[ECO]Embrace the Green Home Revolution With These 5 Sustainable Practices in Home Design

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Embrace the Green Home Revolution With These 5 Sustainable Practices in Home Design

Is your home as green as it could be? Sustainability in home design means making conscious, mindful choices that don’t compromise future generations’ ability to enjoy similar quality lifestyles by protecting planet Earth and her resources. 

Doing so means working with, not against, nature and adopting better practices that work in harmony with the natural world. Here are five innovations that can help you embrace the eco-friendly home revolution. 

1. Graywater and Rainwater Management 

Climate change isn’t only a matter of temperature. It also increases water scarcity. Some estimates predict that up to

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will face water shortages by the year 2050. 

One solution to increasing water scarcity is improved graywater management. For example, instead of sending the wastewater from your showers and sinks into the sewer, home graywater recycling systems capture it and use it to maintain your landscaping. Such systems work by holding and treating your graywater in a special tank that filters it to remove contaminants. It then travels through your sprinkler system to your prized begonias. 

Another effective way to conserve water is through rainwater harvesting. It’s legal in most jurisdictions, and even novice DIYers can set up a collection system with a few barrels and a bit of PVC pipe connecting them to their gutters. Some countries, including China and Thailand, have launched

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for specific industries to ease droughts and urban water scarcity. 

2. Securing the Envelope 

Unfortunately, most of the United States’ energy supply still originates from fossil fuels. However, you can reduce your consumption of oil, coal and natural gas by better insulating your home to reduce your heating and cooling needs. Your HVAC system pulls more power than any other device in your home. 

Inspect your home’s insulation and educate yourself about R-values. In general, the higher the R-value insulation has, the more effectively it insulates. Check for often overlooked areas that may lack insulation, such as your garage. Insulating this space reduces your whole home’s energy bill by preventing extreme temperature shifts while carrying in groceries. Check your door, too — it’s recommended that those with attached garages should have a door with

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or higher. 

Other frequently overlooked areas include your pipes, subfloor and attic. Wrapping your pipes prevents bursting from winter freezes, preventing what can be a hefty repair bill. Improving insulation inside your home’s walls is easier than ever with blown-in versions, although you may have to pay for professional installation. 

3. Alternative Heating and Cooling 

Perhaps the most sustainable practice in home design is moving away from fossil fuels toward alternative energy sources. You have several options, including switching to solar or installing a heat pump. 

Solar is more flexible than ever. Even if you rent, investing in a solar generator to power some of your devices is a wise idea. It’s an invaluable prep to have in case of widespread outages, and it teaches you familiarity with how such systems operate. While it generally takes a larger generator to run an entire home, smaller models can keep certain essentials running. Plus, they come in handy on off-grid camping trips. 

Converting your whole home to solar lets you take advantage of considerable tax savings, and many hybrid systems also slash your monthly bill while strengthening America’s energy grid. Such systems work by sending the excess power your home generates back to the grid, which

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on your power bill. However, should a power outage occur, the system switches to battery power, allowing your home to continue to function until officials restore service. 

Heat pumps are another alternative to fossil fuel-driven HVAC systems and come in two varieties. Air-sourced heat pumps extract heat from the outside air, even in cold weather, but function best in milder climates that don’t freeze over for months. Geothermal heat pumps operate on a similar principle but use air absorbed from underground, where temperatures remain constant.

The bottom line: You can now kick oil, coal and natural gas to the curb and heat your home with alternatives inspired by nature. While the initial investment will cost you, you pay yourself back multiple dividends in lower utility bills, greater energy security and a cleaner planet. 

4. Indoor-Outdoor Living 

Another way to improve your home’s overall sustainability is to embrace indoor-outdoor living. Doing so strengthens your connection with nature. There are several ways to do so while reducing your carbon footprint. 

For example, take advantage of passive solar by tying back or removing window dressings on south-facing windows in the winter to take advantage of natural heating. You’ll also enjoy a better view while cooped up indoors. Consider models that open for the summer months and use curtains in the afternoon to prevent excess heat from entering. 

Florida rooms and enclosed patios let you enjoy outdoor living throughout all four seasons. They’re also the perfect spot for a flourishing container garden that reduces your trip to the grocery store and provides you with organic goodness. 

Outside, consider replacing lawn areas with garden spaces for growing organic food at home. You can also investigate xeriscaping, using materials like natural stone and river rock, features like gazebos and fountains and native, drought-resistant plants instead of a lawn. Doing so reduces your maintenance and upkeep and prevents lawnmower emissions. 

5. Tiny and Multigenerational Designs 

Everyone likes different living arrangements, but there is only so much space on the planet for human homes. However, tiny home living and multigenerational building designs offer sustainability and flexibility. 

Tiny homes are ideal for people who don’t relish the idea of sharing space with roommates. Even those that don’t run on alternative power save energy by their very design. Less space means fewer power needs. Such communities can become glorious alternatives to larger apartments for some, such as single people, couples and older adults who don’t relish shared walls. 

Multigenerational designs are larger but intended to give extended family members privacy while maintaining family unity. Some new builders have designed homes with attached in-law suites, while others with older properties have added accessory dwelling units for this purpose.

Such multigenerational designs are ideal for adult children or older family members who prefer to age in place. More hands on deck means always having someone around to help, and having two or more households share the same roof and utilities reduces overall energy use. 

Sustainable Home Design Practices 

If you’re concerned about your home’s carbon footprint, consider implementing one or more of these sustainable designs. The upfront cost often pales in comparison to the savings you’ll amass over the years, as making your home more eco-friendly also keeps more money in your wallet over time. 

More importantly, you’ll do your part to preserve planet Earth for future generations and set a positive example for your children. 

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