Did you know that 51% of your home’s energy goes to space heating and air conditioning? If your house isn’t very energy efficient, then you might be wasting a ton of energy heating and cooling it!
Going green can be a good idea, especially if you plan on selling your home in the future. Homeowners are becoming more eco-conscious, so anything you do now will be attractive to future buyers!
To help you out, here are 3 tips to keep in mind when you’re designing a sustainable home.
1) Use Sustainable Materials
If you want to do a complete home renovation, make sure you source sustainable materials. There are several ways you can do so.
First, you can get Forestry Stewardship Council certified timber. This ensures you’re using ethically and sustainably sourced materials.
Also, you should swap out regular building materials for ones with lower carbon footprints, such as those that are natural and recycled. Some great examples include cellulose, lime, straw bale, and sheep’s wool.
Forget about using materials like concrete and asphalt. Add more green to your property and put in more grass, plants, and flowers. Not only will all of this make your home prettier, but it’ll also be good for ecological diversity!
Inside, you should swap out your lights for LED ones. These are affordable and can lower your consumption of electricity.
2) Add Solar Panels
One common feature of energy-efficient homes is they all have solar panels. These can help immensely in powering your heating and cool systems, which takes a huge burden off of the grid.
The good news is, solar panels have become more readily available in the last decade, which means prices are more affordable as well. If you want to learn more, then get a residential solar estimate to see what solar panel system suits your house best and how much it costs.
3) Get a Smart Home System
A smart home system offers you the best in technology. You can connect all your separate systems (including the ones mentioned above) and have one central hub to control them all.
Not only is this more convenient for you, but it can also help you with energy savings. You can set customized settings for each room for the temperature, lights, AC/heating, and more. And some of these systems can tell you how much energy is used and when, so you can adjust your habits to be greener.
Good Luck With Designing a Sustainable Home
Designing a sustainable home can be a win-win situation. Not only can you save a bunch of money in the long run, but you can also increase your home’s value and make it more attractive to future buyers.
While it can take a bit of work to convert your home, it’ll be worth it when you join the ranks of sustainable homes!
For more inspiration on home design, check out our other informative articles!
