How You Will Benefit from Sustainable Design and Build

For anyone building a new home, or renovating an old one, there are an overwhelming number of issues to be considered.  The concept of ‘sustainability’ is a further challenge but one that is really worth facing.

“Sustainability” recognises that we are using the earth’s resources faster than they can be replenished.  It seeks to develop a more sustainable way of life in order to ensure that future generations can continue to enjoy the many opportunities that we now have.

And it isn’t just a moral or ethical issue.  Choosing to design and build a sustainable home has real day to day benefits.  A sustainable home will be more comfortable, have lower running costs, and ultimately have a higher resale value.  Furthermore, a sustainable home built the Footprint way will cost no more to build than a normal, run of the mill house. Sustainability makes sense at all levels.

To reduce a home’s non renewable energy requirements, the starting point is the concept of passive solar design.  The orientation, building materials and features of a solar passive home allow solar energy to be harnessed to warm it. Sunlight is allowed to flood the living areas on a cold winter day but, in summer, the home will be cool and shady.  Meanwhile, the use of thermal mass within the well insulated envelope of the building will reduce temperature fluctuations.

To maximise these and other opportunities, a new house must not only be tailored to its owner’s needs but also to the natural advantages and drawbacks of its setting.  But no block of land is perfect and if you have a steep south facing block, or a fabulous view to the west, then the simplest principles will need thoughtful adaptation.

When we design your home, we will give careful consideration to the following:

• The floor plan and orientation of each room.
• The direction the building/windows face – and the sizing of windows.
• The use of thermal mass, such as concrete floors and internal masonry walls, to store heat.
• The use of floor, roof and wall insulation – and double glazing to reduce heat loss.
• The use of shading and ventilation to keep the house cool in the Summer.
• The choice of environmentally friendly and low toxicity materials.
• The use of technology to collect solar electricity, heat water and contribute in other ways to energy efficiency.
• The use of landscaping and gardening to mazimise your homes sustainable design.
• The collection, use and recycling of water.
• The recycling of waste in general.

For more information on all of these sustainability issues click here.

For an obligation free consultation call us today on 0439 570 490.