SUSTAINABILITY

SUMMARY NOTE
INTRODUCTION
There are many ways to increase the sustainability of a home, some
are simple and inexpensive, and others are not so convenient.
TAKE A LOOK AT 8 WAYS TO IMPROVE THE ENERGY EFFICIENCY OF A HOUSE AND SEE IF
YOU CAN IMPLEMENT CHANGES THAT COULD SAVE BOTH ENERGY AND MONEY.

01
Lightning
using energy efficient bulbs can reduce the cost of long term lighting by
80%, this is a inexpensive and simple change to make around the home.

02
Insulation
Floors, ceilings and walls can be insulated to reduce heat transfer and
save up to 45% on home temperature regulation. Insulation types vary,
but installation can be quick and inexpensive.

03
Building Materials
To help give your audience an overview, this section can include a brief
description of the goal, its relevance to your sector or industry, and the
specific sub-targets your organization is addressing.

04
Windows
Usually quite costly, double-glazing can reduce heat loss by 50%.

05
Appliances
Generally appliances with a higher star rating are more expensive, but
save money over the lifetime of the item.

06
Temperature Regulation
Passive design makes use of natural heating and cooling provided by the
sun and wind. This can be tricky to implement for an existing home, but
has the potential to reduce heating and cooling costs by 40%.

07
Draughts
Limiting heat transfer by blocking any air flow can reduce energy costs by
25%.

08
Shading
Using natural shading from trees and awnings can block 90% of the sun’s
heat, reducing cooling costs in warmer months.

SUSTAINABILITY | SUMMARY NOTE 01

MAKE YOUR HOME SUSTAINABLE
When you make your house more sustainable, you’re making a contribution to improving
the environment. But that’s not all. Home sustainability can lower the cost of running your
home, saving energy, water and maintenance on systems and appliances. Even more than
that, you create a healthier environment for yourself.

WHAT MAKES A HOUSE ENVIRONMENTALLY SUSTAINABLE?

TO MAKE YOUR HOUSE SUSTAINABLE, CONSIDER EVERY DETAIL:

Building materials and

01 methods 02 Decorating choices

03 Insulation 04 Windows
Heat, ventilation and
05 air conditioning 06 Appliances

07 Plumbing fixtures 08 Use of smart systems

Energy generation from solar Your habits when it comes to regular

09 and wind 10 maintenance, conservation and green

cleaning

SUSTAINABILITY | SUMMARY NOTE

WHAT IS A SUSTAINABLE HOME?
A sustainable home is an efficient home that’s built or retrofitted in a way that
respects resources, optimizes energy and water use, and will last longer with
quality systems.

Sustainable homes use low-impact, high-performance materials. They're

efficient in terms of manufacturing, shipping and installing. Plus, because
high-quality materials and systems break less and last longer, they waste less

SHOULD YOU BUY A NEW ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY HOME

OR RETROFIT YOUR CURRENT HOME FOR SUSTAINABILITY?
The choice between building a sustainable house or retrofitting your current
home isn’t easy. Building new structures puts costs on the environment. On
the other hand, new buildings include the latest technologies and approaches
that benefit the environment over the long haul.

But there are all the other considerations involved in a move, such as cost,
location, schools and life disruption. Like many people, you may decide that
the most cost-effective way to go is investing in retrofitting to make your
house sustainable.

Here, we’ll go through the home sustainability considerations and sustainable

house features to keep in mind while considering both options.

SHOULD YOU BUY A NEW ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY HOME

OR RETROFIT YOUR CURRENT HOME FOR SUSTAINABILITY?
Building a sustainable house through new construction aims to reduce waste,
increase durable reliability and improve energy and water efficiency over the
lifespan of the home.

07
 01 CONSIDER PASSIVE SOLAR DESIGN

Passive solar design uses energy from sunlight to aid in heating and cooling living spaces.
Using no mechanical or electric equipment, passive solar design relies on building materials
that reflect, absorb or transmit the sun’s radiation.

Inside spaces are designed to facilitate the movement of sun-heated air without the use of
fans. The results can reduce the amount of energy used to heat and cool your home.

02 INSTALL HIGH-PERFORMANCE WINDOWS

High-performance windows make a huge difference. Windows account for 50% or more of lost
energy. New technologies include double glazing, special coatings, non-conductive framing
materials and higher-quality, air-tight construction. Replacing windows will result in better
energy efficiency, less fading of your belongings and quieter rooms.

For a warmer climate: Look for what is called low solar gain, meaning less heat is conducted
into your interior through the windows. Reflective technologies are very helpful, as is double
glazing. Look for windows that also facilitate ventilation.

For a colder climate: Choose frames that are well insulated and have the right U-value, which is
the measure of the rate of heat flow through a building part. Lower is better Triple-glazed
windows with a vacuum between panes can further minimize heat loss. Look for a tight fit to
eliminate drafts

03 INVEST IN ENERGY-EFFICIENT APPLIANCES FOR YOUR HOME

After HVAC systems, appliances are the real energy consumers in your home. Think of them as
having two prices: the cost of buying and the cost of operating. When you buy the most
energy-efficient options, you dramatically cut the second price. Here are home sustainability

considerations for the appliances that tend to consume the most electricity:

Refrigerators
Dishwashers
Stoves/ovens
Air conditioners
Clothes dryers
Water heaters

04 INSTALL A DRIP IRRIGATION SYSTEM

Keeping your yard healthy and green isn’t just about looks. Vegetation can keep your home
cooler, serve as a windbreak and contribute to cleaner air. If you need to keep your yard
watered, however, you’ll cancel the benefits pretty quickly with the wrong methods. Drip
irrigation is a better alternative. Drip irrigation systems use gravity to deliver water to plants,
focusing it directly on the roots where it’s needed. You not only save electricity by eliminating
pumps but also minimize waste through evaporation.

07
 05 USE ECO-PAINTS.

Eco-paints emit fewer toxins to reduce indoor air pollution. They’re also less toxic to
manufacture

06 INSTALL A COOL ROOF

A cool roof is one that reflects the sun’s heat instead of absorbing it into your home. The effect
on your cooling bill can be tremendous.

INVESTIGATE RENEWABLE ENERGY OPTIONS FROM YOUR ENERGY

07 SUPPLIER

Renewable energy is generated from natural replenishing resources like the sun, wind, and
water. Find out how energy providers like Constellation are on the forefront for offering
customers renewable options to meet your energy needs.

08 TALK TO SUSTAINABILITY EXPERTS

Sustainability is an area of fast innovation in home building, home systems, appliances and
lighting. Sustainability experts can perform an energy audit to give you advice on easy fixes
and the latest technology.

09 RECYCLE AND REUSE ANY CONSTRUCTION WASTE.

Don’t just get a dumpster and send your waste to a landfill. You might want to save some
materials for your own reuse, or you can sell bricks, wood and metal, even old appliances that
have scrap value

EASY FIXES TO MAKE YOUR CURRENT HOME MORE

SUSTAINABLE
A full retrofit of your home to make it sustainable can be expensive. Replacing windows will
cost thousands of dollars. While worth doing, you can also pursue these easier, low-cost
improvements to make your house sustainable:

10 DRAFT-PROOF YOUR DOORS AND WINDOWS.

Replacing leaky weatherstripping and using foam tape to cover cracks can eliminate gaps
that cost you in terms of heat and air conditioning.

11 INVEST IN CURTAINS OR BLINDS

Window treatments can add insulation value to windows by reflecting back solar energy and
cutting drafts
 05 USE ECO-PAINTS.

Eco-paints emit fewer toxins to reduce indoor air pollution. They’re also less toxic to
manufacture

06 INSTALL A COOL ROOF

A cool roof is one that reflects the sun’s heat instead of absorbing it into your home. The effect
on your cooling bill can be tremendous.

INVESTIGATE RENEWABLE ENERGY OPTIONS FROM YOUR ENERGY

07 SUPPLIER

Renewable energy is generated from natural replenishing resources like the sun, wind, and
water. Find out how energy providers like Constellation are on the forefront for offering
customers renewable options to meet your energy needs.

08 TALK TO SUSTAINABILITY EXPERTS

Sustainability is an area of fast innovation in home building, home systems, appliances and
lighting. Sustainability experts can perform an energy audit to give you advice on easy fixes
and the latest technology.

09 RECYCLE AND REUSE ANY CONSTRUCTION WASTE.

Don’t just get a dumpster and send your waste to a landfill. You might want to save some
materials for your own reuse, or you can sell bricks, wood and metal, even old appliances that
have scrap value
Don’t just get a dumpster and send your waste to a landfill. You might want to save some
materials for your own reuse, or you can sell bricks, wood and metal, even old appliances that
have scrap value
 WHAT IS LEED?
LEED stands for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design and was launched in 1998 by
the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC)

LEED is the most widely used green building rating system in the world, with over 100,000
projects in 180 countries and territories.

WHAT IS LEED CERTIFICATION?

A process that evaluates the environmental performance of a building or a neighborhood
based on a point system. LEED certification has four levels:
Certified
Silver
Gold
Platinum

depending on the number of points earned in different categories such as energy, water,
materials, indoor quality, etc.

LEED certification can benefit building owners and occupants by reducing operating costs,
enhancing occupant health and well-being, increasing property value, and demonstrating
social responsibility.

GREEN BUILDING
A practice that aims to reduce the negative impacts of buildings on the environment and
human health.

Green building incorporates principles of energy efficiency, water conservation, waste

reduction, renewable materials, and indoor environmental quality into the design,
construction, and operation of buildings.

Green building can help mitigate climate change, conserve natural resources, improve air and
water quality, and create more livable and resilient communities.
 SUMMARIZATION
SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT IS ALL ABOUT ENSURING A BETTER QUALITY OF LIFE
FOR EVERYONE'S NEXT GENERATIONS
THE BUILDING'S LIFE-CYCLE: FROM PLANNING, DESIGN, CONSTRUCTION, OPERATION
MAINTENANCE, RENOVATION, AND DEMOLITION
PROTECTING, AND IF POSSIBLE ENHANCING, THE ENVIRONMENT ONE OF MANY WAYS
TO ENSURING A BETTER QUALITY OF LIFE FOR EVERYONE

BASED ON THE NUMBER OF POINTS ACHIEVED, A PROJECT THEN EARNS ONE OF

FOUR LEED RATING LEVELS: CERTIFIED, SILVER, GOLD AND PLATINUM
INDOOR ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY ENCOMPASSES THE CONDITIONS INSIDE A
BUILDING SUCH AS AIR QUALITY, LIGHTING, THERMAL COMFORT, ACOUSTICS, AND
OCCUPANT CONTROL OVER THESE CONDITIONS.
A 'GREEN' BUILDING IS A BUILDING THAT, IN ITS DESIGN, CONSTRUCTION OR
OPERATION, REDUCES OR ELIMINATES NEGATIVE IMPACTS
THE DESIGNS AND CONSTRUCTION COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH GREEN BUILDING ARE
BEING REDUCED
GREEN CONSTRUCTION PRINCIPLES CAN EASILY BE APPLIED TO RETROFIT WORK AS
WELL AS NEW CONSTRUCTION
THE COMMON OBJECTIVE OF GREEN BUILDINGS IS TO REDUCE THE OVERALL IMPACT
OF THE BUILT ENVIRONMENT ON HUMAN HEALTH AND THE NATURAL ENVIRONMENT

THE GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT OF OUR COMMUNITIES HAS AN IMPACT ON OUR

NATURAL ENVIRONMENT

SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT EMBRACES THE THREE BROAD THEMES OF

ENVIRONMENTAL, SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC ACCOUNTABILITY

THE CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY IS CENTRAL TO THE DELIVERY OF MANY OF THE

GOVERNMENT'S POLICIES FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT

BUILDINGS ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR A LOT OF THE WORLD'S ENERGY WASTE AND
OVERALL ENERGY USE

BETTER INDOOR ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY CAN ENHANCE THE LIVES OF BUILDING

OCCUPANTS

THE LEED RATING SYSTEMS ARE GROUPED INTO FIVE MAIN CATEGORIES
GREEN BUILDINGS HAVE BEEN SHOWN TO SAVE MONEY THROUGH INCREASED
ENERGY AND WATER EFFICIENCY AND LOWER LONG-TERM OPERATIONS AND
MAINTENANCE COSTS.

LEADERSHIP IN ENERGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL DESIGN (LEED) IS ONE OF THE MOST

POPULAR GREEN BUILDING CERTIFICATION PROGRAMS USED WORLDWIDE

SUSTAINABILITY MAY BE DEFINED AS MEETING THE NEEDS OF PRESENT

GENERATIONS WITHOUT COMPROMISING THE ABILITY OF FUTURE GENERATIONS TO
MEET THEIR NEEDS
 SUMMARIZATION
BUILDING NEW STRUCTURES PUTS COSTS ON THE ENVIRONMENT
NEW BUILDINGS INCLUDE THE LATEST TECHNOLOGIES AND APPROACHES THAT BENEFIT THE
ENVIRONMENT OVER THE LONG HAUL
DRIP IRRIGATION SYSTEM USE GRAVITY TO DELIVER WATER TO PLANTS, FOCUSING IT
INDIRECTLY ON THE ROOTS WHERE IT'S NEEDED
A FULL RETROFIT OF YOUR HOME TO MAKE IT SUSTAINABLE CAN BE EXPENSIVE
MAINTENANCE MAKES A DIFFERENCE.
YOUR REFRIGERATOR WILL DRAW LESS POWER AND PERFORM BETTER IF YOU KEEP THE
COILS ON THE BACK FREE OF DUST AND GRIME
REPLACE FLUORESCENT LIGHT BULBS WITH LED OR CFL BULBS. OFFERING LONGER LIFE,
GREATER ENERGY EFFICIENCY AND FEWER TOXIC METALS, THESE NEW BULBS ARE WORTH
THE SWITCH.

AN ENERGY -EFFICIENT GARDEN MINIMIZES WATER USE

BUYING PRODUCTS MADE WITH RECYCLED MATERIALS IS GOOD FOR THE ENVIRONMENT AND
CREATES MORE DEMAND THAT ENCOURAGES MORE RECYCLING
ALL HUMAN ACTIVITIES HAVE A NEGATIVE IMPACT ON THE EARTH
DUMPING HAZARDOUS MATERIALS LIKE PAINTS, VARNISHES AND OTHER CHEMICALS INTO
LANDFILLS MAY CAUSE DANGEROUS SUBSTANCES TO SEEP INTO BUILDING
THE FUTURE OF HUMAN BEINGS DEPENDS ON THE DECISIONS THE SOCIETY AND GOVERNMENTS
WAS MAKING IN THE PAST
THE DECISIONS THE SOCIETY AND GOVERNMENTS ARE MAKING INFLUENCED BY THE DAILY
CHOICES OF EVERY SINGLE PERSON
PROJECT MANAGERS CAN LEAD THE WAY IN REDUCING AND ELIMINATING WASTE ON
CONSTRUCTION SITES
THE CONCRETE IS HARMFUL TO THE LAND

RESTORING AN EXISTING HOUSE HAS MORE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ON THE SOIL AND
SUBSOIL THAN BUYING A NEW ONE. RESTORING OR RETROFITTING AN OLDER HOME TO MEET
CURRENT ENERGY EFFICIENCY STANDARDS IS OFTEN CONSIDERED GREENER THAN BUILDING
A NEW ONE. THIS IS BECAUSE THE PROCESS OF BUILDING A NEW HOME REQUIRES SOURCING
NEW MATERIALS, WHICH CAN LEAD TO THE DESTRUCTION OF NATURAL AREAS AND THE USE
OF MORE RESOURCES.
MATERIALS LIKE CONCRETE, WOOD, METALS AND ASPHALT CAN ALL WILL NOTE RECYCLED

THE MEANS OF TRANSPORT WE USE IN OUR EVERYDAY JOURNEYS ARE NOT ONE OF THE
MAJOR CAUSES OF AIR POLLUTION AND CO2 EMISSIONS. IN FACT, TRANSPORTATION IS A
SIGNIFICANT CONTRIBUTOR TO GLOBAL WARMING THROUGH THE EMISSION OF CARBON
DIOXIDE AND OTHER POLLUTANTS. PRIVATE TRANSPORT, SUCH AS CARS, TRUCKS, BUSES,
AND MOTORBIKES, ACCOUNTS FOR NEARLY THREE-QUARTERS OF THE GREENHOUSE GAS
EMISSIONS THAT COME FROM TRANSPORT.
CLIMATE CHANGE IS THE BIG ENVIRONMENTAL PROBLEM THAT HUMANITY WILL FACE OVER
THE NEXT DECADE, BUT IT ISN'T THE ONLY ONE.

SUSTAINABLE HOMES USE LOW-IMPACT, HIGH-PERFORMANCE MATERIALS