Emily Griffin, Outside Reading: Environmental Friend Housing

While I have been working on my research project for my CSE Fellowship on sustainable housing which are designed to minimize environmental damage through energy efficiency, renewable materials, water conservation, and other green features that reduce carbon footprint. I found that there are eight different types of homes that are very sustainable. Including… 

  • Passive Solar → Takes advantage of the sun’s energy

  • Net Zero Energy → Use a combination of energy efficiency, renewable energy and sometimes battery storage

  • Modular Prefab → Controlled process cuts waste and allows quality assurance oversight and rapid construction, reduces on - site energy use 

  • Earth Sheltered → Underground homes leverage the insulation properties of soil. Berming reduces temperature extremes, cutting HVAC energy usage by up to 70% 

  • Straw bale constructed →Compressed straw modules as structural insulated panels for walls (high insulation: reduces energy demand) 

  • Hempcrete → Biocomposite material offers good insulation, breathability, , and thermal mass for energy efficiency 

  • Earthships → Compacting damp subsoil into forms creates durable monolithic structures with natural thermal mass 

  • Rammed Earth homes → Entirely off the grid home built from recycled materials like tires and cans


    I find it so interesting that there are so many options for sustainable and environmentally firnedly 

    housing, yet hardly anyone has one, at least I have not heard of anyone owning an Earthsip or Earth 

    sheltered home. But I also find it so ironic that people do not look into sustainable options that are, 

    cheaper in the longrun because they are unwilling to transition to the sustainable lifestyle. If you

    knew that you did not have to worry about paying 70% of your AC bills or electricity wouldn't 

    you choose that option?


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