Learn how to evaluate the environmental impact and energy efficiency of a new home.
A sustainable home is one that is built or maintained with environmental impact in mind.
There is a lot to say about sustainability, saysAndrew Legge, CEO of Havelock Wool.
Credit:Brie Williams
To help you evaluate a home’s sustainability, experts share the factors you should consider while house hunting.
What Does Home Sustainability Mean?
In general, sustainability in a home refers to the structures ability to efficiently use resources.
Credit:Greg Scheidemann
Think about using as little electricity as possible to maintain your homes temperature.
Similarly, a home that conserves water and reduces waste is considered sustainable.
For many, these measures come down to your wallet.
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Of course, theres a little more to it than that.
Utility bills are one way to measure a homes sustainability, but they dont offer a full picture.
Consider both the material features of the home, as well as the lifestyle factors.
Homes with water leaks, or poor insulation, for example, wont make for a sustainable home.
Window Quality:Next, look at your homes windows and insulation.
Mold and mildew in old insulation can also cause additional problems for your home.
A smart thermostat is a small but easy win for energy savings, Pendergrass says.
Drafty Spots:Legge also suggests evaluating the overall envelope of your home.
When it comes to heating and cooling, homes should be sealed against weather.
Air infiltration is a killer, he says.
Seals around windows and doors are a great place to look.
Rooms with drafts can be a bad sign of poor insulation and seals.
There are a lot of houses built with multiple spaces that are not used, he says.
Perhaps don’t buy or build something you don’t need.
If having a green home were as simple as wanting one, wed all have it.
However, money is a real consideration.
Achieving sustainability and high-performance is often not just about spending money, Legge says.
Like anything, higher quality materials cost more than lower quality ones.
Consider Solar:Next, Webber suggestslooking at the homes HVAC system, and even consider solar power.
Products made with cheap wood might not have been sustainably sourced, for example.
Look for the FSC label on wood furniture, which ensures that the wood came from responsibly managed forests.
Furniture with a Greenguard certification means a product has low chemical emissions and contributes to healthier indoor air.
