Sustainable architecture is the future, and eco-friendly homes are leading the way. An eco-friendly home is a house that has been built or designed using environmentally friendly materials and appliances. It can be anything from using energy-efficient light bulbs and low-flow water fixtures to using paint made from soy or installing large windows to let more natural light in. A true eco-friendly home features environmentally cautious features within its design, construction, siting, operation, and maintenance. Some of the most common features of an eco-friendly home are solar power, rainwater storage, recycling features, food gardens and more. Eco-friendly homes are all about using renewable energy sources, being energy-efficient, and using natural materials.
History of Eco-Friendly Homes
Eco-friendly homes may feel like a modern phenomenon, but the history of sustainable structures stretches further into the past than most people realize. In ancient times, nearly every residence or building was an environmentally friendly structure, not because it was the trendy thing to do, but because it was the only option. For thousands of years, the people in ancient civilizations had no choice but to create sustainable dwellings. With limited resources around them, they made their homes out of natural, local materials, and they planned their lives accordingly. Sustainable housing was the first and only option available for generations until the industrial revolution quickly changed how people lived. Societies that were once anchored by small villages and sprawling farms were now being condensed into bustling cities filled with factories, tenements and larger homes that drained excessive amounts of energy.
Need for Eco-Friendly Homes
In the early 1970s, environmental activists sounded the alarms. They realised that the climate change crisis was a real possibility, and that there needed to be an increase in sustainable efforts in order to curb the impact that people were having on the environment. At the same time, oil prices were climbing steadily in the 1970s and 1980s, which was a motivating factor for the average person to minimise their own energy consumption. During this time period, the modern concept of the eco home was born.
The last decade has seen great improvements in eco-technologies thanks to computer-aided design and manufacturing, which have helped produce more reliable technologies at lower cost. Today, there are thousands of eco-friendly homes all over the world built in different climatic conditions with various approaches to design and technologies.
Benefits of Eco-Friendly Homes
Reduces carbon footprint: Eco homes have energy and gas efficiency, resulting in less carbon being sent out into the world. Around 40% of carbon emissions come from the construction industry, therefore, taking a sustainable approach to architecture can help you not be part of that statistic.
Eco-friendly homes can take care of themselves: Green building materials are often more durable and require much less maintenance over time, helping your home to look newer for longer and saving money on costly repairs. This extended lifespan and little need for upkeep can also help to significantly reduce your home’s environmental impact.
Economic Benefits: Studies have shown that the overall costs in eco-friendly home building are not substantially higher than traditionally built homes. Builders can often get even more markdowns by incorporating the green design at the start of the project.
Higher property value: Buyers are increasingly starting to see the benefits that eco-friendly homes offer, from lower running costs to a more sustainable and future proof way of living. Green homes are now highly sought after, and as such attract a much higher property value than their non-green counterparts. Investing in an eco-friendly home now means you’ll be one step ahead for the future.