Together the dynamic duo of design and technology are making going green that much easier. It’s a trend that’s been gaining traction among a large portion of architects and builders, but outside of commercial spaces, the home environment is also seeing more homeowners gravitate towards green design. Outside of increasing sustainability and finding better ways to minimize carbon footprints, new designs and increasing demand in green technology is making the process cheaper in some cases over traditional builds. Here, we’re looking at five green home trends as identified by experts McKissock Learning.
1. Smart Homes
In renovations and new construction, smart home tech is working its way into just about everything. Being able to schedule functions such as lighting, heating, cooling and watering certainly helps cut back on usage and even allows homeowners to take advantage of non-peak hours.
New technology that adds even more brains to a home, like Orro’s smart dimmer, which activates and dims lights based on room presence and ambient lighting or sonnen’s energy controller offer even greater options for home efficiency.
2. Deconstructed Design
No, deconstructed doesn’t just mean a half-built home. Deconstruction itself is a concept that utilizes recycled raw materials, like exposed wood, in construction. It’s very much like designs that lean towards less refined interiors (think looking up into a restaurant and seeing the exposed ceiling overhead) but with a greater emphasis on reuse and salvage.
3. Better Energy Generation and Storage
Remember that energy controller mentioned earlier? Part of what makes it so powerful is the battery it uses to store all that energy before distributing it. But while ultra-efficient batteries are making storage more effective, the presence of smaller, off-grid sources and virtual power plants (VPPs) make obtaining clean energy far easier than it used to be.
Though it requires an initial investment, the growing adoption of solar energy is actually making solar cheaper than traditional energy in some cases.
4. Prefab Home Designs
Produced in closed settings, away from the elements, prefab homes offer more reliable build times and less strain on the materials from weather. Their use of computerized measurements and cutting also ensures that less waste gets produced during the entire process. Additionally, the fact that all parts need to be shipped following completion further ensures a high durability to the build.
5. Tiny Home Additions
Rising high is the last trend of tiny homes. With less materials, less energy and less waste than traditional homes, these homes are incredibly easy to go net-zero or net-negative in for ambitious folks. Beyond daily living, though, they function equally well as vacation cabins, guest quarters, pool houses and home offices. They can also be incredibly mobile, allowing investments to be made that can follow the homeowners from location to location.
