Eco-chic Idea #1
Save trees and trim your energy bill with the placement of trees around your home. The placement of this house and its decks was dictated by the trees, limiting the number that were cut during the construction. In return, the trees provide shade that keeps the house cool.
ECO-CHIC IDEA #2
Design for a small footprint. Chenchow Little Architects’ K-House in Sydney, Australia uses cantilevering to extend the home over its smaller footprint so that the owners can enjoy a spacious home without sacrificing outdoor space. And the benefits of tiny homes aren’t limited to purchase costs. If you’re living in a smaller home, chances are you’ll be decreasing your carbon footprint by spending less on heating, electricity and other utilities.
ECO-CHIC IDEA #3
Choose durable materials. The house’s cedar plank siding, which is resistant to pests and water, is both strong and low-maintenance. It’s beautiful gray patina also means infrequent repaintings.
ECO-CHIC IDEA #4
Unspecified VOCs from house paints are important in the creation of smog among other health effects include eye, nose, throat irritations, headaches, loss of coordination, nausea and damage to the liver, kidney, and central nervous system. By using low VOC paints you protect yourself from these health threats. Paints like this one from Farrow & Ball contain fewer atmosphere- polluting volatile organic compounds.
ECO-CHIC IDEA #5
In a house that uses open concept, you will get the mixed area between indoor and outdoor which is conventionally separated in common house concept. These mixed areas would be a great idea to let yourself bond into nature. If you want to use open concept for your house plans, the first thing you need to notice is what kind of open concept that you want.
ECO-CHIC IDEA #6
Try moving bedrooms to the lower level, this way your sleeping area will be shaded and cooler by the surrounding trees and enhance your overall feeling of privacy. With mature trees so close to the house, the bedrooms also don’t need curtains.
ECO-CHIC IDEA #7
Try adding a green roof. Green roofs, living roofs,vegetated roofs, eco roofs — whatever you want to call them, they are sprouting up everywhere lately, including atop residential homes. And with that increase in popularity comes general assumptions and misconceptions. For example, that green roofs are only for eco buff, they’re high maintenance and they’re experimental and risky. All untrue.