Features to Consider When Building a House (Sustainability Checklist)

When it comes to building a sustainable home, there are four common features that you account for during the building process. Today, we’ll talk about those four features, as well as a few materials and products you can use to achieve the goals of these features with our house sustainability checklist.

Building a Sustainable Home

At Sustainable 9 Design + Build, creating eco-friendly, modern homes is in our name. If you’re ready to build your next Minnesota dream home, one that is sustainable, beautiful, and functional, then give us a call at 612-234-4194 or start the conversation by E-mail ([email protected]). Or if you prefer, send us a message through our website.

Energy Conservation

Why You Should Conserve Energy in Your Home: First off, conserving energy will help you save money on energy bills. On top of that, less electricity used means you’ll also burn fewer fossil fuels and can reduce overall pollution and greenhouse gas emissions from your home.

Ways to Create a Sustainable Home That Conserves Energy: 

• Install a smart thermostat that can automatically turn off or reduce heating and cooling when you’re asleep or out of the house.
• Purchase energy-efficient appliances
• Purchase an energy-efficient water heater
• Install energy-efficient windows
• Upgrade your HVAC system (Look for Energy Star labels)
• Use good insulation techniques (the colder the climate you live in, the higher the ‘R-value’ of your home should be)

Water Conservation

Why You Should Conserve Water in Your Home: Water conservation is becoming essential no matter where you live in the world, even where water seems plentiful. There is a finite amount of water resources in the world, and each year the amount is shrinking. Water conservation will also save you money, as well as help prevent pollution in nearby lakes, rivers, and watersheds.

Ways to Create a Home that Conserves Water:

• Install low or dual flush toilets
• Use a high-efficiency washing machine
• Install water-saving shower heads, timers, and low-flow faucet aerators
• Insulate your water pipes
• Use a greywater system
• Harvest rainwater for watering your garden or lawn

Solar Power

Why You Should Use Solar Power in Your Home: Solar power is great for the environment, as it represents a clean and green source of energy and will reduce your carbon footprint. People with solar power homes are less likely to experience power outages. Of course, solar power is also a free source of energy.

Ways to Use Solar Energy in Your Home:

• Solar energy can be used for heating your pool
• Install a solar water heater
• Use hot water or hot air solar systems
• Install solar-powered pumps
• Power your home with photo-electric
• Use landscape lighting fixtures that use solar energy for power

Healthy Air Quality

Why You Should Make Sure Your Home Has Healthy Air Quality: Breathing quality indoor air is essential for both your long-term and short-term health. Serious pollutants in the air can cause asthma, cancers, and other health complications. Overall, clean air in your home can help prevent many environmental health hazards.

Ways to Create Healthy Air Quality in Your Home:

• Use a trickle ventilator
• Use non-toxic paints (Low VOC)
• Create a home where plants can thrive
• Avoid lead pants

The Present and Future is Sustainable

The trend we see today about living a sustainable life, whether it’s through the food we consume, the products we buy, or the houses we build, isn’t just a trend. It’s a fixture of the American lifestyle today. Now more than ever there is a need for sustainable living practices. If you’re reading this, then you’re already on the right path. We here at Sustainable 9 implore you to keep educating yourself about how to live an environmentally-conscious life and how you can create your own sustainable home.

Final Thoughts

All in all, we hope this house sustainability checklist gave you everything you needed to help you make your custom-built dream home come to life! Which item on the checklist is your favorite? Tell us in the comments below.