3 Important Elements In The Future Of Sustainable Housing

In the past forty or so years since Barrister has been in the business of building home in New Jersey, we’ve seen a lot of trends come and go, as well as a lot of developments in the field. One of the more important, and we think lasting, developments in the New Jersey home-building industry is the rise of sustainable housing, and the recognition of the overall impact development has to the environment.

Sustainable housing is defined by eco-friendliness and energy efficiency. And while we’re already taking steps in those directions, the future of sustainable housing will continue to be shaped by the necessities that arise, especially as the planet continues to warm and people become more and more aware of their carbon footprints. Looking at where we are, how our climate is changing, what the economy is doing, and where we are headed next, we believe these three elements have emerged as being particularly important to the future of sustainable housing:

Passive Designs

A house with a passive design makes use of natural energy sources and doesn’t need as much outside energy to be brought in. Building a passive house involves using certain materials and construction techniques that make the most of elements such as sunshine, geothermal sources, and insulation, for example.

A home that’s well-insulated and powered by solar panels won’t need to consume as much external energy on heating or cooling needs. Utility bills are reduced, and energy efficiency is maximized for greater sustainability.

Passive solutions often incorporate position and orientation into a building’s design to maximize natural heating from the sun in the winter and minimize overheating during summer months.

Weather Resilience

From high-moisture, high-wind storms, to record-breaking temperatures, we’re seeing more wear-and-tear on homes every year due to weather events. In some regions, insurance companies can hardly keep up with claims. In the future, sustainable housing will need to be highly resilient to withstand weather extremes. In northern New Jersey, we’ve always built homes that can stand cold winters and rough snowstorms, but this kind of consideration is now applicable to almost all areas of the globe, even in milder climates.

This will involve innovative designs along with the use of materials that can stand up to the force of winds and hail, as well as endure extreme heat and higher moisture levels.

Affordability

A truly sustainable house weathers not only what nature brings, but economic fluctuations as well. People need to be able to afford buying and maintaining sustainable homes regardless of what the economy is doing. One way to achieve affordability is to source construction materials locally. Another is to build smaller homes that are as attractive and comfortable as their larger, more expensive counterparts.

Equipping homes with more durable materials, appliances, and fixtures will reduce maintenance and repair costs, boosting a home’s economic sustainability. Appliances that last longer, and fixtures that use less water and electricity, are responsible ways to reduce waste and help the future of sustainable housing.

Building Your Home

Barrister has been building custom homes in New Jersey for decades, and we’ve seen it all. Give us a ring today at (201) 891-7774 to discuss how we can help build a dream home for you using some of the best sustainable housing principles being applied right now.