Green Smarts: Natural Wonder

Everything you need to know about building a sustainable home – or adapting your current home to better care for our planet

- Alix Clark

Not too long ago, the notion of building a sustainable house conjured up visions of hay-bale bricks and a composting toilet. Today, that cliche has made way for holistic dwellings that address the environmental challenges of our time. Whether it’s constructing homes to last longer – “there’s a lot of embodied energy in the materials used to build a house,” says Uta Green of Hobart’s Green Design Architects – or creating spaces where the surrounding environment is key, houses need to take care of both the planet and the people who live in them. “We want people to be happy in their home – both emotionally and in terms of physical comfort,” says Uta. “Each house we build needs to respond to the climate, the site, and the occupants.” Read on for our comprehensive guide to creating a home that sustains the soul and earth.

DESIGN FOR LIFE