5. Sustainable Homes are the future
Learn ways to make your house sustainable using eco - friendly materials. The more environmentally friendly the house, the longer it will last.
i) Use Environmentally kind materials / recycled materials
These may include locally sourced timber, recycled timber floorboards, local earth for mud homes, metal or wood cladding. It is important to consider the total life-cycle costs of the materials. When building a sustainable home, consider using materials such as reclaimed wood or brick, rubber slate or recycled glass. In case recycled materials aren’t available, opt for locally sourced, recyclable building material can alleviate the environmental burden.
ii) Include Green walls/living walls
A living roof/green wall not only acts as a natural insulator for the walls and roofs but is also aesthetically pleasing. It can help cut down the temperature and the usage of harsh chemicals for roof insulations in buildings.
iii) Use energy efficient methods for water and energy supply
Utilize the sun and switch to solar panels for effective usage of electricity consumption in a household. Investing in a rainwater harvesting system can help reutilize the storm water to a great extent.
iv) Minimal Wastage or a Net Zero household
Try to buy furniture that can be recycled and use as few items in a house as required. The more minimal and functional items a household has, the lesser is the wastage. Invest in products made out of recycled materials/ having a long lifecycle. Recycle and reuse your building waste by recycling the cardboards, plastics, and metal waste . Concrete can be broken down and recycled as retaining material in driveways and footpaths. Untreated timber/wood can be repurposed and used in landscaping and gardening or used as firewood.
v) Check the environmental standard for building a sustainable home
Knowing the building standards and energy efficiency requirements can help shape good design but knowing what options (materials, systems, design) you have, can help you design your house for the future and can save you money in the long term. Check the green building standards & guidelines (LEED & GRIHA certification) while planning to build a house/office space.