SSDB’s Favorite Eco Friendly Home Design Solutions
Scott Simpson Design + Build is a skilled and cohesive team of architects and builders dedicated to creating environmentally-conscious homes. Our expertise lies in the design and construction of new homes that embody both eco-consciousness and green building sophistication.
As green home builders, we have a variety of eco-friendly home design solutions up our sleeves that make our custom homes environmentally-friendly. Here are a few of our favorites.
Utilizing Geothermal Energy
Geothermal energy heat pumps use renewable energy for efficient home heating and cooling. Through a system that allows heat exchange with the ground, the stable temperature of the Earth’s subsurface is utilized efficiently to heat and cool a home. This eco-friendly method produces fewer greenhouse gas emissions than conventional methods, as well as often resulting in lower long-term operating costs than conventional systems. Watch how our team harnesses the power of the Earth to heat and cool a home eco-consciously using geothermal energy here.
This SSDB home uses a geothermal heating and cooling system to reduce its environmental impact.
Rainwater Harvesting
Rainwater harvesting has a myriad of advantages. Homes that harvest rainwater are able to use it for non-potable purposes, such as irrigation, flushing toilets, and washing vehicles, ultimately reducing demand on traditional water sources. Not only does it reduce water bills, it can significantly reduce the negative environmental impact caused by water extraction, treatment and distribution. This system, in addition to thoughtful drought-resistant landscaping, makes a huge difference in terms of sustainability. At SSDB, we’ve found that Xerxes tanks are an excellent rainwater harvesting tool.
This sophisticated Wilmette home by SSDB has an 8,000 gallon rainwater harvesting system located under the driveway.
Building with Reclaimed Materials
Using reclaimed materials in custom homes allows for environmental conservation by minimizing new elements that are used in a home build. Instead, repurposing existing resources decreases environmental impact, reduces waste, and saves costs. Using reclaimed materials also can add significance, whether it be from a historically or personally relevant building. Reclaimed materials help tell your eco-friendly home’s story.
This SSDB farm-style build reclaims a wooden beam arch that separates the family room from the kitchen. Watch how we cut and manually install reclaimed barn beams into a custom Northbrook design-build home here.
Implementing Temperature Regulation Techniques
How a home is built has a substantial impact on the energy it uses through the years. Designing and building an eco-friendly home with temperature control in mind can decrease the amount of energy used for heating and cooling. Measures such as filling the walls and roof with foam insulation and installing double insulated windows reduce energy consumption and environmental impact. Have a look at this video of the insulation strategy of this very green Wilmette home.
This eco-friendly SSDB home uses a variety of temperature regulation strategies such as foam insulation and double insulated windows.
Adding Solar Panels
Adding solar panels to a custom home provides a source of renewable energy that both reduces electric bills and environmental impact. The addition of solar panels reduces the carbon footprint of a home and is a great long-term solution for creating a more eco friendly home.
This SSDB Wilmette home was the first LEED Platinum Certification in Wilmette from the U.S. Green Building Council, and features passive, photovoltaic, and solar thermal technology in its design, not to mention a geothermal system tied into the solar thermal panels. This system provides hot water, radiant heat, and cooling to the home.
If you’re searching for North Shore Green Home Builders who share your vision for an eco-friendly home, we warmly invite you to meet with us at our Northbrook office. In the meantime, feel free to peruse some of our cherished custom eco-conscious design-build homes here >>