How to Design a Sustainable Home

Build the house in an appropriate location. A house that is facing south can have solar panels installed on the roof and take advantage of passive solar heat in the winter. Install natural stone floors, which absorb the sun's heat during the day and let it off at night. Build the house into a hill so the basement can have a walk-out on the south side. The earth is one of the most effective insulators.

Use renewable materials to build the house. Houses built from straw bales are efficient because the bales are so thick that they insulate very well. If building a wood-framed home, purchase the wood from a company that avoids old-growth forests. Weigh options when it comes to finishing the outside of the house. Wood siding is natural, but requires that trees be cut down. Aluminum siding is manufactured, but will last longer.

Install alternative sources of energy. Solar panels on the roof can give you free power, although installing the panels can be expensive. If you have enough property, a small wind turbine can power your home as well. Insulate your home properly, install energy-efficient lighting and appliances, and use power bars on televisions and computers so you can shut them completely off.

Purchase and install appliances and systems that conserve water. Install a gray water system, which reuses water from washing clothes, showers and baths for flushing toilets. In addition, a front-loading washing machine, low-flow shower heads and dual flush toilets can conserve a lot of water. Put rain barrels at the bottom of downspouts to collect rainwater for watering gardens and lawns.

Decorate your home using sustainable materials. Bamboo and cork are renewable and environmentally safe choices for flooring. Paint is now available in formulas that are lower in harmful VOCs. Instead of purchasing all new furniture, scour antique markets for some items. Even if you refinish them, you will use fewer resources than purchasing new furniture for every room in your house.