Beautiful Design and Sustainability? Yes!

Yes, homes of the future - and now - can have both beautiful design and sustainbility! There are many ways to incorporate eco-friendly architecture and interior design. 

You have many options

You can make your home more sustainable through your design choices, such as:

• Simplify your yard. Choose low-water plants through water-smart designs and incorporate pollinator-loving flowers and climate-adapted greenery. Add more seating and play areas. 
• Become one with nature. If you're building a home on a sloping lot, consider building at least one wall into the side of the hill to provide natural insulation from the earth. Having a "walk-out" basement provides this natural insulation while still allowing for living spaces with natural light.
• Make eco-friendly improvements with minimal effort or cost:
  • Think LED or low-energy-use light fixtures and recycled materials.
  • Use lighter or cool roofing materials to lower heat gain and cooling costs
  • Install water-conscious fixtures
  • Add double-pane windows
  • Place more windows on the north side of your home to absorb heat from the sun and naturally warm rooms if you live in colder climates
  • Install eaves over sun-facing windows to shade them from the summer sun and help keep these rooms cooler.
  • Relocate more living spaces to the a cooler side of the house.
• Be mindful of materials. Use organic textures, like reclaimed wood, raffia and natural fibers, and balance them with clean lines and refined details of marble and brass to show how versatile sustainable home designs can be. Engineered wood flooring uses fewer trees per plank than do solid hardwoods.
• Install smart systems:
  
  • Digital showers add electronic on/off controls. By pushing a button instead of twisting a handle, you can program them to your preferred settings or timer. A full-blown smart shower adds smart home connectivity. It can be configured from a smartphone app or voice command.
  • Smart irrigation system - uses reclaimed well water.
• Roofing: Install a greener roof option. Cool metal roofing with a reflective surface keeps heat from being absorbed into your home.
• Add water preservation features. Water-saving features reduce utility bills and help mitigate the strain on local communities. Install EPA-approved faucets and toilets.

Know your terms

As you're planning more sustainable redesigns and refurbishments, pay attention to the difference between green and sustainable. Sustainable products don't detract from environmental, social and public health benefits over their life cycles, including harvesting, producing, packaging, use and disposal. Green is used to describe products with environmental value that are made from renewable resources, but it doesn't have anything to do with production or disposal. By being sustainability-minded, you'll reduce your home's energy costs and raise its resale value.