At Sustainable Homes Melbourne we undertake meaningful projects that align with our purpose and values. We support, inspire and engage with our clients to design creative sustainable architecture.We are innovative sustainable architects based in Fitzroy, Melbourne. Our unique green designs are contemporary and eco-friendly.Our holistic and environmentally sustainable approach is a conscious effort to build living spaces that work with the environment and limit resources.What Is Sustainable Architecture?Sustainable architecture is the general term used to explain buildings designed and built to limit or minimize the human use of resources. It’s about creating living environments that use appropriate materials in the most efficient way possible.Sustainable architecture is sometimes referred to as green architecture or eco- friendly architecture.Wikipedia says “Sustainable architecture uses a conscious approach to energy and ecological conservation in the design of the built environment. The idea of sustainability or ecological design, is to ensure that our use of presently available resources does not end up having detrimental effects to our collective well-being or making it impossible to obtain resources for other applications in the long run.”The Top 6 Sustainable Architecture StrategiesPassive Solar DesignThe term passive is key here, and the objective is to create sustainable homes that heat and cool passively. A lot of things comes down to window placements and sun shading to ensure we use the sun to warm the home in winter, and we prevent the sun from penetrating the home in the summer months. It’s also important windows are placed to allow for cross-ventilation, to allow cooling summer breezes to pass through the home and passively cooling.Active Sustainable DesignActive Sustainable Design strategies can often be seen as the bells and whistles to a sustainable home. Often encompassing solar panels and battery storage systems, it’s also important to understand the heating and cooling elements of a home. Focusing on Melbourne’s climate the energy use from heating a home far outweighs the load required for cooling. Therefore it’s important to use energy efficient heating systems such as electric Heat pumps that is an incredibly energy-efficient heating source.Renewable Energy SystemsWith a considered approach to energy efficient appliances, heating and cooling, accompanied with a renewable energy system such as solar panels, your home home energy bills decrease drastically or can even disappear all together. This along with good solar passive design equates to a carbon neutral home.Green Building Materials & FinishesMaterial selection and selection of finishes are critical to sustainable architecture. Materials should be considered on their eco-friendly credentials and also their longevity and low maintenance costs. Recycled timbers and materials are always a joy to work with and can offer something really special and unique to a sustainable home.Stormwater ManagementThere’s a number of reasons to place an emphasis on sustainability and stormwater management. To design a truly sustainable and self-sufficient home it’s important that stormwater is captured on site and used in your garden and toilets. Watertanks have become a staple of sustainable architecture and can add utility and a pleasing aesthetic to a sustainable home.Native LandscapingNative landscaping can often be overlooked, but it’s important that we merge your outdoor spaces with the sustainable architecture of your interior. Native plants can add a lot to a home by way of native birds. We love to used deciduous trees grown over timber pergolas to protect north facing windows in summer, while in winter when they lose their leaves allowing the beautiful, soft winter sun inside. This is solar passive design at its best.Elements Of Sustainable ArchitectureSolar passive designCross-ventilationBuilding Orientation – Living to the northWindow location and sizingWindow shadingNight purge of hot airLow maintenance materialsThermal mass to absorb heat from the sunLandscaping with native vegetation.Recycled/Upcycled Materials
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