

11. Installation of solar panels and temperature-regulating walls

It will make the house to be more eco-friendly and also make the house cooler. Solar panels are a sound investment for sustainable home improvement.

12. Putting up of energy-saving bulbs in the house.

Energy is saved when incandescent light bulbs are replaced with compact fluorescent lamps or LED bulbs.

13. Usage of extension loads types of equipment

The house power consumption can be reduced by almost fifteen percent if multi-socket extension loads are used.

14. Building compost for kitchen waste

Compost for kitchen waste will help to reduce the amount of household waste in landfills and reducing the costs associated with the collection of wastes.

15. Use of organic beddings

Cotton linen usage accounts for almost thirty percent of the world's insecticide use. Changing to organic cotton or bamboo is more sustainable and efficient.

16. Use of windows that are energy efficient

Energy-efficient windows will keep the house cool during the summer and warm in the winter due to their proper insulation.

17. Planting of spider plants in the room

Spider plants are known for air purification, they are planted in the chamber, and they will help to purify the air, especially in the bathroom.

18. Creating a comfortable eco-house with a passive design

A house that has a passive design makes the room cool and heat up naturally; this will make the occupants feel comfortable due to its excellent orientation and proper ventilation. The house will also facilitate the sun rays during cold seasons and will be able to cool down during the hot season.

The house can also be designed to receive more natural light than artificial light, reducing the overall electricity costs.

19. Design to create a microclimate

The design should allow lightweight ventilation in a hot, dry climate. The house should also be well insulated and have good solar access during winter.

20. Design for a good life.

Ensure the house aims to stay for a longer period. The materials should be vigorous and durable, and that can be recycled easily. The house should also adapt to the changing needs without incurring the cost in the future by building extension or renovation.

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21. Creation of efficient heating and cooling without buying air conditioners in the house

It can be done by the use of curtains and blinds and sealing any leaks. Also, make use of the sun's heat and shading to provide an excellent climate and insulation, respectively. If you have to buy an air conditioner, then you also have to set up ceiling fans to increase the efficiency of the air- conditioner.

22. Build water tanks to collect rainwater

Collect the rainwater in tanks for use in bathrooms and garden is part of water use efficiency. Rainwater harvesting will help to reduce wastage of piped water, thereby leading to sustainable living.

23. Use of drought-tolerant plants for landscaping the house environment

Drought tolerant plants require less water and can survive during drought, thus making them beautiful throughout the year. They also have aesthetic value.

24. Use solar or wind power

The two are renewable energy sources that are cheap and non-polluting. If using wind energy plants for landscaping, it is necessary to use wind maps that can help to predict the mean annual wind speed in your location.

There are factors to be taken into consideration when using wind and solar energy. Once the system is set up, it will supply the house with clean and free electricity. Investigate renewable energy options from your energy supplier.

25. Establishing lockable taps

Turning off the taps after usage helps to avoid water wastage. Ensuring that the taps are turned off after using them avoids the misuse of water, and in the long-term, it contributes to saving on water bills hence increased sustainability.

26. Installation of programmable thermostats

Thermostats can be used to monitor the house temperature, keeping it warmer or cooler when the one is not around.

27. Install low-flush toilets

Low-flush toilets can significantly help to reduce water wastage compared to traditional ones that use 6 liters of water per flush. Particularly, low-flush toilets use about 4.5 liters or less per flush.

28. Reuse of the furniture

Other than purchasing new furniture, one can recycle the old ones to save money and trees.

29. Use of eco paints for the walls during construction will make the house more sustainable

The use of paints that are plant or water-based other than using the traditional ones which are full of volatile organic compounds is part of building a sustainable house. The chemical paints are bad for the occupant's health and lead to air pollution.

30. Installation of monitor sensing lights in the room

Monitor sensing lights will help in turning on the lights when a person or people are occupying a room and turn them off when there is no one. This contributes to saving energy costs often associated with wastage when people forget to turn off the lights when leaving the house.

31. Installation of skylights in the room

Skylights not only provide beautiful lighting but are also energy-saving, thereby reducing energy consumption.

32. Use of sustainable flooring materials

Sustainable materials will make the floor appear attractive and durable. The use of bamboo trees is appropriate since they grow very fast and require small areas.

33. Install a drip irrigation system

Keeping yard healthy and green isn't just about looks; it keeps home cooler, serves as a windbreak and contributes to cleaner air. If you need to keep your yard watered, drip irrigation is a better alternative. Drip irrigation systems use gravity to deliver water to plants, focusing it directly on the roots where it's needed. It not only saves electricity by eliminating pumps but also minimizes waste through evaporation.

34. Install a cool roof

A cool roof reflects the sun's heat instead of absorbing it into your home, and the effect on your cooling bill can be tremendous.

35. Install a water filter that removes microplastics

Add a filter to your washing machine to ensure that you aren't adding microplastics to the environment. You can also use a filter for your tap water coming into your home to keep microplastics out of your drinking water.

36. Energy-efficient exterior doors and draft-proof doors and windows

You may find door jamb draft stoppers cute, they probably aren't doing enough, and your conditioned air may be finding its way out along all the edges of your exterior doors. That also means the heat is escaping in the winter. Your AC might also be working overtime in the summer. Replacing leaky weatherstripping and using foam tape to cover cracks can eliminate gaps that cost you in terms of heat and air conditioning.

Energy-efficient new doors have a variety of styles to choose from like: multi-paned glass, fit tighter to the frame, made from improved materials, and today's efficient options also include patio doors.

37. Tankless water heaters

A water heater that sits in the corner of the garage or basement gives you hot water when you want it. But it's constantly using energy. The water heater cycles on and off to maintain the temperature set. Hence an electric one can be a costly process over time.

Consider a tankless or on-demand water heater. These high-efficiency heaters don't heat the water until you ask for it. However, there are a few things to consider before switching to tankless. You can choose an efficient water heater as per Consumer Reports that has a complete guide to suit your needs.

38. Non-toxic carpet

Carpet is also an energy efficiency measure. In addition, it makes your toes comfy and reduces noise. Carpet can also help maintain air temp: warmer in the winter, cooler in the summer. If you're considering new flooring, check into non-toxic carpet options.

The normal carpets release VOCs (volatile organic compounds) from the latex that binds the carpet fibers to the backing. It can take weeks for the fumes to go away, and till then, your family will be breathing them in. If the carpet is on your sustainable home improvement list, it will leave a good impact on your lungs for going eco-friendly!

39. The HVAC system

Selecting an efficient heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system is also an integral part of building a sustainable home. As an Energy Star rated technologically advanced system, it remains a sophisticated comfort zone.

The proper selection and maintenance of HVAC equipment can save energy, reduce carbon emission, conserve water, save money and save the environment. Central AC and heat systems are costly to replace. Always keep them in top shape with annual maintenance.

40. Talk to sustainability experts

Sustainability is an area of fast innovation in home building, home systems, appliances and lighting. Sustainability experts can perform an energy audit to give you advice on easy fixes, the latest technology and other efficiency improvements first.

References:

Eco-friendly Home Construction Materials

Make Home More Sustainable

Eco-houses Around the World