Your Checklist to Building A Sustainable Custom Home
It’s never been more important to build a sustainable home. As more and more people to look to lessen their impact on the environment, it’s becoming increasingly clear that investing in a sustainable design is the best way to future-proof a new custom home. It also happens to reduce the everyday costs of running your home, saving on energy and water bills and reducing the need for ongoing maintenance.
As the leading sustainable custom home builders in the Gippsland region, Olsson Building has over 20 years experience in designing and building custom homes that put sustainability at its core.
We’ve seen and done it all when it comes to building a new sustainable custom home – here’s a great checklist to get you started:
Energy-efficient design
Sustainable homes aren’t an afterthought – it’s a concept that you must integrate from the very initial stages of your construction journey. Start with introducing solar passive design through the orientation of your new home – this will help keep your home cool in summer and warm in winter, reducing the need for artificial sources of heating and cooling.
A solar passive design requires proper ventilation to keep fresh air coming into the space, so it’s essential to consider how to encourage this. Consider large windows and doors that can be opened and closed as required. Sustainability doesn’t end with the design phase – make the most of fixtures and fittings by installing energy-efficient appliances and LED lighting, which will help reduce your energy consumption.
Materials
When building a sustainable home, what you build with is just as important as how you build it. Opt for environmentally friendly, energy-efficient and non-toxic materials, with an emphasis on reusing as much as you can – it’s always better to use something that already exists, stopping it from heading to landfill. Recycled steel, glass and salvaged or reclaimed timber are great examples of materials – timber in particular can add natural warmth to your home, satisfying both form and function. Where you can’t recycle, look to use sustainably sourced materials such as cork, bamboo and sheep’s wool (for insulation).
Insulation
Insulation helps to control heat loss and gain through your home, making it one of the essential elements of any sustainable home. When applied correctly, insulation will help reduce energy use and keep your property cool in summer and warm in winter, ensuring a comfortable temperature year round. Opt for an environmentally friendly insulation material, such as cork, recycled plastic or wool.
Windows and doors
Windows and doors are an essential part of any sustainable custom home – they are the largest source of heat loss. In order to property insulate your home, opt for double- or triple-glazed glass – it will help to regulate temperatures, especially in the winter when you need a warm home.
It’s also important to ensure that window and doorframes will prevent any air leaks – approximately 50% of your home’s energy consumption is from needing to cool and heat your home thanks to air leaks around windows and doors. To stop this, opt for high-quality, insulated frames that create an airtight seal. This will help to prevent thermal bridges, which can result in heat leaking from or into your home.
Harnessing natural resources
Solar panels can significantly reduce your carbon footprint and are a cheaper, cleaner and more reliable source of energy than the main power grid. Government programs mean you may also be eligible for rebates and credits, reducing the initial outlay.
If your budget doesn’t allow for investing in solar panels right away, we would always suggest designing your roof to be suitable for installation, so that when the time comes, you won’t have to make structural changes.
The sun may shine in abundance, but water can be a precious resource, so it’s important to consider how you can conserve it in your sustainable custom home. Look at features like low-flow showerheads, taps and toilets, or take it one step further by installing rainwater tanks or grey water system to recycle water from sinks, showers and appliances like washing machines and dishwashers.
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Ready to build your custom sustainable home? Connect with us today to get started on your green living journey!