There are several reasons why many homeowners are updating their homes to be more sustainable. Whether you are renovating or building from the ground up, here are three ways to build a sustainable home.
Over the past few years, the demand for building and living in an energy efficient and sustainable home has increased. The best part about these types of builds and retrofits is that you don’t have to sacrifice comfort and functionality to make it a reality.
While you can add energy efficient installations and features, a sustainable home starts with its foundation and design from the building materials used to its plumbing and electric.
3 Areas of a Sustainable Home Design
At Ryan A. Jones & Associates, we can work with you to design the best possible green and sustainable home to meet your aesthetic design and lifestyle needs.
#1 Sustainable Building Materials
Sustainable building materials, in short, are those composed of renewable resources. It is important to determine which building materials you want to use in the beginning stages of designing your sustainable home to plan accordingly.
There are several types of sustainable materials to choose from, including:
- Recycled or reused material
- Sustainably harvested wood and other materials
- Renewable materials like bamboo
- Non-toxic or allergenic materials
- Locally sourced materials found within an approximate 100 mile radius
#2 Sustainable Plumbing & Power Sources
You can upgrade some features, such as your appliances or installations, to improve your home’s energy efficiency. But the best way to create a holistically sustainable home is captured in its foundation. Renovating your home is one way to make this a reality, or you can sustainably design it from the start.
This may encompass several areas of your home, such as designing a plumbing plan to collect rainwater and reuse grey water from the dishwasher, laundry and sink run-off. And for natural illumination, you can install high-performance skylights, windows, and doors.
You can also use the sun’s renewable energy to help power and improve your home’s sustainability by installing solar panels. These energy systems convert solar power into clean electricity.
#3 Improved Indoor Air Quality
Not only is building a sustainable home good for the environment, but it’s also healthier for those who live in it. Sustainability includes improving your indoor air quality through reducing or even eliminating several toxins and allergens. By choosing paints with lower volatile organic compounds and natural floor materials and insulation, you’re improving your indoor air quality and better protecting your lungs.
Build Your Sustainable Home with Ryan A. Jones & Associates
Create a better environment – inside and out – for you, your family, and your pets with a sustainable home design. A professional contracting company, like our team at Ryan A. Jones & Associates, will help you determine how to best incorporate the sustainable materials and designs necessary to improve your home’s energy efficiency and indoor air quality. Contact us today to get started on your sustainable home design today.
