Brisbane Eco House Design

First of all, an eco-friendly design can help to respect and preserve the local habitat by integrating the building with the surrounding environment. Conventional buildings consume great quantities of energy, materials and other resources and generate significant greenhouse emissions during their life-cycle. Indeed, it is estimated that they contribute up to 40% of CO2 emissions, 40% of energy consumption, 16% of water usage, 30% of solid landfill waste and 40% of raw materials consumption.

By contrast, eco houses are designed with the aim of exploiting the environment and not to destroy it, reaching a balance between the building and the natural environment. They can generate up to 33% less greenhouse emissions by using renewable and recycling building materials, renewable energy sources, natural lighting, and passive cooling and insulation.

While initial costs of constructing a green home may be higher than a conventional building, ongoing operating costs will be lower. Indeed, eco-friendly houses save money by reducing energy and water use and by optimising the global usage of resources, especially non-renewable. This aspect should not be underestimated as energy costs are expected to increase in coming next years. International research has confirmed that eco-friendly buildings consume 25-35% less energy than a traditional house. Additionally, if they incorporate water-saving strategies, they can use up to 39% less water. The World Green Building Council’s Business Case for Green Building (2013) finds that a minimal 2% upfront cost to support green design can result in average life cycle savings of 20% of total construction costs, more than 10 times the initial investment.

Studies confirm that a building can negatively affect occupants’ physical health (e.g. asthma and respiratory allergies) through poor air quality, extreme temperatures, excess humidity, and insufficient ventilation and psychological health (e.g.  depression and stress) through inadequate lighting and acoustics. In contrast, a green architect designed house may improve a home’s livability and occupants’ well-being by offering fresh air, natural light, healthy materials and comfortable temperatures.

You can find listed below some of the main benefits that a greenhouse offers:

• Thermal comfort. A sustainable building can reach naturally comfortable temperatures, by reducing hot and cold spots and eliminating the need for auxiliary heating or cooling. A lack of thermal comfort can cause stress among the occupants: too warm, people can feel tired; too cold, they will be restless and distracted.
• High indoor air quality. Some studies have found a direct association between indoor environment quality and asthma and allergies. Indeed, indoor humidity and poor air cause mould and dust which are the main allergens. Good ventilation and air movement allow the air to stay fresh with reduced humidity and staleness.
• Natural lighting. Daylight is beneficial for our sight and it stimulates our mental functions. Recent studies have implied that lighting can affect the level of stress and consequently productivity.
• Acoustic Comfort. Sound pollution can affect our hearing ability and long-term exposure to loud noises may lead to hearing loss and permanent damage to our hearing. A respectful and good acoustic system can protect an indoor environment from sound pollution, whether internal or external.

The presence of all these factors plays an important role in increasing productivity and reducing absenteeism in schools and offices. Indeed, it is estimated that employee’s absenteeism can drop by 41% thanks to the healthier lifestyle, while productivity can improve up to 11%. Green schools and universities can lead to a 25% improvement on test scores.

Thanks to all of the above-mentioned reasons, buildings with better energy efficiency credentials can enjoy increased marketability. As a growing number of investors and occupants are becoming aware of benefits and savings deriving from this investment, the probability of selling or renting a greenhouse is higher compared to a traditional construction. Studies around the world show that eco house designs can increase the resale value and rental rates respectively up to 20% and 8%.