6 Ways to Make Your Remodel or New Build More Sustainable

SOURCE: Houzz

Four architects on Houzz share insider tips for building and remodeling in a way that’s kinder not just to the earth but to your back pocket too.

1. Make It Smaller

First step to building more lightly on the earth? Embrace a “less is more” philosophy, says Evan Pickering, architect and director at Focus Architecture. “By far the most effective way to make your renovation more sustainable is to minimize the size of the new works or the amount of alterations.”

Kristen Johnstone, director at Kirsten Johnstone Architecture, concurs. “A smaller footprint is obviously cheaper to build, but it also means less material is used, it is cheaper to furnish, and heating and cooling costs are lower,” she says.

Go for quality over quantity, advises Anne Hindley, architect and director at Hindley & Co. “If your home is designed well, you may not need it to be nearly as big as you think,” she says.

“And if you are going to use natural stone or other unsustainable products, use them sparingly and make sure they will be loved and used for a long time.”

The materials in this San Francisco kitchen-dining room remodel by interior designer Sabrina Alfin and Bay Build Design were selected based on sustainable content and manufacturing processes. The all-electric kitchen with induction cooktop was designed to be powered by renewable energy via solar panels.

2. Don’t Demolish

Before you pick up the sledgehammer, ask yourself: Do you really need to knock down your existing structure and start from the ground up or can you get the same or similar results by upgrading what you’ve got?

“Renovating may end up costing the same as building from scratch, but you will save an awful lot on materials and transport, which is far better for the environment,” Hindley says.

This Seattle farmhouse kitchen remodel by Sheila Mayden Interiors incorporates reclaimed materials.

3. Do Your Research

“By thoroughly researching your existing building and site, you’ll get a far better understanding of which elements can be retained and reused, and you may find you can minimize demolition. These, in turn, will reduce waste and costs,” says Nathalie Scipioni, architect and director at Nathalie Scipioni Architects.

Orientation is one of the most important elements to examine closely, she says, as it has a significant impact on your home’s utility costs and on how much ventilation and natural light it receives. These things contribute to a more sustainable building.

This 1,400-square-foot Southern California home by Laney LA and Denton Developments utilizes hydronic radiant heating, solar panels, natural daylighting and an energy recovery ventilator system.

4. Salvage What You Can (Within Reason)

“Anything reused saves new materials from being taken from the earth, eliminates transport costs and reduces your contribution to landfill, plus you get the pleasure of having something original and characterful in your home,” Hindley says.

While reusing elements such as cabinetry, flooring, tiles and moldings might make sense, be aware that it won’t be practical with every feature in your home. “You’ll find that some older systems, such as downpipes, glazing and hot-water systems, are obsolete today and have been replaced with more efficient, sustainable and lower-consumption units that are better for the environment and the residents of a home,” Scipioni says.

“Reuse also normally requires quite a lot of labor to update the item to a reasonable standard, which can make the cost prohibitive,” Pickering says, adding that there are exceptions to this, such as some wood and brickwork, which can add character and historical references to a project.

“If your goal is to minimize waste,” Pickering says, “the best approach may be to either give away or sell any items that may have recycling value, rather than using them in your own build.”

This Boston-area summer house by Albert, Righter & Tittmann Architects is built around salvaged barn beams.

5. Use Local

Choosing locally sourced and made materials and products is not only environmentally responsible, it’s also socially responsible. It reduces transportation emissions and helps create jobs and support local industry.

“Source local products that are close to their natural state, such as rammed earth that is dug out of a relatively local pit and mixed with cement to form a wall, but isn’t fired in a kiln or hasn’t traveled from overseas,” says Johnstone. “Use local timber products that are independently certified, which support local jobs and industry without high energy to produce them.”

This custom home in Jackson Hole, Wyoming, by EK Reedy Interiors and Ward + Blake Architects was constructed using rammed earth techniques (with on-site subsoil) and post-tensioning rods.

6. Design for Longevity

“Designing a ‘long life-loose fit’ home means considering the longer-term ways it might be used. For example, thinking about the spaces teenage children might require rather than just the immediate needs of toddlers,” Johnstone says.

“Consider whether you can adapt spaces for different purposes, such as a home office or an extra bedroom that can double as a TV nook or teenagers’ music room.

“Build and design with quality finishes that aren’t going to break down or require replacement or ongoing maintenance,” Johnstone says.

The interior and exterior wood paneling, trim and decking of this California home by Turnbull Griffin Haesloop was milled down and reused from the site’s original 1970s kit log home.

SOURCE: Houzz