For some time, the design world has been steadily increasing its focus on sustainability. As products have gotten savvier and more environmentally friendly, so have home-owners. The ability to create a space that strikes a balance between sustainability and functional integrity is more comprehensive now than ever before. 

If you are looking to build a house that incorporates more sustainable features, now is definitely a great time to do so. With a wealth of options and state-of-the art products, going green has never looked this good.  

At Debowsky Design Group, we are committed to sustainable design. We believe a home can meet your needs both functionally and aesthetically while having minimal impact on the Earth. 

When designing a home with sustainability in mind, we take into consideration a number of factors such as the home’s location, orientation, and materials. We also consider the needs of the occupants and how the home can be designed to meet those needs while using less energy and resources. Here are some things to consider when looking at building a home sustainably. 

How to Incorporate Sustainable Design into Your Home

• Use Environmentally-friendly Materials:  We love using sustainable materials such as bamboo, recycled plastic, recycled glass, and FSC-certified wood in design. Each of these materials has unique properties that are both strong in design and easy on the planet. For example, bamboo is a fast-growing, sustainable material that can be used for flooring, walls, and furniture. FSC-Certified wood is from social-responsible and sustainably-harvested timber. Recycled glass can be used for countertops, backsplashes, and flooring. 
• Paint Sustainably: Choose a paint brand that is either low- or zero-VOC based. Volatile Organic Compound (VOC) is all the nasty chemicals that you really don’t want to be using or smelling. And honestly, some of these paint brands are making a bigger splash today than their traditional competitors. We highly recommend Farrow & Ball for their eco-friendly, child-safe formulas that have very low-levels of VOC – and their incredible variety of rich colors.
• Incorporate Solar Shingles: Elon Musk may be finding all sorts of new ways to get himself into the 24 hour news cycle, but the one we recommend he focus on is Tesla’s Solar Roofs. With relatively easy installation, and built to withstand most of nature’s elements, these shingles can help reduce energy usage and save you money. 
• Add Sustainable Insulation: Did you know even your insulation could be sustainable? From lamb’s wool to soybeans, these insulation types don’t use harmful chemicals and can offer up to 10% greater insulation factors. Who knew?
• Reduce Your Water Usage: There are a number of low-flow plumbing fixtures available today that can help manage the amount of water you use in your daily showers, laundry and sprinkler systems. In fact, you can even consider xeriscaping or nature-scaping your yard to reduce the water needed for irrigation. 

Don’t hesitate to get in touch and let us know how we can help you achieve a sustainable home that you love.