Green Living: Top 5 Sustainable Innovative Houses
Sustainable architecture and design are transforming the business and commercial landscape of today. The toll that constructing and running a house takes on the environment is greater than most people think. But, taking advantage of green solutions brings benefits for your budget as well, not just the Mother Nature. High upfront costs are actually your ticket to the tremendous new frontier of possibilities, where more energy efficiency, smart use of resources and striking design empower you to make a positive change in your life and surroundings.
Image source: ubergizmo.com
Waste house
The cycle of reusing, recycling and reducing (waste) is paramount to the practice of environment-friendly living. No epiphany of this principle shines brighter than a Waste House. It is made almost entirely from thousands of toothbrushes, DVD cases, carpet tiles and floppy disks. They were also used to clad this remarkable house’s façade, proving that waste is just a term for stuff that ends up in the wrong place. Hundreds of students and apprentices worked hard under a supervision of Professor Duncan Baker-Brown to pull together this incredible achievement.
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Blooming Bamboo
Now, it is time for something different. Created by an innovative Vietnamese firm, the Blooming Bamboo house is a prototype tailored to those with a humble budget. Although it may seem fragile, this peculiar haven is actually flood-proof. It is placed on stilts and can withstand floods up to 5ft in depth. A central frame is crafted from bamboo, and locally-sourced materials such as fiberboard and coconut leaves were used for cladding. The simple outline and cost of merely $2,500 allows those into DIY to give this house a try. Indeed, since you can find a plethora of inexpensive materials and tools online, there is no excuse this time.
Image source: contemporist.com
ZEB Pilot House
This stunning piece of architecture is an experimental home, which mounts ample solar panels in order to make the most of renewable energy. Passive houses are on the roll around the globe, but this project takes the efficiency to the whole new level. The house produces three times more energy that it requires for running, and the surplus juice can be sold to the grid or utilized for electric vehicles. ZEB House also features a cutting-edge sustainable sink, a large photovoltaic array, rainwater collectors, highly-efficient heat exchanger, etc. Add to that a mesmerizing design, and you got yourself a pinnacle of modern green living.
Image source: dezeen.com
Slip House
Situated on a brownfield site, in a row of terraced houses in the UK, Slip House does stand out from the rest. The unusual form consists of three orthogonal box shapes that break up the building and give it an outstanding sculptural appeal. But, this house is not just about the looks, as it possesses rainwater harvesting tank, mechanical ventilation, solar panels, impeccable insulation and triple glazing. These capacities save up to 1.2 tons of CO2 emissions each year. Bear in mind that this is an amazing template for a sustainable family home, so do not let such an opportunity slip through your fingers.
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P.A.T.H
The outstanding addition to the line of high-end prefab houses, The Prefabricated Accessible technological house (P.A.T.H.) comes in different shapes and sizes. It also makes 34 different floor plans and customizable interior fittings available for buyers to choose from. This sustainable sanctuary can range from 40 to 350 square meters, meaning that you can receive between one and eight rooms. Our favorite example showcases an all-glass shell, and sustainable tech on the roof, including wind turbines, solar array, as well as rainwater collection and filtration systems.
Green way or the highway
A boom in sustainable building is driving many stunning applications and innovations. Whether you want a bamboo shed or a blend of high-tech solutions and contemporary design, green way is the one to take. The beauty of it is that you can lower the environmental impact, but also the financial outlay. So, outfit your home with sustainable tech and embrace the environment-friendly living at its best. You have a green light for your new adventure and extraordinary houses presented above may serve as guiding lights during it.
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Author’s Bio: Lana Hawkins is a student of architecture from Sydney. She writes regularly about home décor and landscaping. Lana finds the most of her inspiration in sustainability and green architecture and design. You can follow her on Twitter.
