We all want to contribute to a healthier future for our planet, and one of the ways we can do this is through eco-friendly homebuilding. Eco houses are becoming increasingly popular across the globe as people strive to build homes that use fewer resources and reduce their environmental impact. From passive homes built from natural materials to green roofs that capture rainwater, there are many beautiful sustainable eco-build homes out there.
Are you looking for a home that is both environmentally friendly and aesthetically pleasing? Look no further! In this blog, we will explore 5 of the most beautiful eco-build homes that combine sustainability with incredible design. Come take a look at these architectural marvels and see why eco-build homes are becoming more and more popular!
What Are Sustainable and Prefabricated Eco Friendly Homes
Eco friendly homes, or eco houses, are essentially dwellings that have been built and/or upgraded to reduce their environmental impacts. This is typically achieved through the use of sustainable building materials, energy efficient design and sometimes external sources of renewable energy.
Eco houses can be new builds created with various levels of efficiency, or they may involve existing dwellings being ‘greened up’ by adding sustainable solutions such as insulation or solar panels. There has been an increase in popularity for these environmentally-friendly homes in recent times as people become more conscious of the impact of their behaviours on the environment.
Some common features of eco friendly homes include:
- Maximizing natural lighting by following Passive House design principles to reduce reliance on electric lighting;
- Using advanced airtight ventilation and insulation techniques to maintain moderate indoor temperature without having to constantly heat/cool the air.
- Using systems such as rainwater collection and graywter recycling for efficient water usage within the house;
- Employing renewable energy generation sources such as photovoltaic cells for solar power or small wind turbines for wind power;
- And using low VOC paints and finishes together with sustainable building materials such as bamboo flooring, non-toxic wallpapers and lumber from certified plantations.
These are just some of the ways in which eco friendly homes achieve a zero carbon footprint while also managing to maintain high standards of comfort within them. Eco houses provide occupants with considerably lower bills due to reduced energy consumption as well as providing a clean and healthy indoor environment. Ultimately, by choosing an eco home you are minimizing your carbon footprint while helping to protect our planet’s finite resources – it’s a win-win situation!
5 Great Prefab Eco-Friendly Houses
We are very enthusiastic about sustainable construction, and sustainable technologies, and below provide a few of the myriad beautiful examples of eco houses.
Gorka Dom by Snegiri Architects
This beautiful green roof home is designed by Snegiri Architects, and is a beautiful example of sustainable design, that blends its modern design brilliantly with its natural surroundings.
L’Abri 550-BV by Ecohabitation
Ecohabitation curates a fantastic catalog of prefab eco houses from various designers, architects and manufacturers. Based in Quebec, Canada, they offer a range of designs and kit homes that are made to offer both sustainable features, and are designed to use less energy. These green homes come in a variety of sizes and designs, and offer a very modern take on sustainable housing. Using both locally sourced materials, and offering prefab homes that can be certified as net zero energy rating, this company is a true proponent of highly sustainable, green building technology. Their catalog offers practical prefab homes that are both sustainable and environmentally conscious.
Greenfab 1200 Series by Greenfab
The Greenfab 1200 is a 1200 square foot, 3 bedroom, 2 bathroom home designed by Greenfab. This contemporary house offers affordable and sustainable features along with a modern design aesthetic. Greenfab is a Seattle, Washington based company that sells prefab and modular homes for those seeking energy efficient, healthy homes. Their entire range of products offer eco-friendly design in every house. Homes like the Greenfab 1200 incorporate eco-friendly architecture, using sustainable materials, and a construction process that minimizes material waste and reduced resource usage. All of their sustainable prefab homes and eco kits are prefabricated and built using locally sourced materials, and they inspire us with their future focused on healthy living, and features that reduce their environmental impact.
Lighthouse ADU by Alchemy Architects
These small homes are designed as accessory dwelling units (ADU) and intended as small dwellings made to supplement an existing property by adding as second swelling for family, elderly or other uses. This house project is created with a focus on “sustainability and a celebration of luxury for less”. Whether it’s a desire to live more simply, this home is built with simplicity and sustainability in mind. The various designs range from 310 to 570 sq ft, and offer a range different living area solutions, and the house features many space saving features to enhance the living experience. Designed to be low energy and sustainable, this house is built with practicality and the environment in mind.
Seattle DADU by Artisans Group
Designed by the Artisans Group, the Seattle DADU is a small home specifically designed to meet the needs for additional small accessory dwelling units. The company states they are “committed to high performance, net zero resilient buildings and communities”, and has taken care in their planning to ensure the most energy efficient designs and incorporating passive house features with a goal towards net zero buildings.
What Type of House is Most Eco Friendly?
When it comes to building a green and sustainable home, eco-friendly houses are the way forward. Eco house design is inspired by the principles of sustainability, focusing on the use of renewable resources, environmental conservation and energy efficiency.
To create an eco-friendly house, there are a number of options available ranging from utilizing traditional materials like wood and straw bale to investing in energy saving features such as solar panels and green roofs.
The type of house that is most eco friendly will depend on the location and its local resources. Solar powered houses are particularly effective for sunny climates as they reduce reliance on non-renewable energy sources and need minimal maintenance costs. Passive homes are designed to maximize heating from natural sunlight, reducing energy consumption during colder months. Green roofs help keep buildings cool in warm climates while providing several urban environmental benefits such as improved air quality, reduced insulation noise pollution and lessened stormwater runoffs.
For those with limited living space, tiny homes can be a great option for an eco-friendly dwelling. Composed of recycled materials such as shipping containers or re-purposed caravans, these modular structures can be quickly built at relatively low cost in almost any location around the world. Eco heating systems like ground source heat pumps take advantage of thermal energy within the earth’s surface to provide effective home heating solutions at lower running costs than traditional boilers or electric heaters.
Eco houses come in many shapes and sizes, capable of accommodating everyone from single dwellers looking for sustainability to families seeking an economical dwelling without compromising comfort or style. Whatever type of house you choose to build make sure it reflects your values while creating minimal ecological impact on its environment – that is what makes it most eco friendly!
Types of Eco Houses, Eco-Friendly Homes and Environmentally Friendly Dwellings
Eco houses are designed to reduce our day-to-day emissions, save resources and act as a protective shield for the environment. They may look a bit different from traditional home designs but they are definitely more efficient and functional. Here is a list of 5 eco homes that make great use of natural materials and energy-efficient solutions, making them both beautiful and eco-friendly places to live.
- Solar Powered House – These homes are designed with solar panels on the roof to utilize free renewable energy from the sun. The Solar Powered House is an amazing example of how you can use renewable energy sources to power your home instead of relying on nonrenewable sources such as fossil fuels.
- Passive Homes – Passive house designs focus on using energy efficient insulation systems that require minimal heating or cooling while achieving maximum thermal comfort. Passive homes have been constructed with several layers of high-performance insulation in walls, roofs, and foundations making them more comfortable than regular homes in all types of climates and weather conditions.
- Tiny Homes – These homes are typically built on small plots or trailer beds measuring 8’x20′ or smaller, with just about every square inch serving some purpose for modern living. Tiny homes offer several advantages over regular sized houses such as lower cost, reduced environmental impact, mobility, simplicity and minimalism which has become increasingly important with current lifestyles.
- Green Roofs – A green roof involves covering a structure’s existing roofing material with vegetation to reduce their environmental footprint by reducing heat absorption through the building envelope while providing habitat for wildlife species as well as water retention capability in areas prone to flash flooding events due to climate change effects. They also create an aesthetically pleasing visual effect in urban settings by providing refuges for nature right within your backyard!
- Eco Heating Systems – Alternative heating systems provide homeowners with the opportunity to transition away from burning fossil fuels for producing hot water or space heating systems by taking advantage of passive air exchange within a frame structure or passive solar gain from well placed windows and glazing; this may include equipment such as advanced heat pumps that use geothermal temperature differences between ground collection fields filled with buried tubing (Earth-energy), construction details like extra high thermal mass wall assemblies filled with loose granular insulation products (laterite), sweep augers (Heat Snake) located inside large masonry chimneys and even Dual Purpose Water Elements where cold water storage tanks serve as a heat sink exchanging temperatures through specially connected coil pipes located inside chimney flues!
- Earthship House – An Earthship house is an innovative type of off-grid building designed to be sustainable and energy efficient. They are typically constructed with natural and recycled materials, such as earth-filled tires, cans, bottles, and glass. Earthships have many features that make them attractive for eco-conscious homeowners, such as passive solar heating and cooling systems, photovoltaic panels, rainwater harvesting systems, grey water recycling systems, composting toilets, and greenhouses. These features help reduce energy costs and provide a source of fresh water from rain and melting snow. Additionally, Earthships can be built with minimal construction time due to their use of recycled materials. Their unique design makes them extremely durable and resistant to extreme temperatures. Overall, Earthship houses are an attractive option for those looking for a sustainable home that offers both environmental benefits and financial savings over the long term.
- Rammed Earth House – Rammed earth houses are buildings constructed from earthen materials and have been used for centuries. The walls are made by mixing soil, gravel, sand, and water to form a thick paste, then tamping it into wooden frames. This process creates a structurally sound and energy-efficient home that is capable of withstanding extreme weather conditions. Rammed earth houses are durable and low-maintenance, requiring only occasional cleaning and sealing of the surfaces. They also provide superior insulation, helping to keep homes cool during hot summers and warm during cold winters. Additionally, rammed earth houses are environmentally friendly since the building materials are abundant and renewable. The unique look of these homes also adds to their aesthetic appeal. Ultimately, rammed earth houses offer plenty of benefits to homeowners looking for an economical yet beautiful dwelling option.
- Earth Sheltered Homes – Earth Sheltered Homes are homes built into the ground and are designed to use the earth as insulation, providing protection from extreme temperatures, noise, and weather. They offer a range of features and benefits such as energy efficiency due to the natural insulation provided by the earth, protection from extreme temperatures in both hot and cold climates, reduced noise transmission, increased privacy due to their positioning below grade level, enhanced security against intruders due to their underground location, and a unique architectural aesthetic. Earth Sheltered Homes also require less maintenance than traditional homes since there is no need for exterior painting or siding repairs. In addition, they can be built on smaller lots with limited access which makes them an attractive option for low density rural, or even some urban areas.
Summary – Eco Home, Passive House, Green Home, Eco Houses
Eco houses, eco friendly homes, passive homes, solar powered homes and green roofs are all great ways to incorporate sustainable living into our lives. Not only are they environmentally friendly, they also provide a number of benefits including reduced bills and improved health. So why not explore the possibilities and start making changes today? By taking small steps towards living sustainably, together we can truly make a difference in preserving our planet’s future.
We are always excited to hear from our readers and subscribers, so let us know your thoughts on these concepts in the comments below – We love to hear from you! For more great information about home design, architecture and houses, or sustainability, check out all of our other great articles on TAG Level.
