photo @The Macallan Estate
A truly sustainable home is one that is designed with sustainability and the environment in mind. For those who are looking to start from scratch or who want to buy a sustainable luxury property you will want to start with certification. LEED certification is one of the best eco-friendly construction certifications for developers and buyers to aim for. It stands for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design.
LEED properties are stunning marvels that combine modern design with sustainable features. The features in question are not and do not tend to be entirely through the use of technology. When using design you can plan for things like a natural cross-breeze to help naturally cool the home. Landscaping and using the natural shape of the environment can also work to insulate the home and provide a luxury experience for those living there.
Around the world there are around 550,000 LEED homes, with the greatest concentration in California, then Texas, and then New York. They are the homes for the future, but you do not need to invest in a LEED property to start upgrading your own property.
photo @customsolarandleisure
1. Solar Power
Solar power is one of the best and easiest ways to start to offset your carbon footprint and start to save on your energy bills. On average a 5kW solar electricity system can help the average homeowner save around $90 per month. Luxury properties take a lot of energy to run and also typically have more space to add solar energy panels. They can be offset with both federal and state tax credits as well, allowing you to upgrade your property. All you need is to get in touch with one of the best solar companies in Tucson to get started on a quote and then your installation.
photo @Swarovski Kristallwelten
2. Green Roofs
Green roofs are wonderful ways to insulate your property, reduce the heat and damage of the sun, and reduce the carbon footprint of your home. It is so easy to add a green roof to a property with a flat roof and is an excellent addition if you live in a state or country that primarily sees sunny days.
They do take more upkeep and maintenance than a traditional roof, but they are beautiful, sustainable features that can really transform your home for the better. If you have access to the space, then you can even create a green haven for yourself that you can escape to.
Green roofs work to absorb water, purify the water that does run off of your roof, can help keep your property cool, and can also be a sanctuary for you and local wildlife.
photo @Google Home
3. Smart Home Functionality
Smart homes are the way of the future. They work to minimize unnecessary output and improve your own comfort and experience right at home. You can set up automated features that can help you reduce energy and can have full control of your home from your phone. Smart security features can keep your property better protected and smart heating and cooling can keep your whole family comfortable without wasting a second of energy.
Smart homes are not just for multi-million properties, either. You can use Google Home, or Alexa, to get started with your own smart home and slowly piece by piece add new equipment to make your home smarter as you go.
Smart homes are the future. This is due in part to something known as the Internet of Things, which essentially means that all of our gadgets are able to talk and communicate together to do more than their single sum.
4. Geothermal
There is no reason why you cannot have multiple green energy solutions on your property, especially if it is a large estate. On top of solar you also have geothermal as an excellent way to power the home, especially when it comes to heating and cooling. Geothermal systems are not perfect, and they are not right for most homes interested in green energy, but they can keep a luxury property’s environmental footprint small.
photo Royal Horticultural Society – Chelsea Flower Show @rhs.org.uk
5. Luxury Natural Gardens
The worst landscaping decision you can make for the environment is to choose grass as your main crop. Growing fruits and vegetables, and what are now classed as “wild gardens” are excellent ways to bring the beauty of nature right to your door. Perfectly cultivated spaces are hard to maintain, do little for the environment, and are becoming a thing of the past. People, especially those in Europe, are looking to rewild their green spaces. Garden shows primarily feature wild spaces that work to bring a little order to the chaos for a stunning effect.
