Francesc Zamora - 150 Best Sustainable House Ideas

Contents Interest in sustainable architecture is increasing as people become more concerned with the deteriorating environment and dwindling fossil fuel supplies. In residential architecture, as in any other building category, measurement tools have triggered changes in the design process, and these changes are in turn changing construction methods. Around the world, environmental and energy-efficiency concerns are being addressed by institutions such as the United States Green Building Council (USGBC), the creator of the LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) requirements for sustainable buildings, and BREEAM (Building Research Establishments Environmental Assessment Method) established in the UK. The requirements not only focus on energy use but also on issues such as water efficiency, carbon emissions, and materials use, all with the goal of improving environmental quality. The types of environmentally friendly construction measures are continuously being upgraded in response to an ever-worsening environmental situation and rising energy costs. There seems to be a growing movement towards net-zero buildingsbuildings that have zero net energy consumption and zero carbon emissions annually.

Over the years, rules for building homes have changed, and today it is no longer acceptable to design without considering the context of the location. Houses need to respond to their immediate environment in order to reach quality efficiency levels. The design process for sustainable homes starts with a series of questions: How is the building going to respond to the sites orientation, wind exposure, and solar gain? How will it maximize natural light? How can the builders reduce construction waste? How can the house provide heating and cooling with a minimum production of CO? In order to achieve sustainable goals, buildings can no longer be a composition of different systems. Rather, they need to be conceived as an integrated whole with building elements, including the structure, mechanical equipment, and materials, strongly connected to each other and serving more than one function. For instance, the structure may not only support its loads, but may also serve as a heat sink for passive heating and cooling. The effort to maximize sustainability does not end when a building is complete.

Humans need to see a sustainable building as a living structure that is part of a larger good, and encourage their communities to be environmentally conscious. Architects: Shaun Lockyer Architects Location: Brookfield, Brisbane, Australia Photography: Scott Burrows This project was born out of the remnants of a Robin Gibson cottage that existed on the site. The design, inspired by the work of both Gibson and architect Richard Neutra, is a contemporary reinterpretation of modernist design. The house enjoys a long, linear plan with the rooms arranged to soak up the winter sun. A natural palette of zinc, tallow wood, slate, and travertine creates a robust and timeless aesthetic. The environmental, economic, and aesthetic benefits of green roofs are widely recognized. The environmental, economic, and aesthetic benefits of green roofs are widely recognized.

These benefits include the protection of waterproofing, water retention, and thermal insulation. The new guest pavilion sits on the original footprint of the Gibson cottage and reuses the original stone. The planning of the house prioritizes solar orientation and views. The layout is defined by stone blades that bisect the house and delineate living zones and pavilions. Energy-efficient light bulbs use less energy than incandescent bulbs, which are highly inefficient. The house has been thermally engineered. The house has been thermally engineered.

In addition to green roofs, it features a number of sustainability initiatives, including 15 KW of solar power, skylights, and low-E glass throughout. The use of reclaimed timber gives a space a sense of history. Most reclaimed timber is obtained from old barns and warehouses and is used in homes for siding and flooring. Architects: Minarc Location: Biskupstungur, Iceland Photography: Minarc Big Little Rock is a modest house made to blend in with the surrounding landscape. Its simple eco-friendly design focuses on functionality and creates a healthy living environment for its occupants. While concrete, wood, and glass predominate and unify the construction style, conscious effort was made to use materials in their most natural form.

The project also embraces history with shapes found in traditional mud houses. A steel roof can contribute to the overall thermal efficiency of a home, lowering the costs of energy use and minimizing environmental impact.