Sustainable Living: Top Design Trends for Concept Homes in 2024

Sustainable Living: Top Design Trends for Concept Homes in 2024

Sustainable living with the changes in the global outlook on people’s environmental impacts, green living is now a standard in housing. Concept homes present themselves as homes that emphasis the idea, that innovation Sustainable living and a healthy planet are changing the way people live their lives in relation to the environment. It is time to discuss interesting trends that influence these green secluded spaces. Passive Solar Design: Harnessing Natural Energy Passive solar design is one of the biggest impacts in sustainable architecture today. Through correct positioning of windows and the use of thermal mass materials concept homes augment the utilization of natural light and heat thereby minimizing artificial energy. This approach has the advantage of directly supporting the goals of sustainable living making homes efficient throughout the year. Recycled Materials: Beauty in Repurposing Why waste when you can reuse? Eco-friendly design includes the use of recycled or recycled material such as wood, steel or glass. These not only decorate homes in a very special way but also help to reduce the CO2 emissions from the construction industry which is a big issue when using conventional systems. Vegetative Rooftops and the Vertical Garden Roof gardening or the use of green roofs and vertical gardens are slowly becoming must-have features in green homes. These features help to make the building more insulated and cleaner, and they add some natural aesthetics to cities. These concept homes evoke the image of nature in combination with the best modern concepts of roofing solutions. Smart technology ties with sustainability The advancement of smart home technology has now provided energy energy-efficient way of living smartly. Smart devices such as smart thermostats, intelligent lighting and IoT-based energy meters for home help save on the utilities while keeping the humans comfortable at the same time. All these are good examples that go to show that one can build green homes that suit the contemporary way of life. Biophilic Design: Bringing the Outdoors In Biophilic design aims to enhance the relationship between humans and nature in the built environment. Green features in concept homes are big windows, indoor plants, and the use of natural building materials to enhance calm and green living. This trend contributes as well to the improvement of well-being, as well as to the support of the values advocated by the militancy for the environmental cause. Net-Zero Energy Homes: The Future of Housing   Net-zero homes create the environment inside the house and utilise solar systems or any other renewable resource so that the amount of electricity produced is equal to the amount consumed. This radical concept guarantees that homes are sustainability-focused, and independent from the overt control of the outside world, making architects significant leaders in the shift to sustainable designs.

Read More
 How green building certifications are shaping the real estate market

How green building certifications are shaping the real estate market

Green building certifications  have become a clear path to environmentally sound development, as awareness of the environmental impact of construction reaches an all-time high. Sustainable real estate practices are now a key focus in the industry. These are not certs for the sake of certs; they are certs of solid investment in sustainable living. What Defines a Green Building? It is a building that is designed and constructed to minimise environmental impact through its construction process, as well as its subsequent use. Its focus is on energy efficiency, resource conservation and waste reduction. Green buildings consume less energy, save water and use less eco-friendly materials, making a healthier living environment. In most ways, they’re also better for occupant well-being and productivity: they have better indoor air quality, natural lighting, and thermal comfort. Green building certifications certify a structure is designed and built to a minimum level of environmental performance. Several green building certifications in India look at different aspects, such as energy utilisation, water usage, indoor air quality, etc. The certifications urge developers to use a particular standard of sustainability, which is a surrogate quality indicator in the real estate market. Major Green Building Certifications in India LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design): The U.S. Green Building Council manages LEED, a global rating system. Overseen in India by IGBC, the focus is on energy efficiency, water conservation and air quality. IGBC Green Building Rating System: This rating system, developed by IGBC, rates buildings on sustainability, from site selection through energy use, water resources, and, most importantly, indoor environment quality. GRIHA (Green Rating for Integrated Habitat Assessment): GRIHA (Green Rating for Integrated Habitat Assessment), developed by TERI, addresses the issue of reducing the ecological footprint of buildings from design through retail buildings’ energy efficiency and helps improve the energy efficiency of retail buildings and the procedures of improving energy-saving processes. Significance of Green Building Certifications Green building certifications offer several advantages, making them essential in sustainable real estate: Environmental Sustainability: These certifications ensure that we reduce ecological harm and promote energy efficiency, water use reduction, and waste reduction. Increased Marketability: Home buyers and tenants prefer green buildings, whether homes, offices, hospitals, schools, or warehouses. Occupancy rates and prices are better in the case of certified buildings. Compliance and Incentives: Developers also have the chance to take advantage of tax breaks and other incentives to put green certifications in line with government sustainability policies. Enhanced Occupant Health: Better health and productivity among occupants result from green buildings that promote improved indoor air quality, lighting and thermal comfort. Reduced Operating Costs: Utility and maintenance needs are lower, bringing long-term financial savings. Final Thoughts Green building certifications are changing the real estate landscape with energy-efficient, healthy, and cost-reducing properties. These certifications are becoming increasingly crucial as sustainability drives the future of construction and adds value to properties.

Read More
 Sustainable Architecture: Top Green Building Projects Worldwide

Sustainable Architecture: Top Green Building Projects Worldwide

For Sustainable Architecture climate change cropping up as a major concern in society.  sustainable architecture is now at the forefront of charting society towards a sustainable future. That is why modern green structures for different territories become real models of combining comfort and environmentally friendly architecture. Now that we know what sustainability means let us examine some of the most outstanding works that show how sustainability comes to life. Sustainable Youth Transforming Skies of Megapolises Energy-efficient green elevations are revolutionizing the skyline, and environmentalism does not seem so oxymoronic any longer. Of all these structures, the Bosco Verticale in Milan Italy is possibly one of the largest vertical forest structures. As home to over 900 trees and 20000 plants, this structure is able to add to the richness of physical life and remove pollution from the air in the dense city.                                                                                                                                                     [Source: Pinterest] Another path breaker is The Edge in Amsterdam, globally recognised as one of the greenest buildings in terms of energy. Employing solar energy and incorporating smart solutions, this structure receives the status of a net zero energy building which is characteristic of green buildings. The Efforts of Green Campuses Campus and universities are integrating green responsibility to encourage sustainability in architecture. At the University of British Columbia, the Centre for Interactive Research on Sustainability (CIRS) demonstrates renewable energy utilisation and rainwater management. Besides saving costs, it is also an awareness creation initiative that prepares architects.                                                                                                                                                           [Source: Pinterest] Housing solutions for a greener tomorrow There are many environmentally friendly housing schemes that show that sustainability begins at home. Low-carbon lifestyle is well illustrated in the Vauban district in Freiburg, Germany. Using renewable solar energy and featuring energy-saving architectural solutions, this neighbourhood stimulates communities around the globe. In America, we have Babcock Ranch located in Florida which should be used as a role model for green city planning. 100 per cent reliant on renewable energy, this town is a model for environmentally sustainable lifestyles of the future.     Sustainable Architecture in Modern Architectural Design Efficient environmental practices are gradually becoming the order of the day in developed building projects, they include: These case studies using Positive Energy Architecture and Biophilic Architecture demonstrate how innovation in sustainable architecture will help fight climate change. This is because as most cities incorporate new designs and green technologies, the vision of a cleaner, healthier world becomes that much more realizable. The films embody sustainability in practice as a necessity and a practice that already exists all over the world.    

Read More