While building a new home, it’s important to be mindful of a sustainable design that, in turn, lowers energy costs and reduces carbon footprint. The architects at Schaub Projects Architecture + Design make it their priority to incorporate such practices in their work.
“As architects, we have the responsibility of building sustainably, not only for the comfort of our clients but also for the longevity of our limited natural resources,” says Schaub Projects principal Andrew Schaub. “That’s why we are dedicated to practicing sustainable design in all of our projects.”
Adhering to energy codes is one way of ensuring that buildings reduce energy consumption and waste, lower utility costs, and improve overall comfort. Energy codes include several components, such as wall and ceiling insulation requirements, window and door performance, HVAC ventilation, equipment efficiency, and lighting fixtures, to name a few considerations. Here are just a few ways that energy-reduction strategies can be incorporated into home design:
- Wall & Ceiling Insulation: Insulation is an essential part of the building process. It protects the home and its occupants against the elements and outside noise, as well as keeping warmth inside or outside of the building envelope, depending on the time of year and building location. Walls, roofs, and other components should be designed with proper insulation in mind. By using proper insulation techniques, energy costs and usage can be drastically reduced.
- Window & Door Specifications: When looking at windows and doors, it’s best to select units that are fabricated with recycled or responsibly harvested materials. Doors and windows should also be appropriately oriented to accommodate or shield interior spaces from direct sunlight, depending on the time of year, as well as to utilize natural breezes during temperate months—an approach known as passive solar design, which helps naturally reduce energy costs. During the winter months, the home absorbs the sun’s heat; then, as the seasons change and temps grow warmer, shading devices help keep the home cool.
- Light Fixtures: LED lights are now one of the easiest energy savers in new homes. LED bulbs and fixtures use small amounts of electricity to produce the same amount of light as their incandescent predecessors. Great progress has also been made in the quality of lighting that LED lights produce. With the right fixture selection, LED lighting can produce a full spectrum of colors to allow you to change the color with the time of day, activity in the space, or mood.
- Rainwater & Greywater Collection: Rainwater and greywater collection are potential water-saving resources that many homeowners overlook. Rainwater harvesting captures, diverts, and stores rainwater for later use. Greywater is the water used during the day that does not include bodily waste, such as from showers, dishwashers, and washing machines. It can be diverted and stored for use in irrigation systems and toilets. When designing a space, consider which options create opportunities for better water management.
The team at Schaub Projects is dedicated to incorporating sustainable practices with distinguished creativity. Learn more at schaubprojects.com.
This post was created by SLM Partner Studio on behalf of Schaub Projects Architecture + Design. To learn more, visit SchaubProjects.com.
