If you are considering building or remodeling a residence, designing a sustainable home could be a great step to take. Making this decision is not only environmentally responsible, but you may also notice other benefits as well after you begin working towards a greener home. At Ecosmith Architecture and Consulting, our team can help you start to envision the future of your household thanks to our advanced knowledge and experience in the arena.

One thing to consider when designing a sustainable home is that choosing the right materials can make your living environment healthier while promoting longevity. Being intentional with your architectural design is one way that you can ensure the long-term performance of your home.

Many building products, such as paint, glue adhesives, sealants, and carpets can contain chemicals that negatively affect the air you breathe. As a result, prolonged exposure can cause negative allergic reactions, irritations, or headaches. If this is something that concerns you, you may want to look for low to no VOC content in what you or your contractor are using to build your home. If you are utilizing outside help to build your residence, ask questions about what types of materials are being utilized. Intentionality when designing a sustainable home can upgrade your living space thanks to the unique architectural design and other noticeable benefits that doing so can offer.

Another thing to keep in mind when designing a sustainable home is using lumber that has the FSC trademark label, which stands for the Forestry Stewardship council. This means that it supports sustainable forestry practices, which are helpful for the overall health of the environment. The FSC, which was established in 1993, has committed itself to promoting environmentally-sound and economically prosperous management of forests, which can give you peace of mind that the steps you are taking to construct your home will cause minimal damage.

In order to promote sustainable architecture, the FSC has created a list of 10 principles and 57 criteria to apply to forests around the globe, including protecting ecosystems that are a bit more fragile, considering native cultures and economies, and more. Additionally, these lists are also mindful of the restriction of pesticides and monitoring the "chain of custody." As you can see, there are many facets to designing a sustainable home, and our team of experts are here if you are interested in opening up a further discussion surrounding any of the aforementioned topics.

Designing a sustainable home doesn't just start at the point of building, however, as it also can be factored into the land upon which each structure is built. To this end, planning and land use may define "critical areas" that have unique features which determine the future of that space. These could include the proximity to streams, wetlands, and more.

If you would like more information about designing a sustainable home, we would like to extend an invitation to get in touch. We are located at 353 Wallace Way NE #5 in Bainbridge Island, WA. We can easily be reached by phone at 206-380-4910 or email at chris@ecosmithdesign.com. Our service area also includes Bainbridge Island, Seattle, Bellevue, Kirkland, Bremerton, Shoreline, WA. Contact us today to open a conversation about green design, sustainability, and the future. We look forward to partnering with you.