5 Sustainable Architectural Additions For The New Year

Living in a sustainable manner has never been more important, with the impact of global warming well publicised and frequent reminders from news media to live in an eco-friendly manner. This push for sustainability has stretched to design choices within architectural services, with the opening months of 2022 the perfect time to embrace green living. Whether you’re working on a large commercial project or a residential build, Integrated Designs & Associates have a wide range of local civil engineering services to suit your requirements.

Continue reading to discover 5 sustainable home architecture additions to embrace in the new year.

Embracing Natural Light

Making clever usage of natural light within the home can be both cost-effective and environmentally friendly, reducing energy bills if considered during construction and removing some of the reliance on constant electricity production to power synthetic lighting. Electricity generation produces harmful chemicals including sulphur dioxide, carbon and mercury. Replacing exterior walls with glass blocks can prove effective, while ceiling skylights are an aesthetically pleasing and effective way of bringing in additional natural light.

Environmentally Friendly Materials

Choosing to build using eco-friendly materials saves energy. Sustainable building materials generally represent an environmentally conscious alternative to conventional material as very little energy goes into their manufacture and production, representing a direct reduction in carbon emissions. Swapping non-biodegradable materials with recycled steel, bamboo and reclaimed wood to name just a few alternatives can be a practical step towards achieving sustainability when drafting house design plans.

Eco Units

Noted as a factor that would significantly decrease energy consumption, focusing building and community planning on multifamily or attached housing (also known as eco units) could benefit the environment by holding in more heat and increasing energy efficiency at the same time.

Solar Panels

Using solar energy instead of conventional electricity can help a homeowner become sustainable, using less carbon while cutting hefty electricity bills. Renewable energy is increasingly popular for those seeking sustainable changes in their life, and solar energy is at the heart of the ideal green future.



Tiny Homes

Though the name may be off-putting for those who enjoy a spacious living area, tiny homes have become a big deal within the world of architecture, very quickly becoming a serious consideration for home spaces. Sustainable, minimalistic and cost-effective, tiny homes often come complete with solar panels, composting toilets and biogas digesters - with less electricity required to power the smaller compact space.

Regardless of whether you are an individual dwelling over house design plans, or you’re a large property developer with grand ideas for home architecture, we can assist you in completing your project. At Integrated Designs & Associates Ltd, we’re one of the foremost architecture companies in Birmingham and have worked on projects from industrial units to pubs and everything in between. Contact us today for more information on the architectural services we offer.