Passive solar house designs use energy from the sun to heat and cool the home. These home designs take advantage of natural sunlight, as well as strategic positioning of windows and building materials to retain and manage solar energy. For example, Art Deco inspired homes can leverage the immense natural light from their large windows and external glass doors to warm up the living space with solar energy in the winter. These passive solar house designs are incredibly popular with architecture enthusiasts around the world as the very definition of sustainability.Passive Solar House Designs
Passive Solar House Designs
Net 0 energy home designs are designed to produce at least as much energy as it uses. These homes are outfitted with advanced solar panels and energy-efficient light, appliances and systems. Net zero energy homes are equipped to reduce energy consumption, while also compensating for their energy use with renewable energy sources, such as solar and wind. These designs are amazing examples of Art Deco style and sustainability.Net Zero Energy Home Designs
Net Zero Energy Home Designs
Rainwater harvesting is a collection and storage of rainwater from rooftops and other sources. These house designs encompass both the process of collecting water from rooftops and other surfaces, as well as the storage of it. Art Deco homes can easily be outfitted with rainwater harvesting systems that store runoff water from rooftops and other structures, thus helping to reduce both energy costs and water consumption.Rainwater Harvesting House Designs
Rainwater Harvesting House Designs
Heat recovery systems are used to capture and reuse energy that is normally wasted. These systems capture the heat that is released when air is exhausted from buildings and put it to use elsewhere. This is a great way to reduce energy wastage, and Art Deco homes can be outfitted with efficient heat recovery systems to make them more sustainable and energy-efficient.Heat Recovery System Designs
Heat Recovery System Designs
Geothermal House Designs are based on harnessing the heat from the earth to generate energy for the home. These home designs make use of the natural thermal energy of the earth to heat and cool the home, as well as to provide hot water. Utilizing geothermal systems can lower energy bills while also making the home more sustainable and energy-efficient.Geothermal House Designs
Geothermal House Designs
Green roof house designs leverage vegetation to not only reduce energy costs, but also to reduce instance of greenhouses gases. These home designs utilize various layers of insulation and vegetation to protect the house from extreme temperatures. This green roof design can be used in combination with traditional Art Deco style for an ultra-sustainable home.Green Roof House Designs
Green Roof House Designs
Permeable pavement house designs are paving systems made from pavers and grout filled with sand and gravel. This creates an impermeable surface that allows water to pass through, which means water is absorbed rather than running off due to runoff. This can reduce flooding, make gardens and plants healthier, reduce stormwater pollution, and help reduce energy costs.Permeable Pavement House Designs
Permeable Pavement House Designs
Greywater reuse system house designs are designed to capture and use greywater — water from sinks, showers, washing machines, and tubs. This water is usually seen as “dirty” and is therefore not suitable for drinking, but it can be used for watering gardens or flushing toilets. Greywater reuse systems can reduce water wastage, making them a great choice for Art Deco homes.Greywater Reuse System House Designs
Greywater Reuse System House Designs
Composting toilets have become incredibly popular among homeowners in recent years. These toilets use natural bacteria to breakdown human waste into compost that can be used in the garden. This eliminates the need for water-wasting septic tanks and makes the home more sustainable and energy-efficient.Composting Toilet House Designs
Composting Toilet House Designs
Solar panel house designs are designed to take maximum advantage of solar energy from the sun. These home designs feature optimally positioned solar panels to generate energy from the sun. From rooftop solar panels to solar shingles, there are plenty of options for Art Deco homes that are looking to become more sustainable and energy-efficient. These 10 Art Deco house designs emphasize sustainability and energy efficiency, while still maintaining a classic look. Art Deco homes don’t have to sacrifice style for sustainability, and with a few energy-saving tweaks, they can be just as stylish and sustainable as any other type of home.Solar Panel House Designs
Solar Panel House Designs
The Principles of Simple Eco House Design
It is becoming increasingly popular to consider more ecological ways of living, including when it comes to home design. An eco house is one that has been designed with not only its surrounding environment in mind, but also its energy efficiency and sustainability. Eco houses present a great opportunity to help reduce environmental damage caused by over-consuming and not taking into account the externalities of buildings.
The core principles of an eco house are to use natural, renewable or recycled materials and to reduce energy use as much as possible. Eco house design goes above and beyond the minimum number of building regulations set by local governments. Designing an eco house is a complex task that requires knowledge from various construction and technical fields. However, the principles of eco house design are comparatively straightforward, obtainable and possible to implement.
Reduce Your Carbon Footprint
The most important aspect of an eco house is a drastically reduced carbon footprint . This means designing in a way that minimizes the amount of energy used both for building and running the house. In terms of construction, this means selecting materials that take as little energy to produce. Recycled or reclaimed materials such as timber sourced from plastic or wood waste can be used in construction.
Build Efficient Structures
The shape and structure of an eco house are just as important as the materials used for construction. Spaces should be well-insulated and well-ventilated to reduce the energy needed to maintain a comfortable temperature. Significantly, properties that are built with too many walls and too little insulation increase the energy needed to maintain a comfortable temperature.
Collect Sustainable Sources of Energy
Finally, the most visible and possibly the most effective way of designing an eco house is to run the property with sustainable energy sources. Renewable energy is energy collected from sources such as wind and solar power. Eco houses designed to run off solar and wind energy can reduce the demand on the electric grid and reduce bills in the long run. The sustainability of solar panels and wind energy turbines should also be taken into account when designing an eco house.
