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Building sustainably begins with the end game in mind — a house that is comfortable, uses less resources, and is eco-friendly by design

- WORDS CARROL BAKER

Kermit the frog might just have nailed it. “It’s not easy being green,” he often lamented. He has a point. Building sustainably can cost more, it can be harder to source materials, and it can arguably be more complex.

In a world that embraces all things shiny and new, sustainability means rethinking the way we live. It embraces reusing, adapting, modifying, and it’s also building with organic renewable products. Building homes with sustainability front of mind is not just an important issue, it’s a critical one. It’s something that our sustainability experts say needs to happen. Shae Cullen from Good Architect says living in an unsustainable home is an ongoing cost to the environment and the people who live there. “The world can’t afford more unsustainable homes, and we can’t afford to live in them,” she notes.

Tackling carbon emissions

With a worldwide shift towards eco-conscious living, more homes are being built that aim to be carbon neutral. This type of home has zero carbon emissions, because holistically it can generate as much renewable energy as it consumes. You've probably heard the term carbon-zero home.

Shae says modern sustainability should take it one step further, living in a carbon-negative home. “The home has more carbon embedded than the carbon emissions generated in making it,” she says.

Sustainable homes should also be comfortable and promote health and wellness. Shae says another big part of modern sustainability is building a dwelling that will go the distance, no matter what climatic events unfold. “Modern sustainability is a resilient home that can withstand fire, flood, storms and other extreme weather events,” she explains.

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