More people
are now interested in a sustainable lifestyle which leads to the natural spread
of this word in every aspect of our daily life. In real estate, especially when
we talk about construction of houses and buildings, the word
"sustainability" is not always understood equally and is often
associated with costly procedures and technologies requiring time and
resources.
No house can
be 100% sustainable, as each house has some impact on our planet. The idea
behind "sustainable houses" is to reduce as much as possible their
impact on the environment.
There are
three aspects that can best describe the definition of a sustainable house:
size, energy consumption and useful life. Here is what's behind every aspect.
Size
We do not need
to be experts in sustainable development and construction to say that smaller
houses use less energy to build and maintain. In case you have decided to build
a sustainable home for you and your family, the first question you need to
answer is how much space you really need to live well? Here the luxury is not
measured in square meters but in a conscious decision with a thought to the
environment. The answer to this question is important because every square
meter in a house uses energy, thus contributing to the running costs of the
house.
Size is
important to consider when designing the house. What will the house be used for
- as permanent residence or summer cottage? How many people will live in it?
Good design will incorporate these considerations and will leave room for any
changes in the house by its future occupants.
Energy Consumption
Although size
is a factor, a sustainable house does not mean a small house. It comes down to
the building standard applied and the resulting energy consumption. There are
standard principles for this type of houses, for example, the standards for Zero
Carbon houses. These standards ultimately determine the energy consumption
of the house once it is ready and not during its construction.
Speaking of
standards, there are also other types of houses that could be considered sustainable:
eco-homes and green homes that often come with a green roof and a rainwater
collection function; low energy houses that focus mainly on energy consumption;
as well as various government initiatives, such as Zero Carbon houses in the UK
or energy-efficient buildings in the EU, that are gaining increasing
popularity. All these types of houses lead to a diverse range of sustainable buildings
and are an example of the fact that the choice is bigger than we can assume.
Useful life ot the house
The ultimate
aspect of what makes a house sustainable is its life span. Generally speaking,
sustainable homes are built to last as long as possible. Nowadays the standard
house is built with a life span of about 80 years. The sustainable house is
built to last more than 100 years. Given the useful life expectancy, considerations
such as size and energy consumption are even more urgent to take into account because
such house is not built for just one generation.
Undoubtedly,
here comes the question of “Why build a sustainable house”?
We have looked at several advantages that make
it worthwhile to consider the benefits of the sustainable house.
Reduced costs over time
By definition
sustainable houses are energy efficient. The initial investment may be greater
than in a conventional house, but in the long run it will cost less money
because it will be efficient throughout its life.
In the
construction phase, the use of recycled and even reclaimed materials will also
add savings to the house. The rule that by building a sustainable house you invest
in the future, is utterly valid.
Minimized environmental impact of the house
As already mentioned, no house can be 100%
sustainable and every house will have an impact on our planet. Building a
sustainable house aims to reduce its footprint by using less energy during
construction. The reduced footprint on our planet may be a good motivation and
incentive to start building (and live) more sustainably
Security
A sustainable
house can also act as an insurance against rising energy prices. The prices for
oil, gas and consequently electricity, will increase in the future. Using less
of these resources in a house will mean lower running costs.
Allegedly, there
is a specific type of sustainable house that can withstand fires, hurricanes
and earthquakes. Regardless of whether these statements are true or not,
building a sustainable house will allow each builder to make it in accordance
with local conditions (including natural disasters).
Quality of life
The greatest
advantage of any sustainable house remains the overall improvement of the quality
of life. A sustainable house may have built-in air exchange properties to
minimize harmful gases. Indeed, sustainable houses can make significantly less harm.
The
sustainable house also matches its occupants and their way of living. It can be
customized and made properly and aesthetically beautiful, it can be further dimensioned
or made smaller to fit future generations
