As ecological awareness is rising, sustainable design principles in commercial real estate are becoming more and more critical. Sustainable design focuses on integrating the built environment into the surrounding natural ecosystem—professionals in the field base sustainable design principles on environmental responsibility, social equity, and economic feasibility. People prefer building and living in sustainable homes as they last longer, are easy to manage and have decreased adverse environmental effects. Keep reading to learn more about sustainable design principles for commercial real estate.
We will discuss sustainable design goals and move to sustainable design principles. They include potential site optimisation, reduced energy use, maximised energy production and material utilisation. Finally, we will name the benefits of sustainable design. Building sustainable homes started as a trend, but it has become a way of living for good reasons. We should do whatever is in our power to live sustainably. We can do much for our planet if we all make an effort. Let’s move on to the goals of sustainable design.
The goals of sustainable design
The primary goal of sustainable design is to create a balanced relationship between space and nature. So, the buildings should be healthy places for people to live and in harmony with the surrounding ecosystem. Another vital goal is preserving natural resources and their more efficient use. Natural resources on our planet are limited, and we should be careful in using them as we don’t want to deprive future generations of them completely. Moreover, there are also goals of reducing the carbon footprint and the effects of climate change. There are various strategies we can use to save the environment, such as being mindful of building orientation, improving insulation, using of solar panels, and implementing efficient lighting fixtures. And finally, another goal of sustainable design is building friendly, safe and comfortable spaces for people.
Sustainable design principles
Site potential optimisation
One of the most critical sustainable design principles is site potential optimisation. What does it mean? Site potential optimisation aims to reduce waste and material depletion by choosing the most optimal place for building. It uses existing natural features such as topography and solar exposure to increase efficiency. Organic layouts are much better as contractors can use the natural flow of a property’s surroundings. What’s also essential is to include biophilic design elements into architecture as they conserve energy and boost the health levels of occupants.
Reduced energy use
Another crucial reason for building sustainably is reduced energy use. Building with sustainable designs optimises the use of energy, which is a great benefit for homeowners or occupants. We can rely less on air-conditioning systems if we use passive heating and cooling measures, including orienting a building towards the sun and creating natural shade. Various active systems directly use wind or geothermal pumps, which can pay off in the long run.
Maximised energy production
Sustainable design principles go beyond reducing energy use – they maximise energy production simultaneously by using the resources available through alternative means. That involves renewable energy production that can provide resources apart from the grid. We can use various renewable energy sources such as the wind, sun, water and biofuels. Sustainable design principles also maximise the efficiency of mechanical systems that use natural resources.
Maximised material utilisation
Another sustainable design principle involves maximised material utilisation. This means using recycled materials in construction. This particular principle minimises waste and the cost of acquiring materials. Sustainable design is all about using recycled elements throughout all the building phases. We don’t want to waste resources or outlive them. So, when looking for a house, pay attention to its sustainability. If you wish to buy a property in Melbourne, particularly on the Mornington Peninsula, you should hire one of the best Mornington real estate agents to find you an eco-friendly dream home.
The benefits of sustainable design
Now that you are more familiar with sustainable design goals in commercial real estate and sustainable design principles, we will briefly summarise the benefits. The benefits include decreased energy bills and adverse effects on the environment resulting from waste and emissions, improved overall health with better ventilation and healthier materials in construction and longer life-cycle for building components and better overall return on investment (ROI) over time.
We should all strive to live in a sustainable, eco-friendly home, as it is better both for us and our planet.
