Sustainable houses are emerging as a lifestyle in many urban and semi-urban cities. If you’ve heard about sustainable or eco-friendly homes, you might have come across buzzwords such as solar paneled, zero-carbon, or prefab. You are not alone if you’ve heard these terms but don’t know what they mean. In this blog post, we will explore what sustainable houses mean and 7 different types of sustainable farmhouses.
What is a Sustainable House?
As we’ve mentioned before, sustainable houses are also called eco-friendly houses. These houses are designed to reduce their environmental impact all while maximizing efficiency, comfort, and the health of the occupants. Sustainable houses use design concepts, innovative technologies, and materials to minimize energy consumption, conserve natural resources, and promote a healthier living environment.
With the meaning of sustainable living out of the way, let’s look at types of sustainable farmhouses.
Where Can You Buy Sustainable Farmhouses?
Swasya Living, a managed farmland offers Sannidhi Eco Farms, a haven for sustainable living. Situated in the heart of Sakhleshpur, Swasya Living offers agricultural land for sale in Karnataka. This farmland project is meticulously designed to give its residents the pure joy of living in the lap of nature. The plots are demarcated and fenced using recycled or naturally available materials. Other than that, the cottages built on the project are eco-friendly and built with compressed soil-stabilized bricks, leaving minimum to no carbon footprint. With Swasya Living you can not only enjoy the tranquility of nature but also enjoy great returns on your investment.
Types of Sustainable Houses
1. Zero Carbon Houses
A zero carbon home prioritizes energy efficiency so much that its net carbon footprint is zero. Despite being tied to the grid, they achieve carbon neutrality through exceptional insulation, airtight construction, and low energy consumption.
These homes also leverage renewable energy such as solar or wind to generate enough clean energy to offset remaining energy needs. Not only this, zero-carbon homes can also produce surplus energy that can be sent to the grid. Zero-carbon homes seamlessly blend into all neighborhoods all while pioneering a sustainable lifestyle.
2. Tiny Homes
In recent times, living in tiny houses has become a movement. Tiny homes save money and offer environmental benefits. When we talk about the area of these homes, it is approx. 10 to 40 sq. mts., but they can be smaller or larger as per the owner's requirements.
One notable aspect of tiny homes is their mobility. Tiny homes are not just fixed or stationary homes, they can be moved in the form of trailer homes or mobile little homes. Tiny homes maximize the space to the T with lofts, convertible furniture, and multi-use rooms.
More importantly, the energy consumption of tiny homes is less as compared to an average-sized home. Moreover, tiny home manufacturers use local, non-toxic, or recycled materials to minimize the environmental impact of the house. A tiny house can serve as an ideal sustainable farmhouse, offering a cozy retreat away from the hustle and bustle of everyday life.
3. Prefabs
Prefabricated homes, commonly known as "prefabs," are constructed off-site and assembled on location. They are manufactured in parts, which are then shipped and pieced together on-site. Prefab homes come in various forms, such as panel-built or modular, differing from manufactured homes that are built in factories and shipped as complete units.
Many modern prefab houses feature sleek, contemporary designs, although customizable architectural options are also available. What sets prefabs apart environmentally is their reduced waste generation during fabrication due to precise factory processes. With predetermined material requirements, there's minimal guesswork involved for builders.
Moreover, numerous manufacturers prioritize sustainability and energy efficiency in their prefab designs, making them an attractive option for environmentally conscious homeowners.
4. PassivHaus
A Passivhaus or a passive house is built to maximize energy efficiency to the highest standards. It uses thermal comfort solely by post-cooling or post-heating the fresh air flow to maintain good indoor air quality, free from extra air recirculation.
A passive house leverages various design principles such as continuous insulation, extreme airtightness, and high-performance doors and windows. The residents of the house experience exceptional temperatures and air quality while minimizing the environmental impact.
5. Earthships
If you are looking for a completely off-grid and self-sustaining home, then look no further than earthship homes. They are made from materials such as glass bottles, old tires, and other recycled and natural materials. Earthships can cool or heat themselves naturally, harvest rainwater, collect solar and wind power, contain/treat their own sewage, and even produce food.
Given all these futuristic functions, the name “Earthship” seems more logical. Also, earthships can be great sustainable farmhouses as they are exceptionally environmentally friendly. These homes are self-reliant and on top of that, produce energy which can be a key to sustainability.
6. Shipping Container Homes
At first, shipping container homes may seem flimsy and awkward, but they present a fantastic choice for sustainable housing. As their name suggests, shipping container homes leverage steel cargo containers as materials for the house. One benefit of shipping container homes is the similarity in size leading to easy stacking on top of each other to construct a larger building.
Shipping containers have been used for various purposes, including low-income housing, dormitories, and even a Starbucks Drive-Thru. They often have a modern, industrial appearance but can be customized in many ways. These homes are eco-friendly because they recycle surplus steel containers, saving builders from using new materials. They are durable, require little labor, and can be cost-effective.
7. Rammed Earth
These rammed-earth homes are about as natural as it gets! They're made by tightly packing soil into plywood forms to create walls, resulting in a rock-like appearance. They've been around for thousands of years, seen in structures like the Great Wall of China and the Alhambra Palace, proving their durability and beauty. Rammed earth homes offer benefits to homeowners and the planet; they're low-maintenance, strong, fire and pest-resistant, breathable, and insulating. Plus, the materials used can have low greenhouse gas emissions.
Final Thoughts
With overcrowded cities and towns, the ever-growing demand for electricity and water is a big concern for governments around the country. In this scenario, sustainable housing is a fantastic solution to the problem. Sustainable farmhouses that minimize the carbon footprint while producing their own electricity and saving water should become commonplace all over the country to save the environment. This practice benefits not only the environment but also us humans.