Sustainable living is good for the planet and good for you. When you choose to live in a sustainable home you not only lessen your impact on the environment, you create a healthier, comfortable and cost-effective life for you and your family.

But what is sustainability? In the process of building a home it means creating a building that will meet our current needs which will sustain itself in such a manner that it doesn’t jeopardise the potential for future generations to meet their needs.

The process of building a house and renovating is an exciting but major task to undertake. It’s common to feel stressed and overwhelmed even before starting and many wonder if the extra effort of building it with sustainability in mind is really worth it. However, building an eco-friendly home provides many benefits for the long run and the good news is that with some planning and by making use of modern technology and building designs, it is easier and more affordable to do than ever before. The same applies to renovating.

To get you started we have compiled our favourite top tips from the experts on building an eco-friendly home.

Planning and preparation

The key to building a quality eco-friendly home is proper planning; it provides clarity and aids in informed decision making. Once you have selected the perfect block of land in a neighbourhood you love, you should plan your new home design around sustainability by taking the following steps:

• Do research – look for inspiration and ideas in magazines and on the internet. Speak to friends and relatives who have gone through similar building experiences about the energy efficiency of their new homes.


• Budget - it may not be very sexy, but this step is crucial in ensuring a worry-free building process. Take your incomes and expenses, assets and liabilities into account, and keep a buffer for those unplanned expenses. Also speak to a financing institute about a mortgage.


• Find a trusted builder– seek the advice and services of a reputable builder who preferably has experience in building eco-friendly homes. Make it clear from the start that you will be going green and communicate your preferences and budget to them.

Choose a green building design

The options are endless when it comes to choosing a sustainable building design, but it doesn’t have to be complicated or expensive. Passive solar design is a principle of green architecture that uses sunshine optimally to heat, cool and lighten the house in all seasons.
Australia is often referred to as the sunniest continent, making passive solar design especially smart. Keep this in mind when discussing the home design with your architect and builder. Here are some key factors to consider:

Orientation

Choose a home orientation that will maximise your new home’s passive design in all the seasons. Place living areas in locations where they will receive maximum sun in the winter and cooling shade and breezes during summer. In Australia a north or northeast facing living area is ideal.

Window designs and placements

Windows let in much needed air, natural light and sunshine. Consider the size and location of windows to enhance natural airflow and cross-ventilation between the rooms in the home.

Landscaping

The area around the home also influences its energy efficiency. Carports should be located in areas that won’t cast unnecessary shade on rooms during the winter. Plant vegetation that can provide shade in the summer but may be pruned to allow winter sunshine to enter the home.

Eco-friendly Materials

Building a new home will always make an impact on the environment, but you can reduce the carbon footprint by choosing to use eco friendly building materials for your green home.

Firstly, ask your builder to use materials that have a low life cycle environmental impact in an effort to reduce the immediate impact that the building process will have on the environment. Secondly, choose to use sustainable building materials that will make better use of alternative energy sources to keep your home eco-friendly.

• Solar panels as a sustainable energy source


• Solar water heating


• Green insulation in the roof and walls


• Double glazed windows and glass doors


• Solar lights


• Green roofs and green walls

Save water

An integral part of building a green home and cutting utility costs is using sustainable building practices that will minimise water consumption.

Choose to use eco-friendly appliances like washing machines and dishwashers that will drastically lower the amount of water and power usage. Ask your plumber about installing water-wise fixtures on taps, shower heads and toilets to further reduce water usage. You may also want to investigate implementing methods of reusing or storing water such as in rainwater harvesting.

Revamp and renovate

You don’t have to build a new house to live a life that embraces sustainable practices; you can simply revamp or renovate your current home to make optimal use of renewable energy sources. Start by putting small measures in place that will contribute to saving energy and water. Tap fixtures and solar panels are relatively easy to install and you can replace many of your old appliances with eco-friendly alternatives. If your budget and time allows, then you may want to consider a bigger renovation to move rooms to allow optimum solar designs.

Whether you are feeling inspired to revamp your home into a greener environment or take on a whole new sustainable house design project, for the best results you should work with the right, licensed and ensured service providers.