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Eco houses designs


Eco houses: 7 most beautiful sustainable builds, from forest dwellings to city homes

(Image credit: Michael Moran for Studio Mapos)

One of our greatest preoccupations at Homes & Gardens is shining a light on the world's most beautiful homes. While many are highlighted for their architecture, their interior design, their location – and perhaps even the fame of their occupants – today's selection has been chosen for its eco credentials. 

These eco houses are beautiful inside and out – and each has an extraordinary location, too. Most, as you would expect, nestle within natural surroundings, but we have chosen one eco house that is in one of the world's biggest cities, and another that is within easy reach of New York, too. There are links out to the designers, architects or companies involved in their design – we highly recommend visiting their sites to see more of their astounding projects... but only after you have browsed our list.

You can see more of the world's best homes on our dedicated page.  

1. A California modern home

(Image credit: Baran Studio Architecture )

Where: Los Angeles, California
Designed by: Baran Studio Architecture

'In addition to meeting the highly sustainable California Title 24 and Cal Green regulations, the project goes above and beyond in the reduction of water and energy consumption,' says Matt Baran of Baran Studio Architecture. 'The project has a water retention system used to assist in limiting runoff and recharging groundwater. The project also implemented a drip irrigation system and drought tolerant local vegetation. We also included an EV charging station that is powered by the rooftop solar panels.'

2. An eco-friendly farmhouse in Connecticut 

(Image credit: Trillium Architects)

Where: Greenwich, Conn.
Designed by: Trillium Architects

'We turned this outdated 1930s home into a beautiful modern passive house for a young family from New York City,' says Elizabeth DiSalvo, principal at Trillium Architects .   'This house is all electric and will be Net Zero. Meaning it will cost only $18 a month to heat, cool and electrify the entire home.  ($18 is the hookup fee for the electric company)  This house proves that eco-friendly does not mean you have to sacrifice beauty and sophistication.'

3. An eco house in the forest 

(Image credit: Snegiri Architects)

Where: Moscow, Russia

Designed by: Kapiturov Nikita (Snegiri Architects , 2019)
Visualized by: Viktoriia Dementieva

Built to fully integrate within the forest environment, this house was designed around existing trees rather than taking away habitats to suit the house. Natural materials were used for the build, and a living plant roof and large energy-saving windows that face the sun are are just a handful of the eco-efficient elements of this build.

4. SuperAdobes in the desert

(Image credit: CalEarth)

Where: Oman

Designed by: Nader Khalili of CalEarth

Khalili's SuperAdobes use ancient building techniques to create resilient, affordable dwellings. Constructed out of locally available earth, sandbags and barbed wire, they are designed as a sustainable housing solution for climate refugees. With this in mind, they are created to be resilient: they are fireproof, hurricane-proof, earthquake-resistant and they also use 100% solar energy. 

Photo: @calearthinstitute

5. An eco house hidden amongst dunes

(Image credit: Marc Koehler Architects )

Where: Nijmegen, Netherlands

Designed by: Marc Koehler Architects

Designed to blend seamlessly into the seaside landscape, The Dune house has been built with sustainability as a priority. Using passive heating, solar panels, a biomass fireplace, and double glazed windows, the house is designed to heat, store and distribute warmth which leaves it incredibly energy efficient. 

Each opening of the house has been shaped and positioned in a specific way to offer a unique perspective of the landscape. From the shape to the colors, textures, and materials, every aspect of the home is thoughtfully integrated into its surroundings.

Photo: Filip Dujardin

6. An eco home deep in a tropical forest 

(Image credit: Cadaval & Sola Morales / Sandra Pereznieto)

Where: Valle de Bravo, Mexico

Designed by: Cadaval & Solà-Morales

The Casa de la Roca House celebrates each corner of its unique landscape. Hidden in the hills to the west of Mexico City, this rustic home has lookouts that offer rare views of the tropical forest it is surrounded by. Pieces of the forest compose the house – handpicked fallen trees are repurposed as beautiful beams, while the green roof absorbs rainwater, provides insulation, and creates a habitat for wildlife.  

Photo: Sandra Pereznieto

7. A garden oasis in bustling Buenos Aires

(Image credit: BAM Arquitectura / Jeremias Thomah)

Where: San Isidro, Buenos Aires

Designed by: BAM! Arquitectura

Built with health as its motivator and an ambition to have a home with net-zero utility bills, the MeMo House proves that you don’t need to live in a forest to be considered eco-friendly.  The home was built using locally sourced materials and has wastewater technology to reduce water consumption. Solar panels are also used and state-of-the-art insulation keeps the home warm for less energy usage. 

The MeMo House was also created to have the most minimal impact on the natural landscape; with this in mind, it has a wild three-dimensional garden that you can see here.

Photo: Jeremias Thomas

What are eco-friendly houses?

The term eco-friendly houses actually encompasses a number of house styles and features that reduce a home's impact on the environment. This can be anything from a home built with sustainably sourced materials, to a home that's super energy efficient, to a home that's powered or heated by solar energy.

What type of house is most environmentally friendly?

If you're looking for an environmentally friendly house, you've got lots of options. From homes that are powered by solar panels, to tiny homes that are the epitome of efficiency, there's an eco-friendly home style for everyone.

Here are some of the most common eco house styles.

Lucy Searle has written about interiors, property and gardens since 1990, working her way around the interiors departments of women's magazines before switching to interiors-only titles in the mid-nineties. She was Associate Editor on Ideal Home, and Launch Editor of 4Homes magazine, before moving into digital in 2007, launching Channel 4's flagship website, Channel4.com/4homes. In 2018, Lucy took on the role of Global Editor in Chief for Realhomes.com, taking the site from a small magazine add-on to a global success. She was asked to repeat that success at Homes & Gardens, where she has also taken on the editorship of the magazine. 

21 Sustainable House Design Ideas · Fontan Architecture

A sustainable house is a home that has the least possible negative impact on our environment. This means energy efficiency, avoiding environmental toxins, and using materials and resources in a responsible manner while having a positive physical and psychological impact on its inhabitants.

What we build matters, and so does how we build it. Building with sustainability in mind should be standard for a twenty first century home. In this article we will outline 21 tips for a sustainable house design. Building sustainable homes not only saves you money in the long run, but also reduces your impact on the environment. Now, let’s go over some ideas on how to build a sustainable house!

 

21 Ideas For Building a Sustainable Home:
  1. Location
  2. Size
  3. Orientation
  4. Layout
  5. Local Materials
  6. Recycled Materials
  7. Insulation
  8. Air Sealing
  9. Windows & Doors Selection
  10. Sustainable Materials
  11. Energy Star Appliances
  12. LED Lighting
  13. Water Conserving Fixtures
  14. Efficient HVAC
  15. Recycle Your Energy
  16. Rain Water Collection
  17. Renewable Energy
  18. Solar Hot Water
  19. Intelligent Planting
  20. Build To Last
  21. Build Something You Love

 

 

Location For A Sustainable Home Design

Choosing a location is the first step in building a sustainable house. When possible, consider the following issues.

Transportation: Building a home within walking distance of public transportation is going to reduce your impact on our environment. Living in New York City makes this very easy for me, but it may not always be an option for you.

Infrastructure: The availability of utilities and infrastructure will vary. If you can use existing infrastructure, you are off to a good start in reducing your impact on the environment.

Sensitive or Hazardous Sites: Try to avoid hazardous areas like flood zones. If you build in a hazardous site, make sure the home is designed to withstand the hazard. You know what isn’t green? Building your house twice. To learn more about building in high risk areas, check out another post we wrote on Flood Proof House Design Ideas.

 

Size; Smaller Houses Are More Efficient

Not everyone interested in sustainable house design is going to go down this route, but smaller houses are far more efficient. Building a smaller house is going to reduce your material use and energy needs. A larger house will obviously use more materials and require more energy for heating and cooling. Think about your needs and try not to go overboard with the size of your house. Smaller houses are inherently more efficient and less wasteful.

 

Orientation Of Your House For Natural Light And Heat

Orientation is important for sustainable homes. If you live in a cold climate in the Northern Hemisphere, you can take advantage of the sun by having more windows facing south. If you build a long wall with windows facing south, you maximize direct sunlight in the winter. This will help heat your home, as well as bring in natural light. You do not want too many windows facing west, as this will give lots of glare and provide heat in the summer. If you do have windows facing west, you can plant a large tree to block some of that uncomfortable sunlight.

You can plant a deciduous tree in front of your south facing windows for more energy saving. Deciduous means the tree loses its leaves in winter. The tree will block sunlight in the summer, but lose its leaves and allow the sunlight in during the winter. This will help reduce your heating usage. Another trick is sun shades or a roof overhang. The sun is higher in the summer than in the winter, so a roof overhang can block the sun in the summer. In the winter, the sun will be at a lower angle and not be blocked by the overhang. These types of passive design features can make a big difference in sustainability at low costs.

 

Layout Affects Energy Use In A Home

Did you know that igloos are very energy efficient house designs? An igloo is built in a cold climate with a shape that minimizes surface area. The reduced surface area reduces interior heat loss.

Building a house that is very wide and spread out is going to have more heat loss and less efficiency than a house that is compact. Building taller can be more efficient than building wider. A cube or a sphere are very efficient shapes. There will always be trade offs in sustainable house design. However, you don’t have to actually make your home resemble an igloo (unless you want to)! The idea here is that a compact design is better than a spread out one. A compact two story house will tend to be more efficient than a one story spread out house. For example, if you want to build a 2,000 square foot house, building two stories with 1,000 sq ft per story is most likely going to be more efficient than building one story of 2,000 sq ft.

 

Use Local Materials for a Sustainable House

Using local materials in your new sustainable house will reduce the need for shipping. It’s more green to buy wood that is locally milled than to order it from across the country. This is a tough one, though, because you may not have as many options based on your location. The availability of materials will vary depending on where you choose to build your house.

If there is a local stone quarry, why not use their stone for your patio? See what locally made materials and products you have available. If you live in Pennsylvania, I recommend getting local kitchen cabinets rather than importing designer European cabinets. It is significantly greener, and you might even find better quality products from local small businesses.

 

Recycled Materials For Sustainable House Construction

Recycling is very important. This will have to be balanced with availability. Depending where you are, the materials that are easily available will vary. There are all sorts of materials that are recycled, reclaimed, and reused. Here is a list of some materials made of recycled products that you may choose when building your sustainable house:

Just about any product in your new home could come from recycled materials.

You can also reduce job site waste by making sure the contractor recycles the waste materials during construction.

 

Sustainable Materials Reclaimed Wood Floor

 

Insulation Is Essential for Sustainable Homes 

Insulation is a big one. Check out another article we wrote on spray insulation for new homes. First things first: vocabulary. R value is a term we use to rate the insulation value of a material. R value = Resistance the higher the R value the more insulation. You want to make sure that your home has a sufficient R value for your climate. There are lots of different insulation types and techniques. When we design a house we make sure to review all the options with our clients. I find it is helpful to outline the importance of insulation and the different options available.

The most important thing is to insulate your home to keep the hot air out during the summer and keep the warm air in during the winter. New Home Insulation is really important. If your area has energy codes, you need to make sure to meet at least the minimum standards for insulation. At our firm we typically surpass the code insulation standards when building a green or sustainable home. Good insulation is one of the most important energy efficient house ideas to implement. Heating and air conditioning is the largest percentage of energy use and your energy bill. The better insulation you have, the less energy you will use.

Closed Cell Spray Insulation for a sustainable house

 

Air Sealing for Energy Efficient Home Design

Air sealing, also known as draft stopping, goes with insulation. This is one of the lesser known energy efficient home design ideas, and one that people often forget about. Air sealing prevents air from leaking through your house. You want to make sure your house isn’t leaking conditioned air. What is the point of all that insulation if cold air is blowing through cracks and crevices in your walls?

There needs to be sealing at all the openings and penetrations through your roofs and walls. This includes windows, doors, vents, electrical conduit, and any other holes and penetrations. These all need sufficient sealing through caulking or other methods. We often recommend closed cell spray foam insulation. It not only insulates but also expands to seal up openings, small holes, and cracks in the construction. This is one aspect that relies heavily on quality construction. Using good construction contractors is essential for building sustainable homes.

You can test a house’s air sealing with a blower door test. This is an air pressure test that determines if your house is leaking air and at what rate.

Blower Door Test being conducted on a home we designed.

 

Window and Door Selection For Energy Reduction

You have to use efficient windows and doors. They need to have proper weather stripping to keep out the elements. They need to close tight so as to seal the opening. The type of glass and material insulation value are also very important. Windows and doors are expensive, but you want to make sure they are not going to cost you more in the long run through inefficiency. Windows and doors are also a weak point for air leakage. Make sure you have proper air sealing around these areas. You don’t want to buy good windows and install them with poor quality.

Double pane windows are a minimum standard as far as I am concerned, but triple pane is better.

Triple pane window for sustainability

 

Sustainable House Materials 

We want to use materials that avoid Volatile Organic Compounds or VOCs. Examples include using low VOC paint or glues in the construction of your new home.

Use materials that can be recycled later or have already been recycled. Using local materials is a good start to sustainability. There are lots of sustainable materials in nature, for example wood, that are renewable and certified. You should also make sure that the materials you choose are durable! It is not sustainable to replace materials every few years.

 

Energy Star Appliances & Equipment

Using energy efficient appliances and equipment is the easiest of these energy efficient home ideas to achieve. As a minimum requirement, use Energy Star rated appliances. I am writing this article on an Energy Star rated computer monitor. Did you know you can get an Energy Star TV? Your kitchen appliances can use a good amount of energy, so look out for those Energy Star labels. Your heating, AC units, and water heaters should all be Energy Star rated.

 

LED Lighting For Energy Efficient Home Design

LED lights are becoming more and more common as an energy efficient home design feature. In our projects they are standard. All of our clients want LED lights. They are going to reduce your energy cost (they use less power) and you will not need to change the bulbs for many years. They might be a little more costly upfront, but think of the savings on electricity and less frequent changing of the bulbs! Energy efficient lighting is an easy addition to a sustainable house.

By the way, LED stands for Light Emitting Diode: these are the best option for energy efficient lighting and energy efficient house designs.

 

Water Conserving Plumbing Fixtures 

Toilets and other plumbing fixtures are not the same as they used to be. They make dual flush toilets where you can choose a lower or higher flush rate as needed. All your plumbing fixtures can have reduced or Low-flow water usage, including faucets and shower heads. These fixtures are becoming very popular. You will have no trouble finding plumbing fixtures that use water at lower flow rates. There is no need to be wasteful.

 

Efficient HVAC Design for a Sustainable House

HVAC stands for Heating Ventilation Air Conditioning.

Your Heat and AC will typically be the largest source of energy consumption in your home. You will want to use an efficient and well-designed system. HVAC is a huge portion of your energy consumption and, therefore, product and system selection is critical for energy efficient home design. Here are a few options that can help:

Smart Thermostat: One of easiest Sustainable Home tips to implement is using smart thermostats. A smart thermostat can reduce your energy consumption by learning your patterns and optimizing around your comfort level.

Zones: I am a big fan of zones. Did you ever live with someone who likes it hot when you want it cooler? If you break the house into zones, you can set independent temperatures by room. Also, you do not need to run the HVAC in rooms that are not often used, like the basement or laundry room.

Efficient Equipment: However you design the system, make sure the equipment is energy efficient and properly installed.

Mini-split units: Mini split heating and air conditioning units are incredibly popular right now because of their efficiency and ability to control a home in separate zones. These systems have a condenser outside the house and at least 1 unit in each room inside the house. To learn more about ductless mini splits and their energy saving advantages, look at the Department Of Energy mini splits energy saving information.

 

Energy Efficient Mini Split

Check out another post we have explaining What Ductless Mini Splits are.

 

Recycle Your Energy With An ERV

Did you know you can recycle your energy?

Install an ERV or Energy Recovery Ventilator.  If you have exhaust fans and ducts in your home, for example in your bathroom, the ERV can use the heat from the exhaust to preheat or precool the air being brought into your home. Preheat the air in the winter or precool the air in the summer with an ERV to reduce energy usage on your HVAC. Don’t worry: it doesn’t actually mix the exhaust air with the new air! It just uses the heat from the exhaust.

 

ERV in the attic of one of our houses.

 

Rain Water Collection

Why let all that rain water go to waste? Install roof gutters and downspouts that direct the water to a tank for reuse. This water can be used to flush your toilets or water the garden. Rain water (depending on your area) can even be used for drinking if you filter and purify it. The most typical use of rainwater collection is for gardening / irrigation. You can use a concrete underground detention tank to store the water with a pump to circulate the water. Sustainable homes need a smart manner of dealing with water.

 

Renewable Energy for Sustainable Homes

Renewable energy is a hot topic these days for sustainability. Power source is very important when designing a sustainable house. Here are a couple options.

 

Solar Hot Water or Tankless Hot Water

Solar hot water is a system for heating water using the Sun. It can be installed on your roof and can heat your water. There are two basic types of solar water heating. Active system uses pumps, and passive system does not. This will reduce your energy expense and is a great feature for energy efficient house designs.

If you opt out of solar hot water, another option is to use tankless water heaters or instant hot water. These use less energy and they heat up instantly, so you do not need to let the water run until it gets hot when you get in the shower.

Tankless Water Heater in one of our homes

Intelligent Planting for a Sustainable House

This is my biggest pet peeve. People plant vegetation that does not belong in their climate or land type, which then require lots of water and maintenance. Don’t do that! Green living requires planting the right types of plants in the right locations. Sustainable homes need sustainable landscapes and planting. You want to minimize maintenance and use of water.

Smart Planting: Use plant species that are native to your area or that are known to thrive in your climate. Make sure these plants can survive with minimal maintenance and watering.

Vegetable Garden: Try planting a vegetable garden. Growing your own organic food is very sustainable and can be a fun hobby. Make sure to plant fruits and vegetables that will thrive in your location. Use the rain water you collect from your roof drainage to water your garden.

 

Build To Last For Sustainable Homes

Build To Last! I can not emphasize this enough. If you want to build a sustainable house, you need to build it to last. Durability is essential for sustainable homes. If your house constantly needs repairs, that is not sustainable. If your roof needs to be redone every 6 years, that is not sustainable. Build your home to last! The craftsmanship should be such that it will survive time and hardship. Build with materials that require little maintenance. Build with intelligence. If you are in an area prone to hurricanes and you build a deck with recycled wood, it is not sustainable if the deck gets torn down in a hurricane. I am not saying not to build the deck, but build it with proper hurricane ties and strapping and use wood that can handle the elements. We rebuilt several houses in NY after Sandy, but we built concrete houses so that they could withstand the next one. Build a home suitable to your climate and environmental needs and build it well.

Take care of your home when you are living in it and build your house so it takes care of you. Sustainable house design cannot be achieved without thinking of construction quality and techniques for a long lasting home. Using durable materials and construction techniques is essential.

 

Build Something You Love

The most sustainable thing one can do in construction is build something you love. Build a home that you will love, build a home that your children will love. When people love their homes, they take care of them and they don’t change them. Do not build a new home just to renovate your kitchen in five years. Build a home with which you are happy. Build a home of which you are proud.

It’s your home! Build a house that makes you happy. 

 

Sustainable home design

Don’t forget, build a home that has as small an impact on our planet as possible. Build a sustainable house by starting with the right sustainable house design plan. Sustainable homes benefit our environment and their owners.

 

Bonus Sustainability Tip: Passive House

You should also consider looking into Passive House Design for sustainability and energy efficiency. The diagram below illustrates some basic concepts of Passive House. If you want to learn more, you can see another post we wrote explaining the five key principles of Passive House Design.

Sustainable Passive House Design

 

Sustainable House 

As an architect I study home design and sustainability, but these are extensive topics. In this article we reviewed some basic ideas for building a sustainable house. This post does not assume to cover every possible issue or condition, but rather to provide a general overview of the topic.

 

Thank You for reading our blog post about Sustainable Home Design Ideas

I hope this article helps you understand a little more about how to build a sustainable home. Please contact us directly if you want to speak with an architect about a specific project.

 

Contact Fontan Architecture

 

External Sources:

 

Jorge Fontan

This post was written by Jorge Fontan AIA a Registered Architect and owner of New York City architecture firm Fontan Architecture. Jorge Fontan has earned 3 degrees in the study of architecture including two degrees from the City University of New York and a Masters Degree in Advanced Architectural Design from Columbia University. Jorge has a background in construction and has been practicing architecture for 15 years where he has designed renovations and new developments of various building types.

Projects of houses from SIP (SIP) turnkey panels - prices for the construction of SIP houses in Moscow and Moscow region

You can choose any of the presented projects from our website, provide your own with further adaptation to SIP technology, or develop an individual project together with us , according to your preferences.

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Price: from 11 400 rub/m2 Open project

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Price: from 15 891 RUR/m2 Open project

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Price: from 16 186 RUR/m2 Open project

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Price: from 15 821 rub/m2 Open project

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Price: from 17 082 RUR/m2 Open project

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Price: from 13 876 RUR/m2 Open project

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Price: from 16 879RUR/m2 Open project

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The most interesting projects of eco-houses from around the world

Architecture

Explore the most interesting projects of eco-houses from around the world and listen to the advice of our experts. Life in peace with nature starts small!

LEED certification for eco-houses is like the Unified State Examination for Russian schoolchildren: an infallible and comprehensive assessment system. This house in Oakland (USA), built by Onion Flats, is a real “excellent student”: it has the highest, platinum category. Everything is taken into account: the ecology of the place, energy saving technologies, the use of recycled building materials, the presence of an underground rainwater tank with a capacity of 15,000 liters, and even the drought resistance of the roof garden. In many countries, being "green" is profitable: tax breaks are provided for LEED-certified buildings.

www.onionflats.com

The best thing you can do for nature is not touch anything at all. Australian architect Max Pritchard came up with an original way to preserve the ecosystem and at the same time beat the uncomfortable landscape: the site is divided in two by a ravine, along the bottom of which a stream flows. Pritchard built a house-bridge on four pillars, which almost floats in the air, without interfering with water, plants or animals. The building is extremely environmentally friendly: it supplies itself with energy, has a rainwater reservoir, and ventilation is provided by the wind, which made it possible to abandon air conditioning.

maxpritchardarchitect.com.au

The most affordable way to save on lighting and heating costs is to design a house with a large glass area, orienting the building to the movement of the sun. Alas, the method is not suitable for everyone: when you live in a dense urban area, full-wall windows deprive you of any hope for privacy. We have to invent: the architect Paul Ruff “folded” one of the walls in this house in Toronto from 475 strips of glass with a wavy surface. The interior is not visible from the street, and the window itself looks like water is flowing through it - and in fact, priceless moisture, mind you, is not consumed.

paulraffstudio.com

Pierre Josselin, HBA Company (USA):

Old wood from demolished houses is suitable for various architectural details, furniture and even floors.

Use recycled glass tops. They are made by mixing glass chips with cement. It turns out a durable and beautiful material.

Bamboo is the environmental champion among floor coverings: it is pleasant to the touch, durable and beautiful. Using it, you do not harm nature: bamboo will grow back very quickly, and by itself, without fertilizers, pesticides and watering.

Vinyl wallpapers are even eco-friendly materials, though not all. Read the labels carefully: many companies use up to 20% recycled materials in their manufacture, harmless paints and a paper base, thanks to which the wallpaper can be glued with ordinary water-based glue. No chemistry!

In Russia, eco-friendly houses are not in great demand, largely due to low energy prices. But we also have the first "green" buildings - however, so far these are not housing, but manifest buildings demonstrating the possibilities of new technologies. For example, the Active House pilot project in the Moscow region, which embodies three key principles: energy saving, a healthy microclimate and the use of renewable energy sources. The peculiarity of the house is the abundance of daylight: most rooms have windows on at least two cardinal directions, which increases the time of insolation. For our latitudes - very relevant.

activedom.ru

Oddly enough, architecture is one of the main "culprits" of global warming. It provides half of the world's CO2 emissions into the atmosphere, and these emissions occur not only during the "lifetime" of the building, but also during its construction and demolition. The German company Studio Aisslinger decided to reduce the damage and developed a ready-made Fincube house, which takes only a couple of days to assemble. The shape of the house is similar to a mushroom: a small footprint allows you to place it anywhere, even on a mountainside, and minimal energy consumption makes the building economical. The main plus is mobility: the house can be disassembled into modules and assembled in a new place.

fincube.eu

A proper eco-house should, firstly, consume as little energy as possible, and secondly, produce it itself. If it is possible to equalize the indicators of production and consumption, the house is called "passive". But some go further and build "active" houses. So, the project of the Danish architectural bureau AART, a mansion made of glass and slate "House for Life", produces even more energy than it needs. In 35 years, it will generate as much "excess" energy as it took to produce building materials for the building - and it will be in full calculation with nature!

aart.dk

Evgeny Bondarev, Alt House Company:

Houses made of adobe (a mixture of straw, unbaked clay and lime) are suitable for central Russia. Construction from it causes minimal harm to the environment, while it is inexpensive. According to its characteristics, it is similar to a tree, but at the same time it is non-combustible.

Shredded paper or cardboard can be used for roof insulation. Due to its porosity, this material retains heat well.

Pellet fueled heating systems are very promising. (Pellets are compressed granules made from sawdust and shavings.) At a price, including delivery, such fuel is comparable to gas. It can also be used to generate electricity by converting thermal energy into electrical current.

Designed by architect Robert Young, this mansion on Long Island sits on a coastal cliff and is surrounded by picturesque forests. This house is an example of "passive" technologies. There are no sophisticated systems like "smart home" here, but all the traditional ways to save energy are presented: maximum use of daylight, mechanical shading, mechanical ventilation and perfect thermal insulation. It turns out that in such old-fashioned ways, you can very seriously "green" the house.

ryarch.com

Alexey Morokhovets, Eco-houses Freedom:

Replace the switches with motion sensors: the situation when you left the room and forgot to turn off the light will become impossible.

Switch to energy efficient electrical appliances. No electric stoves! Cook on gas. Buy sockets with timers and adjust them so that the washing machine, for example, only turns on at night when electricity is cheaper.

Choose materials with high vapor permeability for construction and decoration: all kinds of fumes, odors arising from cooking, etc., must be removed through the surface of the walls, floor and ceiling. If the wall cladding and insulation are chosen correctly, the house “breathes” and there is no need to open windows for ventilation, losing heat.

An important aspect is the thermal mass of the house. The higher it is, the better. For example, when outside the house is insulated with straw, and inside there are thick walls made of stone and concrete. In winter, they are heated by heaters and retain heat for a long time. In summer they keep cool.

The inhabitants of the OS House in Wisconsin, USA do not have to pay for heating even in the harshest winters. The home, designed by Johnsen Schmaling Architects, features geothermal heat pumps. The principle of their operation is based on the use of the temperature difference underground and on the surface. (At a depth of less than six meters, the temperature does not fall below +10 ° C all year round.) In winter, the heat pump works on the principle of a refrigerator, but vice versa: it takes heat through pipes installed in the ground (geothermal circuit) and gives it to the house. In summer, this system can be used for air conditioning - the heat from the house is removed underground. However, the house is already cool in summer thanks to a light breeze from nearby Lake Michigan. The mansion is well ventilated thanks to large sliding windows, a ventilated façade and multiple patios.

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