Sustainable development was first introduced in 1972. It has gained much traction since then, with more and more people becoming conscious of how they live. This environmental awareness has shown us just how much our actions affect the world around us.
This is one of the main reasons for the rise of sustainable developments. People are choosing to build eco-friendly features onto and into their properties to counteract the environmental damage caused by pollution.
What are Sustainable Property Developments?
Sustainable property developments are any additions made to a property that reduce its impact on the surrounding environment. These special features usually use the environment in a non-harmful way, while also minimising any negative impacts.
When building these developments, people tend to use eco-friendly materials. The building processes are also designed to be non-harmful. Buildings need lots of energy to heat, cool and regulate themselves, so they produce big carbon emissions. However, choosing sustainable developments is an ecological choice and a good alternative to other construction projects.
Popular Eco-Friendly Property Developments
Solar Panels
Solar panels are a popular eco-friendly property development. They generate free, clean energy by absorbing sunlight and converting it into electricity for the house. This allows many properties to create their own electricity from nothing. According to The Guardian, one in every three Australian households now has solar panels.
Ready to build a greener future? Investing in solar panels, can reduce energy costs and help the environment. They produce lots of electricity and usually last between 25 and 30 years. Sunlight is clean and renewable, so no harmful greenhouse gases are produced. Solar panels can also be used all year round to maximise their potential.
Rainwater Harvesting Systems
Rainwater harvesting systems are developed outside of a building. They catch and store excess rainwater to be used in other ways inside and outside the house. Water usually builds up on the roof, so a pipe is fitted to divert it down into the tank. Once the water is in the tank, it can be stored for future use. This is much better for the environment than groundwater abstraction processes. Those deplete water resources and also damage ecosystems, but rainwater harvesting systems don’t.
Brisbane City Council recommends owning a rainwater tank because they’re eco-friendly, save money and provide a renewable home water source. You could use the rainwater to flush toilets, water plants, clean windows, or wash your car. Homeowners who refuse rainwater this way also enjoy lower water bills.
Big Windows and Skylights
Natural light has huge emotional benefits. It’s also a great way to make your home more eco-friendly. Big windows and skylights, in particular, make properties less reliant on artificial lighting. This lowers energy bills and boosts home efficiency by saving electricity, reducing the house’s carbon footprint.
According to the DCCEEW, light pollution harms Australian wildlife and ecosystems on land and in the ocean. Bright lights in houses affect the entire surrounding environment. Choosing natural light is a cleaner, better option. As well as protecting wildlife outside, it makes indoor spaces feel bigger and more welcoming for those who live there.
Heat Pumps
Heat pumps are used to transfer heat from cold environments to warmer ones. By optimising thermal energy at home, you can power appliances and heat the house without producing harmful emissions. The pump can extract thermal energy from any source, including air, water, and ground, then use refrigerant fluid to transfer and repurpose it.
When compared to gas boilers, heat pumps are usually cheaper and more efficient. They don’t generate energy by burner fuel, which instantly makes them cleaner and greener than other sources of heating. Brisbane City Council has even named installing a heat pump as a way of reducing your carbon footprint at home. Heat pumps also improve property value.
Renewable Building Materials
Renewable building materials are becoming more and more popular in property development. Reclaimed and recycled materials reduce environmental threats, like deforestation, and also help to decrease pollution because there is no burning of fossil fuels. It’s even possible to build entire new houses that help to mitigate climate change.
According to the University of Melbourne, there are plenty of opportunities for the Australian construction industry to become more sustainable. Materials like cork, bamboo and cross-laminated timber are great options for eco-friendly construction. Sometimes, they cost more than less eco-friendly materials, but they’re sturdy and make good long-term investments.
The Impact of Green Developments
Though it’s a gradual process, sustainable living has an undeniable positive impact on the environment. Green property developments are both economical and ecological; so they save you money and help to protect the environment. They preserve natural resources, reduce pollution and improve environmental awareness. Many of them also increase the market value of a house.
Eco-awareness in real estate construction is becoming more commonplace. People want homes that reflect their values, particularly young people who are buying property for the first time. These sustainable developments work. They’re individually affordable and can be installed and operated with minimal environmental damage. We may not think so, but residential properties can be some of the worst producers of pollution. Green property developments change this for the better.
Investing in Sustainable Property Developments
Choosing eco-friendly property developments for your home is a smart and worthwhile investment. Purpose-built properties that prioritise eco-friendly craftsmanship become happy and healthy homes for local people. They are also efficient assets with greater market value that improve the spaces around them.
Owning a property can be expensive, so anything that reduces energy consumption and makes utility bills cheaper is a great investment. Homeowners see noticeable differences in how their properties run after they invest in high-quality sustainable developments. The knowledge that these features also reduce their carbon footprint is very attractive in the modern housing market.
