A Guide to Developing Eco-friendly Housing

With the right initiative and support, the transition to developing eco-friendly housing will create a win-win situation for builders, consumers, the economy, and the environment as a whole. The following guide has been devised to educate the property development industry and all of its stakeholders on what eco-friendly housing entails, the many associated benefits, and how to prepare and become a part of the future of sustainable development.

What Does Eco-Friendly Housing Mean?

Eco-friendly housing is based on the foundations of sustainable development. This involves the incorporation of eco-friendly design, materials, and technologies throughout the construction process. As a whole, this allows homeowners to reduce their operating costs all while looking after the environment. it’s a win-win situation really.

The main priorities in developing eco-friendly housing include the reduction of energy consumption, harmony between the development and its environment, the use of materials in a sustainable manner, and the promotion of healthy living within the space. Here are some key considerations to make when developing:

Key Development Considerations:

  • Energy Sufficiency. In an ideal case, to ensure 100% self-sufficiency – an off grid development should be set up with its own renewable energy supply (wind and solar). However, the minimum would involve the use of a solar battery for heating and hot water.
  • Fabric. Look at using sustainably sourced and recycled materials for development, emissions, water consumption and resource depletion. Additionally, plastic use should be kept to a minimum. Where necessary, use recycled plastics.
  • Insulation. In order to maximise efficient energy usage, considerations need to be made about how to best reduce heat loss from the property. The use of natural renewable materials e.g. sheep’s wool where possible is crucial for consistent insulation. Additionally, draught-proofing and glazing also aim to ensure a development is air tight and minimises loss of energy.
  • Orientation. The direction of the property is also an important consideration to make prior to development. Wide windows should face south to absorb the most amount of light and heat. Contrarily, minimum north-facing windows should be implemented as heat is lost through these.
  • Embodied Energy. ‘Embodied energy’ can make up approximately 25% of a development’s total energy demand over it’s lifespan. as a whole, the development needs to have a low carbon footprint – this needs to be considered throughout the entire supply chain.
  • Green Housing. Giving back to the local ecology is important, a grass lawn alone doesn’t achieve this. Creating an ecosystem with flowers etc. is important.

These are just some of the many ways to approach the development of eco-friendly housing. It is recommended that either renewable energy or fabric-focused insulation is the key measure. However, where feasible, a holistic approach combining both is preferred.

Although there is a lot to learn in order to implement these measures, it is well worth it. The following will justify the benefits of implementing eco-friendly housing measures within your development projects.

The Benefits of Eco-Friendly Housing

Residential and even commercial developers are already reaping the many benefits which the implementation of sustainable practices brings. Here are just some of the many reasons you too will want to implement sustainable measures into your developments, as soon as possible:

The Future is Now

It is without a doubt that sustainability will be, if not already, a predominant factor in every industry. Cristianne Close, Global Markets Practice Leader at WWF International states that “consumers around the world do want to live more sustainably”. Close states that this is a ‘Global Eco-Awakening’, with businesses having no excuse in today’s society not to play a socially responsible role.

This has driven natural resource consumption to an all-time high, reducing the use of limited resources. As a result, decreasing the overall carbon footprint. Australia already has the Nationwide House Energy Rating Scheme (NatHERS). This is a star rating system determining the energy efficiency of a home’s design, out of 10. However, The Conversation argues that four in five new houses are being built to the minimum standard (6 stars) and not being optimised. Australian housing standards were already approximately 2 stars behind other developed countries back in 2008. Australians want sustainable housing and ‘if mandatory energy ratings aren’t increased, the country will fall further behind international best practice.’

Accordingly, those builders and developers who being implementing sustainable development will remain at the forefront of the industry. Not only this but also to remain at the top of home-buyers wish lists. Getting your foot in the door of what many expect the future to look like, will only allow you to reap the many benefits you have sowed.

Boost Your Income Potential

Sustainable houses typically sell for a higher price than those that do not implement these practices. As a matter of fact, the average sales price of sustainable houses is 10% higher and they also sell 13 days faster. It is clear to see that sustainability has never been more important to Australians, with these high prices and quick sales turnaround.

Accordingly, this positively influences your income potential in the development industry.

Increase Demand

Over the years, energy costs have continued to rise. In Australia, residential energy consumption rose between 15% and 20% due to people having to work and live from home in the midst of COVID-19. Furthermore, the ABC declares that ‘90% of Australians want to keep working from home, in some capacity’.

With this obvious trend, it is evident that homeowners are looking to reduce these increasing prices. As a builder or developer, it is crucial to meet buyer needs. This is why it is so important to consider energy-efficient practices within the development industry, in turn, increasing demand.

How to Prepare for the Future of Sustainable Property Development

As previously stated, sustainable development is the future. Builders and developers will be turning more and more towards green practices to reduce their carbon footprint and create more efficient, eco-friendly housing. However, it is important to flag that this is not something that is going to occur years down the track, the future is now. This is already being implemented in today’s development practices; any builders or developers not already implementing this are essentially being left behind…

Fortunately, it is not too late to jump on board. Here are some sustainable practices you can begin implementing into your developments…

Sustainable Practices for Implementation:

  • Source Sustainable Materials. This practice does not come as a surprise, as local sourcing has been around for many years. Before international shipping it was common practice for builders to construct houses from local materials depending on what was available in that region.
  • Customise Sustainability According to Location. The location of a house will determine the most sustainable actions to take. For instance, a dry area should focus on conserving water. Contrarily, an area which is exposed to lots of sun should consider solar panel installation. Making considerations on the surrounding environment is the bare minimum when it comes to eco-friendly housing.
  • Keep in Mind the Higher Up-Front Costs. It does typically cost more to implement sustainable practices. However, although up-front costs are higher, they will in turn save the home owner money over time and produce greater return. This is the result of a reduced carbon footprint, less energy costs and saving the environment all at once. Accordingly, as builders and developers you should account for these initial costs, but not to let it deter you.
  • Think About Renovating & Repurposing First. Starting from scratch isn’t always necessary with development projects. The renovation of an existing structure and the implementation of sustainable features saves a considerable amount of money all while achieving the same initial goal.
  • Market Your Developments Sustainability & Eco-Friendliness. With the increased demand of eco-friendly housing, it is crucial to have an accompanying marketing plan to promote your sustainable projects. This should feature the developments ability to operate efficiently, the specific features and how they will benefit buyers. Good marketing sells homes at quicker rates, as well as higher prices.
  • Implement New Technology. As a known fact, technology is built to make our lives easier and better. This can be applied to sustainable development practices. Each year, new technologies are brought out improving efficiency and green development. Implementing these technologies will allow builder and developers to be as eco-friendly and efficient as possible in their projects.

 

Looking for the latest technology to improve your sustainability and efficiency? PiPr is an all-in-one, cloud-based portal which systemises and automates your processes. Find out more about how PiPr can manage your sales, stock, and marketing today. Alternatively, request a free demo today and see it for yourself.

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