What Does Sustainable Home Design Mean For You?
ShareAs more and more people become conscious about how their actions affect the world, the call to do something about it becomes more present in everyday life. One way that this demand has shown itself is in the very design of the homes people live in. Sustainable home design is becoming more and more a part of new home designs across the world and especially in Australia. If you are considering building a new home anytime soon, then here are a few reasons why you should consider using a sustainable home design consulting firm.
Smart Design
A sustainable home design does not mean that you have to go without the comforts one would expect from a modern home such as heating. It means incorporating these elements into the design of the home as much as possible so the actual need for electricity to heat your home is as low as possible. How do you do this? Insulation, double (or triple) glazed windows and the material you choose to build your home out of can all help keep your home warm in winter and cool in summer. Not only is this good for the environment but it is good for your budget, as you will save on electricity costs in the decades that follow.
Water Efficient Appliances
With constant droughts and a general fear of freshwater running out across the world, using water-efficient appliances is a no-brainer. This is not just for your taps either, but for your washing machine, toilet, showers and even your sprinklers. Attaching the water fixtures in your garden (like the aforementioned sprinklers) to a greywater system is a great way to recycle freshwater and keep it within nature. Sustainable home designers will help you find the very best water-efficient appliances that don't skimp on quality.
The Building Materials
The more refined and treated the materials used in the construction of your home are, the harsher they are on the environment. Using materials like recycled bricks, sustainably sourced timber and tiles or glass can help to reduce your impact on the environment. Heavy metals and synthetic material like plastics should be avoided as much as possible, not just because they take thousands of years to decay back into the environment but because their manufacturing process is so harmful and creates a lot of greenhouse gasses. Your sustainable home designer will source their materials from the most ethically available areas. They will tell you what they have available and allow you to make the final choice.