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Green Home Building Ideas

Sustainable building ideas to consider this year.

Updated on

January 24, 2020

White and green throw pillows. PHOTO | CK

Builders are increasingly adopting green home building ideas and technology as an alternative to traditional construction as they seek to lower their carbon footprints.

According to a 2017 study by Dodge Data & Analytics, 33% of builders reported that they were adopting green building technology for most of their projects.

Indeed, the green building market share is expected to grow considerably, with the number of builders who solely build green homes set to grow from 19% in 2017 to 31% in 2022.

If you are planning to build a home this year, here are some green home-building ideas that can help you create a sustainable house without spending a fortune.

1. Build smaller house

Sustainable housing designs are usually small because smaller houses are generally considered to be more efficient compared to larger dwellings.

Large houses have a bigger environmental impact compared to smaller ones, even when both houses have similar energy efficiency since the larger home will consume more materials and require more energy for heating and cooling.

Thankfully, small houses are increasingly becoming fashionable in many parts of the world due to their reduced maintenance costs, and energy efficiency. Think about how you plan to use your space when building your new house.

Think of the square footage of your house as an investment and be sure to put it where it is most needed rather than just building aimlessly.

2. Use sustainable materials

The use of sustainable building materials such as wood, bamboo, and linoleum can greatly help reduce the environmental impact of your building.

Wood is a great option if supplied by a grower who observes ecological planting practices. Bamboo, cork and linoleum, which are made of natural materials, are great flooring materials.

Over the past few years, linoleum has become popular among homeowners due to its durability (it lasts 25 to 40 years) and recyclability at the end of its lifespan.

Adopting prefab construction is also a great idea for builders since the frames of the houses are factory-built in a controlled setting – reducing material wastage while saving costs.

The use of recycled materials is one of the best green home-building ideas out there. Instead of buying new materials – whose production contributes to high carbon emissions, consider using materials made from recycled products.

You can, for example, settle for countertops made from recycled glass, steel made from recycled metals, or even reclaimed wood products.

3. Position your house appropriately

The orientation of a house determines its energy efficiency.

East-west facing windows permit light during mornings and evenings and may cause glare and heat. North-facing windows are great for daylighting as they permit glare-free light and virtually no heat gain.

The number, size, and glass type of north-facing windows should be carefully considered since they do not contribute to solar heat gain during the cold season, and lose more heat than insulated walls.

4. Build taller, not wider

If your house is located in regions that experience extreme weather conditions, consider building tall instead of wider to minimize the building’s surface area.

A house that is wide and spread out tends to lose more heat when compared to a compact building. Indeed, a compact two storey house tends to be more energy efficient when compared with a one-storey spread-out house.

If, for example, you want to build a 3,000 sq ft house, it would be wiser to build two stories with 1,500 sq ft per storey instead of building a 3,000 sq ft bungalow.

5. Shift to solar energy

Building a new house offers you a chance to fully shift to solar energy – making it the native power source in your home – something owners of older homes cannot.

Coupled with other sustainable building ideas, solar can generate enough energy to power your entire home. World governments are increasingly offering various incentives to draw more homeowners towards solar energy.

6. Install solar water heaters

Solar water heaters are one of the key features of sustainable housing designs.

Instead of heating water the traditional way, it is a great idea to install a solar water heating system on your roof to heat water using solar energy.

This will help reduce your electricity bills while cutting your carbon footprint.

For those who can’t install a solar water heater, tankless water heaters and instant hot water showers are another option.

These substitutes consume less electricity and can heat water instantly, hence you do not need to run the water until it gets hot by the time you get into the shower.

7. Insulate your home

Heating and air conditioning are the biggest consumers of electricity in a home.

Luckily, it is possible to lower these costs by insulating your home to expel the hot air during the summer and retain the warm air in the house during the winter.

Be sure to engage professionals for guidance on the best insulation types and techniques based on the climate of your city to avoid disappointment in the future.

8. Cool down your roof

Roofing materials play a key role in determining a home’s energy efficiency. It is advisable to pick materials that redirect the sun’s heat away from the roof and cool down faster at night to cut power costs associated with temperature regulation.

Although green roofing options are quite expensive in terms of product purchase and installation, you will most likely recover the costs in the long term through electricity expense savings and low maintenance costs.

9. Use eco-friendly lighting

Artificial lighting accounts for up to 15% of a home’s annual power bills. It is therefore important to use lighting technologies such LED and CFL, which can cut lighting energy costs in buildings by up to 70%.

It is interesting to note that replacing a 100-watt incandescent with a 32-watt CFL bulb can save you at least $30 in energy costs over the life of the bulb.

The use of natural lighting can also lower energy bills, especially for homes with a good orientation that circumvents the need for artificial lights during the day.

Daylight is also believed to have a positive impact on the mental and physical health of the occupants of a building – resulting in happier, healthier lives.

10. Install an efficient HVAC system

Heating Ventilation Air Conditioning (HVAC) is often the largest consumer of electricity in a home. The system should therefore be efficient enough to save energy costs.

Some of the available options include:

Mini-split units: Modern systems allow the splitting of a house into separate zones. These units allow you to set different temperatures by room – which is a great way to cut costs by switching off HVAC in rooms that are not often used.

Smart thermostat: The use of smart thermostats can help cut your energy bills as the system studies your behavior and optimizes HVAC around your comfort level.

11. Use energy star windows

Though relatively new, energy-efficient windows branded as Energy Star windows are much more energy efficient when compared with ordinary windows.

The lower the ratings, the more energy-efficient are your windows.

You should not allow the higher costs of the windows to stop you from embracing the concept since the savings provided by these products are more than enough to cover the additional costs per window.

12. Conserve water

As the world slowly runs out of fresh water, it is becoming increasingly important to conserve and reduce fresh water consumption.

It is advisable to acquire fixtures and appliances that conserve water such as Energy Star-rated washers, dual flush toilets, smart showers, and tankless water heaters.

You should also prioritize rainwater harvesting to irrigate your garden.