The National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) highlighted five steps remodelers and designers can take to make their projects more sustainable. As sustainability becomes more of a standard rather than a trend, more clients are looking to give their homes a second life with an eco-friendly makeover.
Consider products that use fewer raw materials and achieve the same result as traditional products, while having a lower environmental impact. Such products include lighter, thinner brick, engineered wood or engineered steel products and prefabricated roof or floor trusses. Also, installing an efficient heating and cooling system in a remodeling project that fits the client’s needs is a simple way to make the project more sustainable.
Passive cooling design is one of the practices of Climate Responsive Design, which uses the orientation of the building, natural ventilation and design practices to cool the building instead of mechanical systems. The use of these techniques can lower energy costs while maintaining comfort for those inside the home.
