By Jack Shaw, senior writer and editor at Modded
When people think of sustainable homes, the classic ground-up home built with sustainability add-ons likely comes to mind. However, you don’t need a dramatic home renovation. In fact, buying a lot of green products while disposing of the current materials contradicts the low-waste principles of sustainability. Instead of building a sustainable home overnight, it’s better to make deliberate and informed choices over time.
Learn how to future-proof homes by choosing sustainable home materials, from the best options for flooring and roofing to rising technologies that create energy-efficient homes.
Why the Most Sustainable Choice Is Often the One You Already Own
Genuine home sustainability should keep material longevity, efficiency and consciousness in mind. Waste and consumption should be reduced by replacing home materials only at the end of life. That is because extracting, manufacturing and transporting these materials often creates emissions. The discarded materials also end up in landfills.
Check if the item can still be repaired, refinished and repurposed before replacing them. For example, dated hardwood floors can be sanded down and refinished for a fresh and brand-new feel. Old kitchen cabinets can be repainted and installed with new knobs for a more modern look. More worn solid wood doors can be turned into desks or headboards.
Make sure to plan for these upgrades by doing a home audit. Assess the lifespan of your roof, HVAC, appliances, flooring and other major components. By doing this, you can properly save up for replacing them and avoid wasteful, panic-driven renovations. Additionally, you can research the best sustainable options available in the market.
Foundational Choices for a Low-Impact Home
Here are the best sustainable home materials for different parts of the home.
1. Eco-Conscious Flooring
The most classic and sustainable flooring choice is linoleum. Linoleum is made from natural resources, such as linseed oil, wood flour, cork dust and jute backing. Additionally, linoleum can last up to 40 years and is fully biodegradable. This material is also anti-static and antimicrobial. You can also enjoy healthier indoor air quality, since the floor does not emit harmful chemicals like other choices.
Another sustainable choice is cork flooring. It is harvested from the bark of a cork oak tree, which regenerates after several years, allowing for repeat harvesting. The process also doesn’t harm the tree. Cork flooring is great for thermal and acoustic insulation.
2. Walls and Finishes
Wall materials and finishes can significantly contribute to indoor air pollution. In fact, volatile organic compounds (VOCs), emitted by materials such as paints and varnishes, are 10 times more concentrated indoors than outdoors. These compounds are responsible for the new paint smell and can be harmful to your health.
It’s important to choose low or zero-VOC paints for walls and other surfaces. They typically have water-based carriers that dilute or reduce harmful emissions. Another option is to choose breathable natural plasters instead of gypsum drywall. This material absorbs and releases moisture, helping regulate indoor humidity and prevent mold growth.
3. Sustainable Insulation
Since proper insulation can significantly improve a home’s efficiency, this improvement can yield the highest return on your investment. Sustainable insulation can also drastically reduce the carbon footprint and lessen the load on your HVAC systems.
Sheep’s wool is a great choice for insulation, as it is a natural fiber with a unique structure that traps air. It is highly effective for thermal insulation and is naturally flame-resistant. Sheep’s wool can also absorb and neutralize indoor pollutants like formaldehyde, commonly found in building and household materials. Recycled denim is also a good choice since you can save it from being piled in textile waste landfills. Denim has high-performing thermal insulation and sound-dampening properties.
4. Sustainable Roofing and Siding
The roofing and siding is a home’s first line of protection from outside elements. As such, materials should be durable and long-lasting to prevent wasteful and costly replacements. Metal roofing made of steel and aluminum may cost more, but it can last 50-100 years, unlike asphalt shingles, which last shorter. Metal can also be easily recycled at the end of its life.
Cool roofs are another excellent choice because they reflect sunlight and absorb less heat. On a hot day, a cool roof maintains lower temperatures compared to an average roof, reducing the need for air conditioning. You can opt for this by choosing specific metal roofing colors or by adding specialized coatings.
When considering replacing your siding, choose fiber cement. They are made from wood pulp, cement, sand, water and fiber cement, creating a durable and non-combustible material. Its long lifespan ensures you don’t need to replace it and you won’t have to worry about it rotting or being damaged by insects.
5. Durable Countertops and Cabinetry
Kitchen and bathroom counters are used daily. As a result, they are subject to more wear and tear, possibly leading to more frequent renovations. That is why your material choices are critical to ensure that you don’t have to retouch them as much. Glass, paper and plastic are recycled and bound by resin to create more durable, nonporous countertops.
Standard cabinetry options are made with urea-formaldehyde adhesives, which emit off-gassing for several years. When upgrading cabinets, choose solid wood that is certified by the Forest Stewardship Council and formaldehyde-free composite materials like bamboo plywood or wheatboard.
6. High-Performance Windows and Doors
Windows and doors are significant parts of homes since they are the entryway of light, air and heat. Poorly constructed windows become a source of energy loss, while high-quality windows help ensure energy efficiency and home comfort.
The frame is the most important part in ensuring insulation and durability. Fiberglass is a durable choice and provides great insulation. FSC-certified wood is also great, but may require more maintenance. Placement and size of windows are also critical factors in determining how hot or cool a home can be. Large, south-facing windows in Northern Hemisphere homes let winter light in and warm the space. In warmer climates, window overhangs are important for blocking summer sun and preventing overheating inside.
Other important parts of a window and how they influence a home’s temperature include:
- Panes: Multiple-paned windows create good insulation and air gaps between the glass sheets and reduce heat transfer as compared to single-pane windows
- Low-E coatings: A transparent and low-emissivity coating reflects infrared heat back into the home in the winter and reflects unwanted heat away in the summer
- Inert gas fills: Gap between panes should be filled with non-toxic gases like Argon and Krypton to better insulate the home as compared to regular air
Smart Technology for Sustainable Living
You can also leverage technology to optimize your home’s efficiency and resiliency. Smart technology systems can automate energy savings without sacrificing comfort. For example, smart thermostats learn a house’s occupancy patterns and adjust heating and cooling accordingly. This helps prevent energy waste when residents are asleep or when no one is home.
Another smart option is an energy monitoring system connected to the electrical panel. They provide real-time data on energy consumption. You can easily identify devices that consume energy even when powered off.
You can also significantly save on utility bills by installing efficient water fixtures. A simple rainwater harvesting system can collect rainwater in barrels for irrigation and even for toilet and laundry use. A greywater recycling system reuses wastewater from showers, sinks and washing machines to be used to water non-edible plants. These systems ensure that every drop of water is given a second life before leaving your home.
Mindful Deconstruction and Waste Diversion
The end of a material’s life in the home doesn’t have to be its conclusion. In fact, you can create and produce novel things with existing materials. Opt to deconstruct your home rather than demolish it, as deconstructing is a careful and manual disassembling process. You can salvage materials for reuse and recycling. On the other hand, demolition uses heavy machinery and tears down the structure into a single pile of waste, all headed for the landfill. Perfectly functional and useful materials you have cannot be saved in this process.
Reuse materials such as kitchen cabinets, solid wood flooring, doors, windows, light fixtures and architectural trim. These items can either be reused in your new home or donated to nonprofit organizations such as Habitat for Humanity ReStores. They can be given a new life in different homes.
Other items that cannot be reused can be recycled. Metals such as steel and copper have high resale value. Concrete can be crushed for use in new construction projects. Drywall can also be ground up to improve soil.
All these efforts should be planned from the start. Create a waste management plan with your contractor to identify items that can be reused and recycled. Make sure to separate each item to avoid contamination.
A Home Built for Tomorrow
A sustainable home is more than just a home designed and built with sustainability in mind. You can transform your old home into a sustainable one by just practicing restraint. Instead of overhauling your current system and materials, be thoughtful about the changes you will make over time. These conscious choices prevent additional carbon emissions from extracting, producing and transporting new materials to replace perfectly functioning ones.
When you do need to upgrade items, choosing sustainable options can lead to a longer lifespan. You create spaces that are better for the environment and your own health, ones that can be homes for generations to come.
Author Bio
Jack Shaw, the senior writer and editor at Modded, specializes in weaving together the threads of health and wellness with greater concerns about sustainability best practices and industry developments. With a commitment to providing actionable insights and empowering readers, Through his writing, Jack seeks to educate and inspire individuals on their journey toward more eco-friendly decisions. Feel free to connect with him via LinkedIn.