Mother nature provides mankind with a bountiful of gifts and natural treasures, it’s time man repays her generosity and gifts by changing the way he lives. Going green isn’t just a want, it isn’t a luxury, it is a need that can help man survive the next many years in a way that benefits him and his family. – Quote unknown.
Man is one of the few animals in the world that pollutes the planet with each of his actions. The total pollution generated by these actions including the carbon dioxide created by simply living a life is known as man’s carbon footprint.
Take a minute to read this and think. Should I be looking at a more sustainable living situation?
According to the Brundtland report (Our Common Future), sustainable development was defined as “… development that meets the needs of our presence in a way that does not compromise the future generations to meet their own living and energy needs”. Sustainability and sustainable development can be placed within three pillars environmental protection, economic development, and social development. Basically meaning that the processes and actions of humankind have to avoid natural resource depletion and need to maintain ecological balance without demolishing the quality of life for the next generations.
The world’s rapid economic growth has come at the expense of the environment since the start of the Industrial Revolution. While economies have grown, the population has tripled, and resource demand is ever more in demand, the size of Earth remains the same. That is the one thing man has not yet achieved is building an extension.
If we continue to build and use the Earth’s resources we will not be able to sustain its population. By the year 2100, it is estimated that the global population will likely reach 11 billion. The world’s resources are being depleted each day and it is vital that we use these resources sparingly and with thought to build a sustainable future that starts with the home.
This is why it is ever more important that we do our part for the earth’s future and the future of our future generations, and one way many are turning to alternative living and sustainable living so let’s look at sustainable living a little more.
2100 is only 1 generation of your family away.
Going Green with Eco-Friendly Homes to Help The Planet Survive Longer
To ensure that the planet survives for the next few hundred years, there have been many initiatives taken by people to lower the carbon footprints generated by man.
Sustainable homes that work on the concept of eco-living are one of the main initiatives to lower carbon footprint. The benefits of sustainable living homes, far outweigh the costs of investing in such a home.
When you choose to buy a property in Thailand, or anywhere else in the world, choosing an eco-living home can do more than reduce your carbon footprint. It can give you lower energy bills, a better quality of life, peace and tranquillity through gardens, and other power-faced eco-living features.
A Crash Course in Sustainable Homes and Eco Livings – Types of Sustainable Housing and Features to Consider
Tiny Homes
Small, compact, cozy homes that are under 400 square feet and are often built on wheels such as trailers. These homes can be moved as per the homeowner’s choice and are suitable for varying needs. Due to the small size, they are ideal for 1 – 2 people at the most. They are not highly customizable at the start, but additional features can be incorporated into the house on wheels by the homeowner for an extra cost.
Pre-fabricated Houses
These units are built in factories, transported to the site, and assembled on the spot. Considered one of the most useful types of eco-living homes as they are highly customizable houses, that are 400 to 1000 square meters, eco-friendly, and suitable for 2 to 4 people.
Passive Houses
Medium to large houses that are built using technology that conserves electricity. These houses can be built in various sizes, and are suitable for 1 to 5 people. The built-up square meters depend on the developer as well as the consumer. Passive homes tend to be part of a township or a condo development complex. Passive homes are the top choice in sustainable living houses as they are well-insulated and run on renewable energy.
Straw Homes
These green living homes are rustic and have a worldly charm. They are created using stacked up bales of straw, with clay and plaster for strength. Cheap and affordable, highly insulated homes and the area can be customized as per the need. Ideal for 1-2 people, based on the built-up square footage. Renovations every few years are a must to re-seal and re-enforce the walls, failure to renovate can cause the straw home to collapse. Other recycled materials are also used to create these homes. Rainwater harvesting may also be incorporated into straw homes.
Zero-Carbon Homes
These are the most preferred type of condos and villas in the world that have zero-carbon houses with negative carbon emissions. Built using highly sustainable renewable energy sources, and are usually built using multiple technologies such as solar, wind panels, organic farming, natural insulation, and rain harvesting technologies.
Earthships
The new in thing and built off-the-grid sustainable living choices. These modern homes are built to survive using their own water and electric supply using renewable energy sources. Often these eco homes are not part of a larger structure, they are independent units that can be found in remote places. Recycled and salvaged metals and other green construction materials are used to create these homes from the ground up.
Shipping Container Houses
An environmentally friendly innovation that can stun most homeowners, as old shipping containers that are recycled is used to create these fortresses of solitude. Such eco-friendly houses are extremely cost-effective as well as energy efficient and are well insulated. As recycled items are built using these shipping container houses, they are also mobile and can be moved without too much work when you relocate in the future.
Using Renewable Energy and Green Roofs To Build Eco-Friendly Homes, Earthships and A Custom Sustainable Home
A wide variety of renewable energy sources are used to construct green homes. Solar energy panels are the basic and are the go-to type of alternative energy source used to power these homes. However, many new-age developers are venturing out of the norm to create energy-efficient houses.
Different Types of Sustainable Energy Used To Build Your Dream Home
Using a combination of alternative energy sources ensures that during sunny days, the home gets its power from the sun. Also, during windy days the house gets its power source from the wind. Finally, during all other seasons, the home gets its power source from the Geothermal energy of the earth.
Geothermal energy, rainwater harvesting, and wind energy are often used in combination with solar panels. Rainwater harvesting that is part of the building structure is permitted and controlled by eco-living standards. Wind energy that is part of these energy-efficient homes is built using wind turbines and is also permitted as well as regulated by industry standards.
When green living houses are built, Geothermal energy and highly insulated R50 insulations are used to construct the entire structure to make it airtight. Right from the windows to the doors, walls, and ceiling, careful calculations, planning, and designing ensure that heat is not lost in winter.
Green roofs are often a part of such renewable energy houses as they keep the temperature of the house at a pleasant level, despite factors such as rain, storm, sun, and snow.
Solar panels when installed in such homes are oriented to usually face south in order to ensure that they get maximum exposure during the day. From electricity to heated water in the bathrooms, such homes use renewable energy to keep them running.
An example of an innovative home that runs on green energy is Villa Qabalah by DNA Collection, which has a rooftop terrace that regulates the temperature of the house. Along with additional features like organic farming and rainwater harvesting, the pine villas in Villa Qabalah are also equipped with swimming pools and are surrounded by nature, greenery, and gardens. Read more about Villa Qabalah and its many green living features on the Silk Estate Blog.
Why Choose A Eco-Friendly House and Build A Sustainable Home That Runs on Green Living Concepts?
Sustainable houses are the future of the real estate, places such as Thailand are steadily accepting alternative energy complexes, villas, developments, and independent structures.
In the last 5 years, many new-age developers such as DNA Collection have begun building and selling passive eco-friendly condos and villas in Thailand.
The main reason these houses are the new in thing is because they reduce energy bills significantly. More importantly, they are part of conscious living which is a major factor for people who want to reduce their carbon emissions and footprint and do their part in helping nature.
While reduced bills, cleaner living and not being dependent on man-made sources of energy are sure shot perks of buying sustainable villas and condos, that is not all. Such housing structures are built using nature as the cornerstone, which implies, parks, gardens, natural streams of water, pools, sun gardens, terraces, balconies, and a whole lot of natural goodness within the walls of the development.
These homes also use strategic positioning of doors, windows, and other built-in open spaces to ensure that you get maximum sunlight, and natural breeze when you wake up every day. These homes are also in demand in places such as Thailand because they are built in exclusive, coveted parts of islands such as Phuket.
How Can You Buy A Sustainable Living House in Thailand?
As a foreigner, you can buy a sustainable living condo in Thailand, with the title deed in your name if the condo has a Chanote title deed. These freehold luxury condos are available to buyers at the best prices through realtors such as Silk Estate.
If you wish to own an energy-efficient villa in Thailand that is under the Chanote Title, then Silk Estate is the perfect realtor for you. With vast experience and expertise in selling luxury condos and villas in Thailand to foreigners and ex-pats, Silk Estate is the solution to your green energy crisis.
Townhouses, penthouses, and villas under a leasehold title cannot be purchased by foreigners but can be rented for up to 30 years. You can also choose to lease the land and construct a green living, energy efficient, renewable energy luxury villa for a 30 years period, and renew the lease later on as well. To do this in a smooth and hassle-free manner, all you need to do is contact a realtor who can guide you and be on your side from the start point to the finish line.
At Silk Estate we don’t just help you reduce your carbon-emitted footprint, we also help reduce your stress levels by finding the perfect and efficient home for you. Our team of experts will be on the constant lookout for a sustainable design-based home in Thailand that is best suited for you. Contact us today for a no-obligation call back from our team and watch your real estate dreams manifest into reality. You can find more information about what we do on our about us page.
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