MODERN HOMES SHAPING SUSTAINABILITY PRACTICE Conservatory Craftsmen 2229 Friendship Lane Minneapolis, MN 55337 612-281-4985 888-345-7915 sales@conservatorycraftsmen.com Environmental awareness has been on the rise in recent years. With an ever- growing understanding of the impact humans have on the planet, more and more people are looking for ways to reduce their ecological footprint. Sustainability is often thought of in terms of the environment, but it's about time to start talking about sustainability in relation to architecture. According to the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, residential buildings are responsible for almost 20% of Greenhouse gas emissions in the United States. It's high time for homeowners to start looking into more sustainable building practices. Luckily, plenty of ways to make your home more environmentally friendly. Sustainability and Architecture A study from MIT has found the benefits of sustainable design, and it has become standard practice in many countries. The study looked at various aspects of sustainability, such as energy use, indoor environmental quality, and water usage. It paved the way for developing green building rating systems, which are now widely helpful in assessing a building's environmental performance. Today, many homeowners are looking to sustainable design principles when they build or renovate their homes. This rise in green building practices has led to the development of more environmentally friendly products and materials. A 2019 study revealed that nearly 40% of consumers in the United States had purchased eco-friendly home and improvement products. As sustainability becomes more mainstream, it's likely to see even more sustainable homes built in the coming years. Adapting to changing times As the world becomes more aware of the importance of sustainability, sustainable architecture will likely become even more commonplace. Homeowners who are looking to reduce their ecological footprints can do so by making simple changes to the way they build and live in their homes. By doing so, everyone can help make the world a more sustainable place. What You Can Do to Improve Sustainability in Your Home If you're looking to reduce your ecological footprint, there are plenty of ways to make your home more sustainable. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, some of the best ways to make your home more energy efficient include heating and cooling your home efficiently, using energy-efficient appliances, and sealing and insulating your home. Research has also shown that a conservatory can help to minimize domestic emissions. In the cold weather, it functions as a buffer zone between the indoors and outdoors, helping keep your home warm and reducing energy requirements. You can also make your home more sustainable by using eco-friendly building materials. These include materials like bamboo, cork, straw, and recycled plastic. Using these materials can help reduce your carbon footprint and is a more sustainable way to build or renovate your home. References: https://conservatorycraftsmen.com/ https://www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/pnas.1922205117 https://www.carrollair.com/_files/ugd/d0d246_ac5cf3214ef34f1fadea957c86d3 db4e.pdf?index=true http://iieng.org/images/proceedings_pdf/U1016302.pdf https://www.openaccessgovernment.org/eco-friendly-homes-millennials- housing-market/48708/ https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2006/oct/03/isitok.ethicalliving