Sustainable Residential Construction: Can You Build Greener Without Compromising Comfort?
A sustainable home should be a good place to live. It should feel comfortable through the seasons, work for the people who use it and be built to last. For some homeowners, that means starting from scratch. Others want to extend an existing property or renovate a house that no longer meets their needs. Each route presents different opportunities and constraints. A new build allows decisions to be made around the entire site and structure, while a renovation must work with what is already there. Sustainable residential construction is about making informed decisions across the project, from the initial design to the materials used and the performance of the finished building. What Does a Sustainable Home Look Like? There is no single appearance associated with sustainable housing. A home may have a traditional exterior or a contemporary design. What matters is how it is planned, constructed and used. A good design considers the site, the household's needs, the building fabric and th...