What is an Eco-Friendly House?

When thinking about your future home, it’s normal to look beyond how beautiful a house looks or its location. These days, many buyers are considering how their homes will continue to support them and their lifestyle as energy bills rise and technology advances.

At Sky-House, creating eco-friendly homes means more than just standing out in the market; for us, it’s a way of life, centred on comfortable living that is both thoughtfully designed and highly efficient. But what exactly is an eco-friendly house, and how can it benefit people and the environment, without being overly complicated? This guide helps buyers look more closely at eco-friendly homes.

Homes that use less and give more

Fundamentally, a sustainable home is one that uses energy, water, and materials more efficiently, with minimal environmental impact. A key focus for many eco-homes is longevity, with the goal to ensure green living solutions continue far into the future, reducing carbon footprint and expenses, too!

Great energy performance begins with the way a home is designed. Many elements to look out for include well-insulated walls, roofs, and floors to retain warmth in winter and prevent overheating in summer. High-quality windows and doors are also helpful to prevent draughts and reduce reliance on heating systems.

This approach is how many eco-friendly new builds are being designed today, incorporating new ways to make energy demand cheaper to run, without compromising on comfort in your own home. This forward thinking has led to 65% of new builds emitting less carbon each year compared to older homes.

Sustainable and quality materials

The materials used to build a house all factor into energy performance, and a great sustainable home should not only be durable but also use ethical and quality building supplies.

This can include an array of options, with low-emission paints, responsibly sourced timber, and materials that promote longevity, rather than being used for short-term trends and gratification. These implementations from the start are proven to improve indoor air quality and reduce the need for repairs or replacements, leading to as many as 86% of new homes having an EPC rating of A or B.

This ultimately results in homes that age better and need less maintenance overall, while supporting a healthier living environment long into the future.

Smart energy in modern living

The dawn of smart tech throughout homes is upon us, helping to generate and manage energy in a controlled and easy way. Rather than continuing reliance on gas energy, eco-friendly homes are now following the path of renewable and low-carbon technologies.

Common specs in eco-homes include solar panels, air source heat pumps, energy-efficient lighting, smart appliances, EV chargers, and much more. Many of these systems work quietly in the background, optimising energy use based on the way residents live to lower monthly energy bills. In fact, 50% of new builds today have cheaper heating, water, and lighting costs overall.

Enjoy comfortable living

An eco-friendly home should go beyond just saving money, but also support wellbeing and comfort in day-to-day life. Elements such as large insulated windows help maximise natural light in rooms to create bright and airy spaces. Not only this, but light contributes to a boost in mood and energy, reduces areas of dampness, and promotes air circulation.

Comfort is often a surprising factor for many owners of an eco-friendly home, benefiting from ambient and steadier temperatures due to smart thermostats, reduced draughts, and overall, a calmer atmosphere.

Sustainability outside of the home

For many sustainable developers, eco-integrations go further, and they consider how homes fit within the wider landscape. This can come in the form of safe walking, cycling, and parks to get the neighbourhood outside together. This is backed up with accessible green spaces and opportunities for residents to connect, without expecting too much effort on their part.

The future for eco-friendly homes

Many potential buyers may be wondering about the longevity of an eco-friendly home and its resale prospects in the future. Of course, the market is always difficult to predict, but as long as energy costs continue to rise and further legislation around energy use evolves, the advantage of these integrations is undeniable. As trends suggest, these homes are now becoming more and more desirable, and almost expected from new build developers.

The Sky-House approach to eco-friendly homes

At Sky-House, sustainability is built into the very core of our ethos, from the way we build to our efforts to bring together the wider community. Our homes feature specifications such as smart heating systems, solar panels, air source heat pumps, EV chargers, and more. Our neighbourhoods also feature wildlife zones and biodiverse spaces, promoting green living throughout.

Our sustainable homes don’t compromise comfort or style, with developments across Waverley Central, Olive Lane, and Devonshire Quarter ready to explore. If you would love to discuss our sustainable features, then get in touch with a member of our friendly team today!