![]() In the winter, the sun will be at a lower angle and not be blocked by the overhang. The sun is higher in the summer than in the winter, so a roof overhang can block the sun in the summer. Another trick is sun shades or a roof overhang. This will help reduce your heating usage. The tree will block sunlight in the summer, but lose its leaves and allow the sunlight in during the winter. Deciduous means the tree loses its leaves in winter. You can plant a deciduous tree in front of your south facing windows for more energy saving. ![]() If you do have windows facing west, you can plant a large tree to block some of that uncomfortable sunlight. You do not want too many windows facing west, as this will give lots of glare and provide heat in the summer. This will help heat your home, as well as bring in natural light. If you build a long wall with windows facing south, you maximize direct sunlight in the winter. If you live in a cold climate in the Northern Hemisphere, you can take advantage of the sun by having more windows facing south. Orientation is important for sustainable homes. Orientation Of Your House For Natural Light And Heat Smaller houses are inherently more efficient and less wasteful. Think about your needs and try not to go overboard with the size of your house. A larger house will obviously use more materials and require more energy for heating and cooling. Building a smaller house is going to reduce your material use and energy needs. Not everyone interested in sustainable house design is going to go down this route, but smaller houses are far more efficient. To learn more about building in high risk areas, check out another post we wrote on Flood Proof House Design Ideas. You know what isn’t green? Building your house twice. ![]() If you build in a hazardous site, make sure the home is designed to withstand the hazard. Sensitive or Hazardous Sites: Try to avoid hazardous areas like flood zones. If you can use existing infrastructure, you are off to a good start in reducing your impact on the environment. Infrastructure: The availability of utilities and infrastructure will vary. Living in New York City makes this very easy for me, but it may not always be an option for you. Transportation: Building a home within walking distance of public transportation is going to reduce your impact on our environment. When possible, consider the following issues. Now, let’s go over some ideas on how to build a sustainable house!Ģ1 Ideas For Building a Sustainable Home:Ĭhoosing a location is the first step in building a sustainable house. Building sustainable homes not only saves you money in the long run, but also reduces your impact on the environment. In this article we will outline 21 tips for a sustainable house design. Building with sustainability in mind should be standard for a twenty first century home. What we build matters, and so does how we build it. This means energy efficiency, avoiding environmental toxins, and using materials and resources in a responsible manner while having a positive physical and psychological impact on its inhabitants. A sustainable house is a home that has the least possible negative impact on our environment.
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