In a recent Facebook post, we considered ways that you can make your Barbados build as environmentally-friendly as possible. Not only is an eco-approach good for the island, but it is also good for your wallet in the long term.
In this article, we thought we’d cover some of these points in further detail to help you with ideas to discuss with your architect and your construction team. At Berkan Construction we try to be as environmentally aware and sustainable as possible, so give us a call if you’d like to discuss this further.
Being environmentally sensitive in your house build or renovation isn’t just a personal choice anymore. The impact of climate change, increasing energy costs and the desire to build sensitively to minimize the impact of development all play their part.
Building and renovating in a sustainable way means:
- Focusing on the efficient use of materials
- Improving energy usage
- Considering indoor air quality
- Lowering emissions
- Enhancing surrounding ecosystems
What about the costs?
Building sustainable property does not need to cost more than using traditional construction techniques. Moreover, once installed, lower operating and maintenance costs help recover any higher initial costs in as little as five years.
As green technologies develop and more homeowners make this choice, sustainable homes are becoming more viable as costs decrease. Indeed, reports in the US show that the average premium for green buildings in the US is slightly less than 2 per cent.
However, to achieve these savings you need an integrated approach to the house build covering the architect, contractor and other professionals.
It’s all in the planning and design
Ikigai Consulting has some great design ideas for building sustainably in the Caribbean. They include:
1 Before building new, consider renovation or remodelling. Homeowners can make significant savings on time, labour, materials, energy, and approvals.
2 When building from new, consider recycled and reclaimed building materials including discarded shipping containers, timber, stone, and metal sheeting.
3 Offset construction costs by collecting and reselling any unused materials.
4 Plan how to manage stormwater using permeable pavers, gravel pathways, green roofing and open grid systems.
5 Landscape areas across the site using native plants, trees and scrubs and avoid decorative lawns that require more water, chemicals and care.
6 If suitable for your Caribbean location, consider a rainwater harvesting system for non-potable purposes such as toilets.
7 Use lighter colours and solar reflective paints on the outside of your build to reduce mechanical cooling costs.
8 Consider building a smaller home that is more space-efficient. Not only is it cheaper to build, your ongoing maintenance and operating costs will be reduced and the environmental impact lessened.
9 A simple, open layout will reduce material, improve air circulation and increase natural lighting.
10 Use standardized dimensions rather than customised designs to optimize materials and reduce waste.
11 Make sure that the property is orientated not just for the view but for maximum airflow.
12 Ask your architect to incorporate large, operable, energy-efficient windows to allow more natural light and air into the property.
13 Install solar reflective films and tints to reduce solar gain and cooling costs.
14 Consider non-mechanical cooling techniques such as solar shades, elevated ground floors, evaporative cooling and solar chimneys.
15 Ask your contractor to increase the eaves around the property to reduce how much sun falls on the exterior walls.
16 Install low flow fixtures to conserve municipal water supplies and costs.
17 Choose LED fixtures and fittings to reduce your electricity costs. These are widely available in Barbados.
18 Install energy-efficient ceiling fans, appliances and equipment.
19 Install solar panels to reduce energy costs.
For further information and advice about your home build or renovation, contact the Berkan Construction team today or complete the enquiry form.
*https://www.buildings.com