For Homeowners:
Increase Sustainability in Residential Remodels and ADUs
Renovating your home? Building an ADU? Interested in taking steps to reduce climate change and reducing energy costs? When designing new homes, architects have a wide range of tools that can reduce energy costs and address the climate crisis, from comprehensive–situating a house to best channel natural breezes–to the more mundane–such as choosing windows that reduce heat loss.
Here are eleven options, ranging from simple appliance changes to more comprehensive steps taken during design and construction phases, for homeowners who want to examine their own energy usage and/or influence the climate crisis individually.
Sustainability is not an afterthought. Your architect can locate an ADU or addition on your site in a way that considers the movement of the sun and/or natural breezes to reduce energy costs and commiserate carbon emissions.
When designing homes in warmer areas of California, architects can reduce air conditioning needs by facing windows to the north rather than south, where they can be impacted by harsh summer sun. Windows set on the south, east, and west side of buildings can be in shaded areas. Is this a good strategy for your home? Talk to your architect.
Forward leaning homeowners and cities are leaning into “electrification,” which means the use of electricity, rather than gas, a fossil fuel, for all core functions such as heating, cooling, and cooking. Electrification can reduce energy costs and reducing harmful the emission of greenhouse gases.
Consider replacing your traditional furnace with a heat pump system, which can provide both heating and cooling efficiently. Dependent on electricity, rather than gas, heat pumps are known for their energy efficiency and environmentally friendly operation, making them a sustainable choice for home comfort.
Induction cooktops and stoves transfer heat more effectively and are about 5 to 10 percent more efficient than standard electric ranges. They also have proven health benefits for indoor air quality versus gas cooking.
Get a Professional Energy Audit of Your Home: Before initiating any remodeling or renovation, obtain a professional energy audit to pinpoint specific areas for improvement, ensuring a tailored approach to enhance overall energy efficiency and sustainability. This is often a great first step.
Talk to an architect. In 2021, AIA California declared climate action a core value: many architects are experienced in helping analyze your home, looking at an energy audit, and working with homeowners and occupants through conversations to assess their current and future needs. From there they can offer different options to address the home’s current sustainability lapses and future needs.
Harness clean and renewable energy by installing current-generation solar panels on your roof, decreasing reliance on conventional energy sources, and lowering your electricity bills over the long term.
Ask your architect to design additions and/or your ADU to be PV-ready in the future. This includes a number of technical and design factors that can simplify a future transition.
Enhance insulation in walls, ceilings, and floors to improve your home’s thermal efficiency. This provides better temperature control and reduces the need for excessive heating or cooling.
Invest in energy-efficient windows and doors featuring double-pane glass and effective weatherstripping to minimize heat loss or gain, promoting optimal indoor comfort while reducing energy consumption.
Incorporate environmentally friendly and sustainable building materials in your remodeling projects, such as FSC-certified framing and finish wood products, and other reclaimed and rapidly renewable materials. One insider tip is that many quality building finishes, such as tile and countertops, can be purchased at a discount from suppliers who are trying to get rid of inventory of discontinued products as well from the building salvage yards who resell reclaimed building products.
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About AIA California
American Institute of Architects California (AIA California) is committed to harnessing the transformative power of architecture and design to address the greatest economic, environmental, and social challenges of our time. We represent more than 11,000 architects and design professionals who join together to design a better world.