Introduction to Sustainable Home Design
Sustainable homes have risen in popularity over the past few years, and for good reason. These types of homes are built using methods that reduce their potential impact on the environment. How do sustainable homes achieve this goal? Each is built using eco-friendly materials and energy-efficient home design.
With the Salt Lake City metro area continuously on the list of fastest-growing metro areas in the country, residents are increasingly concerned about the environment and the city’s limited resources, such as water and fresh air. This increases the demand for sustainable home construction and green building materials. Think Architecture is proud to be the leading architect in Salt Lake City, offering eco-friendly home design that is both breathtaking and environmentally conscious.
Location Considerations: SLC’s Eco-Friendly Landscape
Those who live in Salt Lake City are familiar with its unique environment. According to the EPA, the SLC area has a relatively humid climate with hot summers and cold, snowy winters. While driving through the valley, you’ll see the dry, dusty landscape of Salt Lake surrounded by towering, snow-capped peaks. Vegetation is lush in some areas while being sparse in others. The Salt Lake area is a unique environment that requires unique ecological solutions for sustainability.
You must consider site selection for maximum impact when building a sustainable building in SLC. Selecting a sustainable site for your home reduces environmental impact, minimizes the destruction of natural habitats, preserves soil quality, and protects the local ecosystem. Environmentally responsible site selection involves choosing land that has yet to be developed, building a home that reduces the impact on waterways and ecosystems, promoting smart transportation systems, and controlling stormwater runoff.
Choosing Green Building Materials
The benefits of incorporating green building materials are seemingly endless. Building with environmentally friendly materials suitable for Salt Lake’s climate can save money and reduce your ecological footprint. Your home’s occupants will also experience better health and productivity because potential pollutants will be reduced, and you’ll also experience greater design flexibility.
Green building materials such as wood from certified sustainable forests, concrete with recycled admixtures, and recycled steel are durable and built to last a lifetime. Other environmentally friendly materials, such as recycled materials, reclaimed wood, ENERGY STAR appliances, and passive house ventilation systems, are great options to incorporate into eco-friendly architecture in Salt Lake City.
Energy-Efficient Design Strategies
There are many ways to incorporate energy-efficient home design when building a new home. Houses should be constructed with improved insulation and energy-efficient windows and doors. High-efficiency furnaces and air conditioners help keep your home comfortable while minimizing energy usage. Solar panels help offset energy usage from the home, and low-flow plumbing fixtures help conserve water. Even though these design strategies are simple, they can add up to big sustainability savings in the long run.
Passive homes, which are designed to reduce energy consumption by up to 90 percent, are becoming increasingly popular. They can integrate the natural temperatures of the environment to contribute to overall energy efficiency.
Creating Your Eco-Friendly Dream Home with Think Architecture
Think Architecture is the industry leader in sustainable custom home architecture in the wasatch area and beyond. Whether you’re building a small single-family home or want to build a large commercial one, we’ll design it for you. We have over 90 years of combined design experience and offer various services for any project. Using our unique blend of expertise, vision, and professionalism, our talented designers create one-of-a-kind spaces for everyone to enjoy. Are you ready to get started on your next environmentally conscious home? Contact Think Architecture today.