Advancements in science and technology have pushed the world into a state of constant regeneration and innovation in forms, techniques, software, methods and machinery that optimize the work of humans or even negate it. As the world progresses into this new era, the natural resources of the earth are slowly diminishing.
Natural resources like water, fossil fuels, minerals and even clean air are becoming scarce commodities. The architecture and construction industry has played a huge role in this declining of natural resources and hence sustainable and green architecture has become the need of the hour.
Sustainability is needed to find different alternative methods and materials so that a building has minimal negative impact on the environment. Traditionally built structures emit large amounts of CO2 and also consume a lot of energy for building and maintenance. Green homes, sustainable office buildings and self-sufficient architecture are becoming a new normal due to these reasons.
Before the onset of the industrial revolution, architecture was always sustainable. Passive heating and cooling structures, efficient lighting designs and locally sourced materials were not causing environmental damage. Nowadays with large glass buildings, HVAC systems and the need for luxurious life style and homes that requires complex materials from different countries, the carbon footprint is shooting up.
Is sustainability synonymous to expensive?
Sustainable architecture is always considered expensive because it requires a lot of additional planning and design to work efficiently. However, even though a sustainable design may have a high budget, in the overall life-cycle of the structure the costs are greatly reduced. For example, while installing solar units, the initial investment is high, but the long-term benefits make it completely worth it.
What are ‘Green Homes’?
The concept of ‘green homes’ is popular, where residences are consciously created to positively impact the environment. In these homes, the usage of local materials and strategic planning can significantly reduce costs while keeping them sustainable. These green homes adopt different ways in which sustainability can be achieved. Green Interior design is often considered to be a field that is ‘luxurious’ where expensive materials are used to achieve the final design, but there are many ways for interior design to be sustainable and cost-friendly. These are through the materiality, efficiency in design and climatic control.
Let’s look at some of the eco-friendly interior design concept that make a green home.
Eco-Friendly Interior Design Concepts
01. Efficiency in Design:
In a green home, the choice of material can cut down the cost if the design and construction phases are planned out efficiently. Finding methods and ways to reduce the budget through different elements and techniques is paramount to a functional yet aesthetic and cost-effective design.
a) Refurbishment:
Refurbishing existing elements that are damaged or are not according to the desired aesthetics is a great environmentally friendly and cost-effective method. Instead of rebuilding homes from the ground up or tearing down all the parts to their skeleton, working with what’s already there and improving upon it is a great option.
Walls, wooden frames, railings, switchboards etc, which are in good condition can all be retained. To achieve a certain vocabulary, these elements can be painted over or polished to look like new ones.
b) Adaptability:
Space can only be efficient if it can adapt to its function and context. Having spaces that can change according to the purpose it is serving is important for a systematic design. When a space is confined to four walls and only accommodates one activity, the space becomes rather redundant.
A space and its elements must be versatile, readily incorporating diverse usages and changes. Using a bedroom as an office space during the day, converting the living room into the dining room, installing moveable partition walls to attain privacy in certain areas and being able to move furniture around easily to make space for things are different ways in which this can be achieved.
Adaptable spaces keep the energy of the room fresh and ever-changing.
c) Repurposed Furniture:
Using old furniture that is sourced from previous projects, donation sites and second-hand stores/ websites helps in achieving the aesthetic vision while not burning hole in the pocket. Second-hand sofas, cabinets, shelves and tables are available in large quantities and varieties and most of them can be thoroughly cleaned/ fixed to make them as good as new.
Sanding old wooden shelves and cabinets and repainting them also becomes a fun DIY project!
d) Customization on a Budget:
Any customised or personalized pieces of furniture and decor in the eco-friendly interior design can be done as DIY projects or sourced locally from artists. Supporting local artisans and craftsmen help in their livelihood and is also a sustainable choice as factory-made products cause pollution.
DIY projects like paintings, art installations etc can easily be done by homeowners which ultimately saves up on a lot of money.
e) Multi-functionality:
Spaces and furniture must be multi-functional. When elements serve more than one purpose, it saves up on money and is also efficient.
For example, coffee tables and chairs that have built-in storage, shelving units with pull out tables, storage drawers and shelves under beds, changeable and foldable furniture are just a few examples of how efficiency can be achieved. Having storage spaces like this prevents expenses like extra shelves and cabinets, or having foldable furniture saves a lot of space when required.
02. Climatic Control:
Integrating the forces of climate in the green home by using specific techniques to optimize the interior atmosphere is a must. Climate plays a huge role in the house and must be dealt with in the most sustainable and budget-friendly way.
a) Passive Heating and Cooling Techniques:
These are essential building techniques and elements to regulate the internal temperature of a green home. Basic insulation through the choice of wall and roofing materials can significantly change temperatures within.
There are many types of roofing material available. Some are available in varying grades that making them perfect for diverse climates. If you seek which one is suitable for your climate, consider the most popular roofing materials and their benefits before deciding.
In a hotter climate, having small water bodies, plants, an internal courtyard, large overhangs, cutouts and high positioned windows can make a huge difference in cooling down the space. Using thick curtains to block out radiations and ensuring cross-ventilation by placing many windows and doors is also very important.
In a cooler climate, using thicker walls, and natural materials like mud and stone can help. Having strategically positioned skylights according to the sun path that can absorb heat into space and having good ceiling insulation as well will play the magic.
b) Lighting Design:
There are several techniques that reduce the usage and consumption of artificial lighting within the home by incorporating the entry of natural light through different elements.
With appropriate planning and design, volumes can be placed in such a way that interiors and exterior shading are optimized for the green home. Designing large-sized windows located strategically according to sun paths to allow the most amount of natural light during the day is the most basic part of lighting design. Using light shelves, light tunnels and light catchers allow natural light to easily enter the home.
Implementing such methods greatly reduce the use of HVAC systems that emit large amount of CO2 into the surroundings. Overall electricity bills will be greatly reduced as the usage of fans/ ACs and lights are almost negated during the day.
Economically, these techniques have a huge long-term benefit as well. Restricted use of these systems significantly reduces the costs of installation and maintenance. It also reduces energy consumption which otherwise has adverse impact on the natural resources that are used to keep the appliances running.
03. Materiality:
Many environment-friendly materials can be used as great supplements for those which are not. Let’s look at some of them.
a) Wood Forms:
While the felling of trees and deforestation for wood is not sustainable, using engineered and reclaimed wood is a great option for the interiors. Old bed frames, doors and window frames, tables and chairs etc can all be repurposed and reused in green homes. These are way cheaper than buying brand-new furniture. They also reduce carbon footprints and promote recycling materials.
Repurposing materials can also be done as DIY projects by homeowners instead of outsourcing them to designers.
Another alternative for real wood is engineered wood like particle boards, plywoods etc. They are essentially made of pulverized wood chips fused to create wooden boards that provide the same strength and functionality. They can be used in floors, roofing, beams, furniture and decor. Engineered wood is cheaper when compared to real wood.
b) Laminates and Veneers:
Laminates and veneers are great ways of achieving a certain look with interiors without the use of elaborate and expensive materials and finishes. With laminates and veneers, one can achieve not only a specific look of texture, but also a finishing coat like gloss, matte, textured etc.
Even though laminates are made of plastic or PVC, they are long-lasting, water-resistant and bacteria resistant.
c) Cork:
Cork is essentially the inner part of the bark of the cork oak tree. The bark replenishes itself every few years and is hence sustainable even if chopped off. Previously used for bulletin boards, the material is versatile when it comes to green home interior design. Not only can it be used for interior decor, but it can also be used for insulation and as a base for further addition of layers- for example, ceiling boards and even for flooring at some places.
d) Bamboo:
A versatile material, which is fast-growing, strong, cost-effective and also flexible, Bamboo can be used in diverse ways. Furniture made using bamboo are classy too. Using bamboo for partition walls or interior decor is also a great way to strike out unsustainable choices.
e) Recycled Materials:
Recycling is one of the best ways to ensure sustenance through sustainability. Be it repurposing the original products to something else, to recycling them, there are many options to explore. Old furniture elements can be recycled to form entirely new furniture. To top it, all these methods are cost-saving too.
Reclaimed wood is a trending material these days, many brands have started creating furniture and products from the same. Other materials like corrugated sheets, plastic, paper etc can be easily recycled. Most manufacturers of steel, glass, tiles etc also use recycled materials for about 10 to 30 % in the manufacturing process to achieve green ratings. Hence, always check before buying.
Additionally, look here for more information on how to recycle construction waste –
f) Low VOC Paints & Chemicals:
VOC stands for ‘Volatile Organic Compound’ and is found in many building materials, mostly in paints, sealants, chemicals etc. They are unstable materials and can cause an increase in the carbon footprint. Moreover, they can also affect the health of the homeowners in the long run due to emission of harmful poisonous gases. Opting for low VOC paints is a wise decision as they reduce Volatile Organic Compound, emission.
Choosing energy-efficient and environmentally friendly building materials are essential while creating a green home. To do so, one must have a thorough understanding of them, which can aid in conserving both the environment and natural resources during the construction of a building.
IGBC Green Certification For Eco-Friendly Interior Design
Indian Green Building Congress (IGBC), an NGO, in line with USA Green Building Congress awards “Green Homes” ratings based on predefined criteria. You can register your interior projects as well under the certification. While the concept of green interior was initially seen adopted in commercial buildings, now it has moved to various types of building.
These steps can help address various issues like water efficiency, energy efficiency, reduction of waste, conservation of natural resources etc. Most importantly, these elements can also boost the occupants’ health and well-being. The indoor aesthetics and air circulation have come to be of great importance in designing homes, especially after the post pandemic era, where people are spending a lot of time at home.
Sustainable homes have various benefits; they reduce the energy cost by 5 – 30 %. They reduce the water requirement by 20-30% and also enhance the indoor air quality. They also have better acoustics and ergonomics while improving health and well-being of the occupants.
How One Can Achieve Sustainably And Cost-effective Interiors With The Same Level Of Luxury?
Sustainable architecture is now being adopted by many architects who are inventing new ways of sustainable designs. Green Homes are quickly gaining popularity, with almost all new residences or residential apartments and complexes incorporating sustainability into their design.
There are also many new technologies and software that are used in the field today to assess energy consumption and the environmental impacts of these green homes on the surrounding ecosystem.
Sustainability can be luxurious without proper work and planning. Pure luxurious and high-cost designs are extremely detrimental to the planet. Beautiful and aesthetic interiors can easily be achieved, as long as one understands the importance of sustainability and puts the planet ahead of their own needs and unsustainable luxury.
Hence, achieving a green home with interiors that are eco-friendly does not always have to come at a high price, but if executed well, can achieve a sense of class and luxury, which can be invaluable because of the good it will do to planet earth. Sustainable architecture is a widely discussed topic around the globe. It is an essential part of sustainable development that helps reduce negative environmental impact on buildings. Also, it is accomplished through utilising materials, energy, and the ecosystem on a larger scale. If you’d want to learn more about it, go here –
Author Bio
Saili Sawantt – She is an Architect and Interior Designer by profession. Writing is what she treats as her passion. She has worked as an Architectural Writer, Editor, and Journalist for various design as well as digital portals, both national and international. Formerly she has also worked with Godrej Properties Limited (GPL) Design Studio, Mumbai, due to her keen interested in learning about Sustainability and Green buildings. Apart from this, she runs her blog ‘The Reader’s Express’ and is a practicing Architect & Interior Designer.