Whether you’re building a home or a commercial property, considering an environmentally friendly design should be a priority for your build.
Not only will an eco-friendly build help protect the environment, but it can also save you money in the future on things like energy usage and efficiency. When it comes to eco-friendly construction, everything starts with intelligent design.
By using the right technologies and materials from the very beginning of the build, you can ensure that you’re building a property that is efficient and preserving the environment as much as possible.
Here is a list of what you should consider when planning an eco-friendly build.
Consider the placement and quality of doors and windows
The best practice is to choose good quality windows and doors that are properly sealed and insulated. Poorly sealed windows and doors leak air, meaning that warm and cool air will flow in and out of the building.
This is a problem during the summer when you want to keep the building cooler and during the winter when you want to heat the interior.
The heating and cooling systems in the building will have to work harder and use more energy to keep the interior temperature consistent, costing you money and wasting energy.
Choose windows that are at least double glazed, and choose doors that are high quality and insulated as well. The placement of your windows also makes a difference, not only to the atmosphere of the room but also to take advantage of the sunlight and natural breezes.
This can help heat and cool the building without using extra energy from your HVAC system.
Invest in good insulation
Choosing properly insulated windows and doors is one thing, but you should also consider investing in proper insulation for the entire building.
A poorly insulated building will have issues with heating and cooling, so to ensure you aren’t wasting energy trying to control the inside temperature, make sure you install high-quality insulation.
Install a gas membrane
Gas membranes are more to protect your building from the environment, but installing one can help with environmentally friendly energy processes as well.
Gas membrane installation will protect your building from harmful and invisible gases that silently seep in from the ground.
If you’re building on a site that may have methane, carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, radon gas, or hydrogen sulphide in the ground, a gas membrane is a must-have.
Use recycled materials when possible
An environmentally friendly build means considering where your building materials are being sourced from.
One good way to reduce the environmental impact of the build is to use materials made from recycled products or repurpose materials that have been used in some way already.
For example, you could use rubber roofing that was made from recycled materials, carpets that were made from recycled plastic bottles, or deck materials made from wood waste and recycled paper.
Choose efficient faucets and toilets
Saving water can help combat water scarcity issues that may arise, and including water-efficient fixtures for the bathrooms and kitchen can help the environment.
Consider electronic faucets that only run the water when needed, and dual-flush toilets with two flush options to help save water.
