Affordable ways to achieve sustainable design outcomes

Sustainable design is a philosophy that is known to reduce negative impacts on the environment and to improve a building’s performance in terms of minimizing energy usage by providing health and comfort to its occupants. Architects and building developers will need to observe the surroundings and the community before creating the most suitable sustainable design for the building, and while there is no truth that sustainable homes may come off more costly than conventional ones, wasted space and badly designed rooms are factors that may need to be considered.

A suggested approach to minimize costs is to design in multi-functional nooks, smart storage and frame the views in rooms. A floorplan developed using sun diagrams could ensure the building to “sculpt light” in a way that maximizes passive solar benefits. Computer modelling can be installed to monitor sunlight – such as the angle and the direction of the sun – and how much it can penetrate into the building.

In terms of energy savings, putting glass where you need it and shading it where you need to can effectively reduce energy which in turn reduce costs. To elaborate more on the subject of improving sustainable design outcomes, here are some points to consider:

• Using less, building less and wasting less is more sustainable. Hence less space can actually become more space through detailed planning and clever decisions.
• A good sustainable design lies in the sculpting of light, volumes and textures. To create an enjoyable and sustainable space for both the environment and its users, a deep understanding of the cultural and natural context proves to be significant.
• Wasted space can be reduced by optimizing the plan and designing multi-functional spaces that are adaptable.
• Ask difficult questions and know the products used on its relevancy in designing a sustainable building. Opt for local products as opposed to international brands.
• Finding the balance between innovation, functionality and  poetry to design encourages engagement between users and their environment. But most importantly, it provides enjoyment, beauty and efficiency within its design.