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green architecture

Homeowners are concerned about improving domestic energy efficiency today. It’s estimated that New Zealanders are saving over $30 million from utilizing energy-efficient electronic appliances. What does it mean to become energy efficient in the 21st century? It means consuming less energy for performing the same amount of work. When you avoid consuming needless amounts of energy, you’re decreasing your annual energy-related expenses while simultaneously saving the environment. However, everyone cannot afford the expensive domestic alterations needed to establish an energy-efficient household. So, we will explain some money-saving methods to enhance your home’s energy efficiency.

Increasing the efficiency of your residence

How does living in an energy-efficient household benefit homeowners? Well, you will reside in an airtight and insulated dwelling with your energy-efficient HVAC equipment, ensuring lower utility bills. Making an energy-efficient residence isn’t merely cost-effective, but it also bolsters the health conditions inside your house. As you contribute to decreasing the influence of climate change, energy-efficient homes also increase their value as property. People often hesitate from pursuing energy efficiency because they are considered unaffordable. Moreover, folks don’t generally have the time and ability to install some high-tech energy-efficient mechanisms. So, here are some simple methods of making your home eco-friendly:

  • Install solar panels

We suggest installing solar panels to diminish your domestic energy expenditures by producing your electricity. Ask Google by running a local search query to identify reliable dealers in solar panels. People living in the north of New Zealand can search for “solar panels Auckland” to find the best deals in the country to decrease utility bills and increase the property value. These companies consider your power usage to get you solar panels that’ll maximize your investment. Many companies also offer lease options so you may utilize green energy and become eco-friendly. Solar is the best form of domestic efficiency you can get!

  • Switch to LEDs

Many people are now switching to LEDs and CFLs to improve the house’s lighting. These bulbs utilize fewer amounts of energy and prevent energy wastage. These light fixtures have proved to be energy-efficient for homeowners worldwide. Moreover, they make your property more valuable. You can also have some skylights installed in the house to allow more direct sunlight into your apartment. That’s how you can have sunlight replace even LEDs.

  • Add tankless water heaters

Don’t forget the value of making the domestic water system more effective. You should install more low-flow fixtures to prevent yourself from using water excessively. Now, how to acquire hot water in an eco-friend fashion? We suggest adding tankless water heaters so you may have hot water when needed. It cancels the need to keep it hot all the time, thereby wasting less energy. Saving water makes a house energy-efficient and lets you contribute to saving the environment.

  • Add some greenery

Homeowners shouldn’t neglect the importance of adding more greenery to the house. It helps them convert their simple abodes into more energy-efficient dwellings. You can now have your first-story or even second-story windows benefit from external shadows coming from shrubbery hanging over them. So, you can find some affordable trees/plants to offer you shade when it’s too bright outside. That’s how a simple “green” maneuver can allow homeowners to live in energy-efficient homes.

  • Change filters regularly

It’s important to have your filters changed regularly since overlooking this crucial aspect may lead to significant health-related problems for your family. These filters may become hazardous if they have remained unchecked for a long time. Experts suggest you should change your air filters every three months to make the domestic HVAC system more efficient. Thus, your HVAC system will work much better after you’ve changed filters regularly while preventing future fire hazards too.

  • Install a smart thermostat

You need to install a smart (programmable) thermostat to effectively achieve the correct temperature inside the house. These automated thermostats remember to save energy when there is nobody at home or when everyone’s sleeping. These devices also eliminate the need to manually adjust the temperature. Programmable thermostats enhance your home’s heating and cooling needs, thereby helping homeowners create an energy-efficient residence.

  • Paint the house

Choose your domestic façade carefully since the color of your house contributes to heating/cooling. Your home stays cooler with a light shade, while darker colors are better for warmth. New Zealand’s climate is mainly temperate, so choose the color of your dwelling’s exterior by considering where you live. People who live in colder areas should consider painting the house a darker color. Conversely, people living in hotter climates should prefer lighter shades. That’s how you can enhance your house’s energy efficiency.

  • Seal your windows

Homeowners often attempt to install new doors and windows. However, we recommend sealing them to save energy and make your house more energy-efficient. You may add weather caulking/stripping or have them sealed around the frame to regulate the temperature inside. When it comes to insulation, you can rely upon wood-clad frames. These frames don’t allow hot/cold air to escape and keep your house’s internal climate regulated. So, seal your doors and windows for energy efficiency.

Conclusion

Renewable electricity generation in the country’s become almost universal today. In 2020, nearly 80% of the electricity produced in New Zealand came from renewable resources. More than 20,000 homes have installed solar panels, thereby becoming energy-efficient households. So, how do you boost your house’s energy efficiency? You can install a programmable thermostat and enhance air-conditioning by inserting some ceiling fans. Also, upgrade the lighting by switching to LED/CFLs. Install tankless water heaters in the house. You can install some new windows or have them sealed instead to increase insulation. So, these simple solutions can allow homeowners to make their homes more eco-friendly and energy-efficient.

After winning the IHP (Internationaler Hochhaus Preis) Award in 2014, the residential highrise Bosco Verticale by Stefano Boeri was proclaimed the “2015 Best Tall Building Worldwide” by the CTBUH (Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat) at the Illinois Institute of Technology in Chicago. The decision was the culmination of a year-long juried selection process, considering more than 120 buildings from more than 30 countries. The members of the jury especially applauded the Vertical Forest for bringing more than 900 trees and over 2000 plants to the Milan skyline, as well as the exceptional implementation of vegetation at such a scale.

The Urban Ecosystem

Bosco Verticale is a pair of sustainable residential towers in the Porta Nuova district of Milan. The two constructions stand at 360 feet (110 meters) and 250 feet (76 meters) respectfully and host an astonishing range of floral plants and shrubs. Namely, each tower equals an area of around 7000 square meters of forest. According to Boeri’s official website, the Vertical Forest’s vegetation system absorbs dust particles and CO2, produces humidity, oxygen, and aids in the construction of a microclimate.

The US Environmental Protection Agency defines a sustainable building as the “practice of creating and using healthier and more resource-efficient models of construction.” To truly understand the benefits and the effectiveness of the Vertical Forest, let’s take a closer look of the history of sustainable architecture.

A Short History of Sustainable Buildings

The roots of green architecture could be traced back to the 12th century, when Khmer King Suryavarman II built the Cambodian temple complex Angkor Wat. It featured a rainwater irrigation system that collected water during the monsoon season, allowing workers to grow rice during the drier months. Furthermore, according to the Federal Commitment to Green Buildings report, in the early 20th century, several skyscrapers, such as the New York Times Building in New York and the Carson Pirie Scott in Chicago, used deep-set windows to control the interior temperature and lessen the buildings’ impact on the environment.

However, the modern sustainable industry evolved in the mid to late 80s, when significant oil usage spurred radical studies to increase energy efficiency and discover some new, renewable energy sources. The concerns surrounding the oil industry, combined with the environmental movement of the 70s, led to the earliest achievements in the field of sustainable architecture. A few early milestones include the formation of the Committee on the Environment in 1989, the introduction of BREEAM standard in Britain in 1990 and the founding of the Green Building Council in 1993.

The BioMilano Project

Italy is one of the most polluted countries in Europe. In fact, the country had more than 84.000 pollution-related deaths in 2012, according to the EEA (European Environment Agency). The situation in Milan is not any better. As the BBC reported , in December 2015, the city even banned all motorized vehicles for six hours a day over the course of three days to reduce the smog levels. Only the cars deemed environmentally friendly were exempt from the ban.

The Bosco Verticale not only provides dramatic energy-savings year-round, but also contributes to the regeneration of the environment without the implication of expanding the city. Still, the two towers are just the first step in a grand sustainability plan. According to Stefano Boeri’s personal website, the award-winning architect also hopes to build an agricultural greenbelt around the city eventually, utilizing over sixty publicly owned and currently abandoned farms, which will be worked on and opened to the community sometime in the future. With such safety measures, the air quality in Milan may start to improve rapidly.