These days, building a sustainable house design is a smart choice. Not only does it reduce your environmental footprint, it also keeps the cost of your bills down too. In addition, eco-friendly homes are highly sought after, which ensures excellent resale value on your home if you decide to sell down the track.
There are many factors to consider when designing and building a sustainable modular home. From choosing the right floorplan and site position, to selecting energy-efficient appliances and features, each element plays a part in the overall sustainability of your new home. In addition, modular construction methods allow you to significantly reduce waste and the environmental impact on your site.
So, if you’re keen to build a home that’s stylish, functional and eco-friendly, read on to learn why modular homes are a great choice.
It all starts with a great sustainable house design, which is why choosing a modular builder who has plenty of experience delivering beautiful, sustainable homes is a must. Finding a floorplan that’s the right size is important, as a larger home will generally use more energy to heat, cool and light.
However, this doesn’t mean you need to cut back or go without. When your sustainable home design is well-planned, includes flexible living, the option to zone areas and makes smart use of space, you’ll have all the room you need to suit your family and lifestyle without being excessive.
Taking advantage of the climate and site conditions of your block through passive design makes your home far more efficient. Our floorplans can be flipped and customised to suit your block and we’ll carefully assess your site to find the best position and orientation for your home.
A northerly aspect is ideal, as this allows you to capture the winter sun, with eaves providing protection from the heat of summer. The inclusion of highlight windows and skylights bring in extra natural light and correctly positioned windows provide effective cross-ventilation.
Image: Display home- Hampton 14
Inside your home, choosing the right fittings and finishes is important too. LED lights are a smart upgrade - they look great, last longer and reduce your energy usage.
Insulation and double-glazed windows help to keep your home at the right temperature for longer, limiting the need for artificial heating and cooling. Plus, energy-efficient appliances and water-saving plumbing fittings can further reduce your environmental impact and power bills.
Image: Daylesford Project
While it may cost you more upfront, the long-term benefits of your own renewable energy sources are huge.
Installing a solar power system, solar hot water service, water tank or grey water recycling system is a good investment, as they can provide energy independence, save you money over time and boost the resale value of your home.
The type of materials used on your home, and their origin and lifespan all contribute to your environmental footprint. Plantation timber from sustainable sources is standard in all our homes and recycled timber is used where possible.
Modular construction methods also create less wastage, as unlike most site-built homes, excess materials are retained for use on later projects.
Image: Frankston Project
Because modular homes are built to around 95% completion off-site, the environmental impact on your land is significantly reduced. The time required on-site is limited to around 4-6 weeks which is far less than a conventionally built home.
In addition, our footing and sub-floor design requires less penetrations into the ground, which further reduces the impact on site.
When designing and building your new modular home, there are many decisions, both small and large that come together to complete your project. When you work with a builder who offers a large range of sustainable features both as standard and as an upgrade, they’ll recommend the best options for your unique needs.
This makes building a beautiful, affordable and eco-friendly modular home highly achievable.
Do you have a question about building a sustainable modular home? We’d love to hear it! Simply post a comment below or contact our sales consultants for expert advice.