Sustainability is all about the efficient use and re-use of energy and materials by human beings
. From buying food ingredients to disposing garbage, from using vehicles to choosing materials for housing, environmental consciousness is now an integral part of the lifestyles of many individuals and households. This type of lifestyle is not just a fad for some communities but a necessity. It is a form of adaptation to the changing conditions of the climate and the declining source of non-renewable energy.
Although humans are far from exactly achieving similar efficiency found in nature, many options are now available for consumers and home-owners when it comes to sustainable living. Home renovations in Fremantle are among the commercially available home improvement services that offer environment-friendly options.
Ventilation and lighting
Houses are intended to serve as protection against the harshness of environmental elements such as rain and strong wind while allowing natural ventilation and lighting. Designing a house that can optimize natural ventilation and lighting can also result in large savings in the use of electrical energy.
Optimizing natural ventilation and lighting can be achieved through the proper orientation of the house windows, skylights, and doors. The sizes and type of window glass can also determine the amount of heat and lighting.
Smart glasses
Window glasses that have adaptable tints and ultraviolet filters are ideal for this purpose. Some window glasses are especially designed to respond to the amount of heat and light from the exterior.
Smart window glasses can also be installed to optimize the interior climate control. These windows incorporate electronic sensors and controls, suspended particle devices, liquid crystal components and micro-blinds that allow the automatic or manual control of the transparency of the glasses. The window glasses can be adjusted from being completely transparent to translucent (frosted mode). The tint of some glass designs can even be made completely opaque.
Aside from windows and doors, the natural ventilation of a house can also be improved by installing air ducts and insulation panels.
Renewable energy
Greater energy savings can be made with the help of devices that can harness renewable energy sources such as solar energy and wind energy. The cost of these devices and the cost of installation may require significant investment but it is all worth the price on a long-term basis. These alternative and renewable sources of energy may serve as complementary and backup sources instead of completely replacing the grid-based source of energy. These will minimize the dependency of household from the traditional sources.