Modular Homes
Are Sustainable
Homes

Why we Must Start Creating Planet Friendly Homes

In Australia, 25% of greenhouse emissions come from building, operating and maintaining buildings, and with our population rising to an estimated 31 million people by 2030, this figure is only set to increase.

Therefore, it’s time we all consider green building as more than just a trend, but a way of life moving forward. We need to think about homes that can reduce the cost of living, and create healthier, happier spaces designed with the future in mind.

We have a dream of creating these sustainable homes for the everyday homeowner by re imagining the great Australian dream! So we compiled a list of simple ways people can combine good design, products, materiality and technology into their existing homes or a new project to help reshape our communities into sustainable cities of the future.

Make your Design Passive!

Arkular emply ‘Passive Design’ as an essential building feature to take advantage of the climate to maintain a comfortable temperature range in the home, improving indoor air quality and minimising temperature fluctuations.

Orientation, shading, thermal mass, insulation, window design, building layout and natural ventilation are just some of the factors assessed when employing this technique. Engaging an Architect to help use this design strategy for a home’s particular climate & locale can reduce and possibly eliminate the need for auxiliary heating or cooling, which accounts for around 40% (depending on region) of energy use in the average Australian home.

Windows and glazed doors bring in light and fresh air and connect us to our environments and frame views. However, they can be a significant source of unwanted heat loss and gain. Up to 40% of a home’s heating energy can be lost, and up to 87% of its heat gained through glazing. Sound transference can also be managed, ensuring noise is minimised, and you get a great sleep every time.

At Arkular, all our homes are fitted with double-glazed windows as a standard, and we work to ensure each window and opening is correctly placed according to orientation and the property conditions to achieve the most efficient home possible.

Going Modular Saves More than Money

Go Modular – Prefabrication boasts a plethora of sustainable benefits.

These include minimised construction times, substantial waste reduction, reduced environmental impact, lower embodied energy over the lifecycle of the building, achieving a much higher quality end product.

With modular homes, around 95% of the building occurs offsite. Once installed, the houses are placed on footings, significantly reducing disturbance to the land and environment to the habitat surrounding your home.

In Australia, we create 20 million tons of construction waste each year. With prefab methods, most building occurs in a facility in one location, decreasing transportation and construction costs – as all necessary materials and equipment are already present at the facility. In addition, the sourcing & usage of materials is more efficiently managed, and any leftover products or excess are sorted quickly and reused, recycled, stockpiled or repurposed for other builds.

This ability to scale down emissions, impact on land, flora and fauna and reduce waste means these homes carry a lighter carbon footprint and have a more ethical output. So, you can feel good knowing your home is being crafted mindfully.

Be Selective and Choose What’s Right for your Home

Going green also means choosing products that are healthier and free from manufactured, synthetic materials, which are low-VOC and made with natural materials.

Natural products such as timber and hemp sequester carbon as they grow and are renewable resources. Ask if the glues, resins, paints and finishes are indoor air quality friendly. At Arkular, we use low-VOC paints, adhesives, sealants and products without formaldehyde.

Products that are naturally produced and/or free from potentially harmful chemicals will help create better spaces for families suffering from allergies and respiratory illnesses.

Opt for energy-efficient appliances. Did you know that appliances account on average for 30% of household emissions? So when it comes to the fit-out of kitchens and laundries, choose energy-efficient devices.

While the initial outlay for these products can be more expensive, the savings can add up to more than any purchase price over the appliance’s life.

Think and Act Sustainably!

An easy way to reduce energy in the home is to paint the roof white – it will reflect heat and save on costs.

A a green roof is even better if you want to take it a step further! Planting local native plants on your rooftop will look fantastic and help insulate the home in winter, capture and harvest rainwater, reduce water runoff & discharge, produce oxygen and create an amazing habitat for wildlife.

To maximise green effects, include an equally sustainable garden. To do this by incorporating edible gardens, compost systems or taking on a new hobby such as beekeeping.

Fill with herbs, veggies, worm farms and native plants or if space is limited, try a vertical garden. Backyards of this nature promote sustainability whilst offering a place of refuge for both you, your family and the native wildlife.

Sustainable homes don’t have to be complicated; by going back to basics and simplifying living, we can make a difference in the built environment. Employing renewable technologies, eco-friendly materials, and clever design choices, you can create a home that cares for you and the planet.

Information has been sourced from the following

Finley, R., 2022. Swale Definition: 5 Benefits of Drainage Swales in Landscaping. [online] Available at: <https://www.masterclass.com/articles/swale-definition>

Martek, I. and Hosseini, R., 2019. Buildings produce 25% of Australia’s emissions. What will it take to make them ‘green’ – and who’ll pay?. [online] <https://theconversation.com/buildings-produce-25-of-australias-emissions-what-will-it-take-to-make-them-green-and-wholl-pay-105652#:~:text=The%20construction%2C%20operation%20and%20maintenance,greenhouse%20gas%20emissions%20in%20Australia.>

Yu, M., Tait, C., Crawford, R. and Wiedmann, T., 2017. The Carbon Footprint of Australia’s Construction Sector. [ebook] Sydney: Science Direct. Available at: <https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1877705817316879>