10 Sustainable Features Pros Recommend for Any Home
Looking to make your home more comfy, efficient and eco-friendly? Try these ideas from garden and renovation experts
Annie Thornton
12 June 2021
Houzz Editorial Staff
There are many reasons to consider incorporating sustainability into the design and construction of your home. Not only can you help to reduce your environmental impact, you can also reap financial benefits and improve comfort.
Here, 13 sustainability experts on Houzz, including landscape designers, interior designers, builders and architects, share top features they recommend homeowners consider for any project.
These ideas range from small to bigger investments. They can be used in conjunction to create super-efficient houses, but they can also make quite a difference to your home’s comfort, energy use and longevity on their own.
Here, 13 sustainability experts on Houzz, including landscape designers, interior designers, builders and architects, share top features they recommend homeowners consider for any project.
These ideas range from small to bigger investments. They can be used in conjunction to create super-efficient houses, but they can also make quite a difference to your home’s comfort, energy use and longevity on their own.
Native plants
Consider incorporating native plants into your next landscape improvement – even if only in part of your garden – for their many environmental benefits. “Once you start to see all of the unique features they offer and benefits they provide, it almost becomes like a hobby collecting them,” says US-based landscape designer Lee Armillei of Athyrium Design in Pennsylvania.
Native plants provide food and shelter for wildlife and beneficial insects, and they contribute to the larger ecosystem without relying on valuable resources or extensive maintenance to survive. They also reflect your region’s distinct terroir and can adapt to and evolve with the local climate.
“Wherever you are in the world, your region’s authentic foliage will be most resilient to ongoing and changing climate factors,” says Cassy Aoyagi, president of FormLA Landscaping in Los Angeles.
Consider incorporating native plants into your next landscape improvement – even if only in part of your garden – for their many environmental benefits. “Once you start to see all of the unique features they offer and benefits they provide, it almost becomes like a hobby collecting them,” says US-based landscape designer Lee Armillei of Athyrium Design in Pennsylvania.
Native plants provide food and shelter for wildlife and beneficial insects, and they contribute to the larger ecosystem without relying on valuable resources or extensive maintenance to survive. They also reflect your region’s distinct terroir and can adapt to and evolve with the local climate.
“Wherever you are in the world, your region’s authentic foliage will be most resilient to ongoing and changing climate factors,” says Cassy Aoyagi, president of FormLA Landscaping in Los Angeles.
Energy-efficient lighting and appliances
Switching to energy-efficient LED lighting is an easy adjustment to make and will lead to reduced energy consumption (and lower electricity bills). “LED light bulbs typically use 25% to 80% less energy than incandescents and last a lot longer,” says interior designer Laura Freeman of Merits Design Group in Atlanta. “In addition, incandescent bulbs give off heat. In a room with many light sources, such as the kitchen, this can affect the overall temperature.”
Interior designer Lucile Glessner in California echoes this sentiment. “Changing your incandescent and fluorescent lights to LED is an obvious long-term financial payoff. LEDs do not emit heat and provide many lumens for a fraction of the wattage, so you save energy both ways,” she says.
Freeman likes to install dimmers and occupancy sensors in certain rooms, so homeowners can control how much light they need to use throughout the day. “This also reduces energy usage and saves on operating costs,” she says. “And always opt for Energy Star appliances, especially in the laundry room. Washers and dryers are at the top of the list of energy consumers in your home.”
Energy-efficient lighting can also be used outdoors. Designers layer LEDs with other dark-sky outdoor lighting techniques to reduce energy consumption and minimise disturbance to wildlife.
“I try to use outdoor light fixtures that cover the bulb and cast light down. I also utilise timers rather than dusk-to-dawn settings,” landscape designer Armillei says. “Most recently, I’ve begun incorporating a smart socket for landscape lights that allows my clients to override the programmed settings to turn the lights off earlier or keep them on during special events.”
Switching to energy-efficient LED lighting is an easy adjustment to make and will lead to reduced energy consumption (and lower electricity bills). “LED light bulbs typically use 25% to 80% less energy than incandescents and last a lot longer,” says interior designer Laura Freeman of Merits Design Group in Atlanta. “In addition, incandescent bulbs give off heat. In a room with many light sources, such as the kitchen, this can affect the overall temperature.”
Interior designer Lucile Glessner in California echoes this sentiment. “Changing your incandescent and fluorescent lights to LED is an obvious long-term financial payoff. LEDs do not emit heat and provide many lumens for a fraction of the wattage, so you save energy both ways,” she says.
Freeman likes to install dimmers and occupancy sensors in certain rooms, so homeowners can control how much light they need to use throughout the day. “This also reduces energy usage and saves on operating costs,” she says. “And always opt for Energy Star appliances, especially in the laundry room. Washers and dryers are at the top of the list of energy consumers in your home.”
Energy-efficient lighting can also be used outdoors. Designers layer LEDs with other dark-sky outdoor lighting techniques to reduce energy consumption and minimise disturbance to wildlife.
“I try to use outdoor light fixtures that cover the bulb and cast light down. I also utilise timers rather than dusk-to-dawn settings,” landscape designer Armillei says. “Most recently, I’ve begun incorporating a smart socket for landscape lights that allows my clients to override the programmed settings to turn the lights off earlier or keep them on during special events.”
Natural finishes
Plant-based materials and low-VOC (Volatile Organic Compounds) finishes are easy and affordable ways to improve indoor air quality and overall house health. “I would recommend understanding VOCs and removing them as much as possible from your environment,” Glessner says.
She adds that it’s important to consider the finishes and materials you’re buying, as they pertain to VOCs and off-gassing. “Air quality is critical, with regards to viruses, germs and chemicals that stay in the air. Air purifiers help, but are not enough,” she says. “Wood flooring is great, but if it’s finished with an unhealthy varnish, you’ll breathe in these chemicals for a long time.”
In terms of products, Glessner says it’s especially important to pay attention to what’s in your bed and mattress, since you spend so much time on them. “If they emit VOCs, you’ll be breathing in a lot of chemicals at night for at least a year. [By reducing VOCs in your home], you will also help the environment overall by being a savvy and more sustainable consumer.”
Take a look at the Houzz Professionals Directory to find a range of renovation pros in your area, see their projects and read client reviews.
Plant-based materials and low-VOC (Volatile Organic Compounds) finishes are easy and affordable ways to improve indoor air quality and overall house health. “I would recommend understanding VOCs and removing them as much as possible from your environment,” Glessner says.
She adds that it’s important to consider the finishes and materials you’re buying, as they pertain to VOCs and off-gassing. “Air quality is critical, with regards to viruses, germs and chemicals that stay in the air. Air purifiers help, but are not enough,” she says. “Wood flooring is great, but if it’s finished with an unhealthy varnish, you’ll breathe in these chemicals for a long time.”
In terms of products, Glessner says it’s especially important to pay attention to what’s in your bed and mattress, since you spend so much time on them. “If they emit VOCs, you’ll be breathing in a lot of chemicals at night for at least a year. [By reducing VOCs in your home], you will also help the environment overall by being a savvy and more sustainable consumer.”
Take a look at the Houzz Professionals Directory to find a range of renovation pros in your area, see their projects and read client reviews.
Locally harvested and sourced materials
All of the pros we spoke to emphasised the value in using local materials when possible – including wood and stone – both to reduce the distance the materials have to travel to reach your home and as a way to support local business – and in some cases they even reduce costs.
“Seeking out local materials reduces the carbon footprint of those materials and supports your local economy,” Armillei says.
All of the pros we spoke to emphasised the value in using local materials when possible – including wood and stone – both to reduce the distance the materials have to travel to reach your home and as a way to support local business – and in some cases they even reduce costs.
“Seeking out local materials reduces the carbon footprint of those materials and supports your local economy,” Armillei says.
Regenerative or recyclable products
When choosing materials and products for your home project, also consider using ones that are recycled, recyclable or grown from sources that can easily renew themselves. This last bit primarily pertains to wood products.
“We encourage using materials that are regenerative,” says interior designer Katie Storey of Storey Design in San Francisco. “For example, choosing sustainably harvested wood (FSC-certified) means that only as much wood is taken from the forest as can regrow and regenerate. Other short-cycle crops, which grow rapidly, such as cork, bamboo, hemp, rice and seaweed, are carbon-storing and, consequently, reduce the amount of carbon in our atmosphere. Look for insulation, foam, packaging and goods made of these.”
More materials that can be fully recycled or those made from recycled materials are becoming easily available. “For example, aluminium roofing can be recycled completely. Other examples of this include PVC products, such as architrave and (some) composite decking,” says Jessica Otte, designer and project manager at Meyer Design in Illinois. “Look for countertops that are made from recycled materials or materials that can be recycled again.”
When choosing materials and products for your home project, also consider using ones that are recycled, recyclable or grown from sources that can easily renew themselves. This last bit primarily pertains to wood products.
“We encourage using materials that are regenerative,” says interior designer Katie Storey of Storey Design in San Francisco. “For example, choosing sustainably harvested wood (FSC-certified) means that only as much wood is taken from the forest as can regrow and regenerate. Other short-cycle crops, which grow rapidly, such as cork, bamboo, hemp, rice and seaweed, are carbon-storing and, consequently, reduce the amount of carbon in our atmosphere. Look for insulation, foam, packaging and goods made of these.”
More materials that can be fully recycled or those made from recycled materials are becoming easily available. “For example, aluminium roofing can be recycled completely. Other examples of this include PVC products, such as architrave and (some) composite decking,” says Jessica Otte, designer and project manager at Meyer Design in Illinois. “Look for countertops that are made from recycled materials or materials that can be recycled again.”
High-performance windows and insulation
Chris Price of Klima Architecture in Utah says triple-glazed windows are key to improving comfort and energy-efficiency in your home. “Glazing makes up a large part of our envelopes, and they are proportionally very poor in thermal resistance versus a solid wall,” he says.
Additionally, you want to be sure your solid walls aren’t leaking, either. “Insulation is the cheapest and easiest material to add to a home. Very easily by increasing the depth of standard walls, you can get substantially better wall performance for a small outlay,” he says.
“We try firstly to minimise the total carbon footprint our projects have over their lifetime, which, as research shows, is the energy performance, so we put most of our eggs in making the most robust, airtight, thermally broken and insulated envelopes possible,” he says.
You might also enjoy 5 Excellent Sustainable Ideas From Our Tours.
Chris Price of Klima Architecture in Utah says triple-glazed windows are key to improving comfort and energy-efficiency in your home. “Glazing makes up a large part of our envelopes, and they are proportionally very poor in thermal resistance versus a solid wall,” he says.
Additionally, you want to be sure your solid walls aren’t leaking, either. “Insulation is the cheapest and easiest material to add to a home. Very easily by increasing the depth of standard walls, you can get substantially better wall performance for a small outlay,” he says.
“We try firstly to minimise the total carbon footprint our projects have over their lifetime, which, as research shows, is the energy performance, so we put most of our eggs in making the most robust, airtight, thermally broken and insulated envelopes possible,” he says.
You might also enjoy 5 Excellent Sustainable Ideas From Our Tours.
Natural light
Natural light, or more simply adding windows, allows you to leave lights off longer and creates a stronger connection to nature, a tenet of biophilic design. “Using natural light effectively means you won’t be using electricity as often, not to mention the fact that there are countless benefits psychologically to including natural light in as many spaces as possible,” Otte says.
Sun tunnels or skylights can be used on their own to bring natural light to windowless rooms or in conjunction with perimeter windows. “There are even skylights that easily open to allow fresh air into the space,” Otte says.
Natural light, or more simply adding windows, allows you to leave lights off longer and creates a stronger connection to nature, a tenet of biophilic design. “Using natural light effectively means you won’t be using electricity as often, not to mention the fact that there are countless benefits psychologically to including natural light in as many spaces as possible,” Otte says.
Sun tunnels or skylights can be used on their own to bring natural light to windowless rooms or in conjunction with perimeter windows. “There are even skylights that easily open to allow fresh air into the space,” Otte says.
Solar shading
Just as natural light plays an important role in reducing energy needs and consumption, the pros we spoke to also emphasised shading – through trees, roof overhangs and window treatments – as a way to prevent overheating and reduce energy use in summer.
“Protecting and expanding the tree canopy [is an environmentally friendly way to create shading.] Effective placement helps, too – planting deciduous trees to the south and west can keep a home cool in summer and warm in winter, reducing energy costs,” she says.
For renovations and new builds, and depending on the climate, “simple strategies include orientating windows and properly sizing overhangs to capture the sun when it’s desirable but shading windows when it’s not,” says Jeff Stern of In Situ Architecture in Portland, Oregon.
Solar shades that you add to windows can also help, either on their own or in conjunction with the methods mentioned previously. “There are so many terrific options for colours and opacities that allow filtered light in but reduce glare and heat,” Freeman says. “But darker colours absorb the heat, so if you’re looking to use solar shades and keep your space cooler, opt for lighter-coloured fabrics.”
Just as natural light plays an important role in reducing energy needs and consumption, the pros we spoke to also emphasised shading – through trees, roof overhangs and window treatments – as a way to prevent overheating and reduce energy use in summer.
“Protecting and expanding the tree canopy [is an environmentally friendly way to create shading.] Effective placement helps, too – planting deciduous trees to the south and west can keep a home cool in summer and warm in winter, reducing energy costs,” she says.
For renovations and new builds, and depending on the climate, “simple strategies include orientating windows and properly sizing overhangs to capture the sun when it’s desirable but shading windows when it’s not,” says Jeff Stern of In Situ Architecture in Portland, Oregon.
Solar shades that you add to windows can also help, either on their own or in conjunction with the methods mentioned previously. “There are so many terrific options for colours and opacities that allow filtered light in but reduce glare and heat,” Freeman says. “But darker colours absorb the heat, so if you’re looking to use solar shades and keep your space cooler, opt for lighter-coloured fabrics.”
Airtight construction
Architect Stern says airtightness tops his list of sustainable strategies. “It’s not sexy, but the impact on comfort and efficiency is huge,” he says. He adds that creating an airtight house is something that requires careful attention to detail, but doesn’t add a big upfront cost.
Mike Trolle of BPC Green Builders in Connecticut says air-sealing an existing home is the most cost-effective way to improve a home’s efficiency. “Thinking about the thermal envelope as something continuous that encircles a house will lead a builder to make the best choices for the design and materials. Making it airtight, eliminating thermal bridging and including a layer of continuous unbroken insulation in all locations are the most critical decisions for energy-efficiency,” he says.
“We’ve found the biggest financial payoff both from energy savings and added value in our homes is the quality of materials installed in the exterior wall envelope, given that we build in one of the harshest climate zones in the US, [USDA] climate Zone 5,” says Mat Borej of DJK Custom Homes in Illinois. “The quality of materials like the exterior doors [and] windows, elastomeric sealant installed in the cracks of the exterior studded wall cavities, and cellulose blown-in insulation in exterior wall cavities.”
Architect Stern says airtightness tops his list of sustainable strategies. “It’s not sexy, but the impact on comfort and efficiency is huge,” he says. He adds that creating an airtight house is something that requires careful attention to detail, but doesn’t add a big upfront cost.
Mike Trolle of BPC Green Builders in Connecticut says air-sealing an existing home is the most cost-effective way to improve a home’s efficiency. “Thinking about the thermal envelope as something continuous that encircles a house will lead a builder to make the best choices for the design and materials. Making it airtight, eliminating thermal bridging and including a layer of continuous unbroken insulation in all locations are the most critical decisions for energy-efficiency,” he says.
“We’ve found the biggest financial payoff both from energy savings and added value in our homes is the quality of materials installed in the exterior wall envelope, given that we build in one of the harshest climate zones in the US, [USDA] climate Zone 5,” says Mat Borej of DJK Custom Homes in Illinois. “The quality of materials like the exterior doors [and] windows, elastomeric sealant installed in the cracks of the exterior studded wall cavities, and cellulose blown-in insulation in exterior wall cavities.”
Right-size design
If you’re considering an addition or building a home from scratch, Stephanie Horowitz, architect and managing director of ZeroEnergy Design in Boston, says one of the most effective ways to make a home more sustainable is to design a space that is just big enough to serve your needs – and not more. “The focus instead is on creating flexible spaces that can adapt over time and serve multiple purposes,” she says.
“For example, a [ground floor] room might serve as an everyday office or den, an occasional guest bedroom, and a future accessible bedroom for [when a resident can no longer manage stairs],” she says. “Similarly, an open living-dining area may be furnished for everyday use, but offer the flexibility to accommodate an expanded or additional table for larger gatherings.”
Employing this strategy will help reduce construction costs, conserve materials and lower the energy use and operational costs down the line, she says.
Tell us…
What sustainable features have you incorporated into your home? Share your thoughts in the Comments.
If you’re considering an addition or building a home from scratch, Stephanie Horowitz, architect and managing director of ZeroEnergy Design in Boston, says one of the most effective ways to make a home more sustainable is to design a space that is just big enough to serve your needs – and not more. “The focus instead is on creating flexible spaces that can adapt over time and serve multiple purposes,” she says.
“For example, a [ground floor] room might serve as an everyday office or den, an occasional guest bedroom, and a future accessible bedroom for [when a resident can no longer manage stairs],” she says. “Similarly, an open living-dining area may be furnished for everyday use, but offer the flexibility to accommodate an expanded or additional table for larger gatherings.”
Employing this strategy will help reduce construction costs, conserve materials and lower the energy use and operational costs down the line, she says.
Tell us…
What sustainable features have you incorporated into your home? Share your thoughts in the Comments.
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I love my sola tubes which light a dark west and north facing room. Despite its 3 windows it was gloomy before I added them.
I concur about the newer energy efficient systems. Both my new furnace and air conditioner and my new pool pump have already saved me money and work better as well.
My older house with a basement and thick plaster walls also stays cooler in the summer than a new house with sheetrock panels sitting on a slab. Sometimes older is somewhat better.
I read a lot of worrisome warnings about tight houses having bad air quality.
Excellent
Great article! Showing people how it’s possible to be mindful, yet comfortable in their lives...
I live in a desert where the sun shines a LOT. My home is solar powered, and the water system is strictly rain catchment. You must have enough roof space to catch the water needed to provide through the dry months. (Rainwater is a joy to bathe in, and when filtered is tasty drinking water.) The roof is a reflective metal called Galvalume that will not darken like galvanized metal. The wall construction is AAC, (autoclaved aerated concrete block), and an 8” width wall has an R factor of 33- great insulation.
South facing windows warm the place in winter. East windows face the best view but are under a deep porch roof. The west side is partially shielded by water tanks.
Casement windows allow more fresh air than other styles. Lime plaster coats the interior walls, and is breathable.
I’ve left or transplanted only natives; you can’t water much on a rain catchment system. Natives flourish with even the slightest advantage of shade from the house itself, or a little extra water provided from what falls against the walls. I do cook and heat water and the house with propane, not ideal, but the only alternative in the rural setting.