Tips To Consider When Planning A Sustainable House Build
There are so many benefits when it comes to building a sustainable home!
Whether your aim is reducing waste, improving your energy and water consumption or improving heating/cooling comforts indoors, designing your build with a sustainable long-term mindset can help to significantly increase the lifespan of your home.
However, starting your sustainable build journey can be tricky and overwhelming, so here are some tips.
Windbreak House, Tasmania. Architect: Cumulus Studio. Builder: Minchin Construction. Image via Green Magazine.
“We carefully take into consideration the materials we use throughout the design and build stages and their effect on our environment and the communities around us.”
WHAT IS a SUSTainable building?
1. Consider what sustainable building means to you and your project
When it comes to sustainable builds, there's a large grey area regarding what is truly defined as sustainable, especially regarding individual builds. This is why it's important to ask yourself:
What do I consider sustainable?; and
What is achievable to implement for my project?
Sustainability can range from 100% eco-friendly materials, local manufacturing of products through to designs and practices to passive design or complete passive house certified builds. This is completely dependent on your own sustainability beliefs, available budget, geographical location of your build and the design and building team you join forces with.
Having a game plan for your build will have a hugely positive impact as you can outline your sustainability values from the get-go.
does location impact a passive house design?
2. Take into consideration the location of your build
Considering the location of your build is also incredibly important during your project's design and build phases.
When designing a sustainable home, the right design team can utilise the surrounding landscape for your benefit.
This can include choosing a specific house position on the block to maximise light infiltration and minimise wind tunnels, or your architect might consider the design of your home to keep the warmth in during winter and encourage sun exposure during spring and summer.
The strategic design of a home can also allow for natural warming to occur, decreasing the reliance and use of gas and electricity for heating. Similarly, creating natural airflow and positioning the home to maximise cool breezes during summer will assist in naturally cooling the home.
Engaging an experienced and sustainably driven designer from day one is key to ensuring your home is sustainably considered and designed.
3. Find the right design and building team
Finding a designer who shares your vision for your home in both style and sustainability is important, as this process starts from the very beginning. Viewing their past projects either in person or via a portfolio will also help you understand their experience, expertise and quality of work.
A sustainable designer will design your home from the ground up, seeing how the exact position of the house on the block of land will impact the rest of the design.
Finding the right builder can significantly impact your home's sustainability as they're responsible for managing the sustainable practices of the build and sourcing the materials.
“At Yarrow Build, we focus on blending our design style and sustainability with our client’s wants and needs and future homes. And, our Director, Tim Yarrow is a GreenSmart Professional certified builder!”
what is a greensmart builder?
HIA GreenSmart was Australia's first sustainable building and design program tailored specifically for home building. aims to encourage a mainstream application of the benefits of environmentally responsible housing.
Some of the topics covered in the training include:
global and local context of sustainable development
thermal performance
passive solar design and natural ventilation
design and operational issues for water and energy efficiency
selection of water and energy-efficient ecologically friendly appliances
lighting
principles of sustainable building
environmental design
We believe that designing from the ground up to maximise the benefits of the home's location is key in establishing a truly sustainable home.
We work closely with our clients to ensure every project follows sustainable best practices, mindfully considers the materials used and sets them up for a sustainable future within the home.
Together, with our team, we can design and build you a beautiful home with sustainability at its heart.
Have questions or want more info? Book a call and say hello; we'd love to hear from you!
