Top Building Design & Construction Trends in 2024

1. Top Building Design & Construction Trends in 2024 The built environment is reported to contribute approximately 30% of global greenhouse gas emissions. It globally consumes around one-third of raw materials, energy, and water. Over the past few years, as the world continues to act towards a more sustainable future, designers and architects have started implementing sustainable home design strategies to combat globally pressing issues like global warming, climate change, and more. In addition to NatHERs, BASIX, and many other sustainable building environment-promoting standards, the NSW Department of Planning has crafted the Sustainable Buildings SEPP to simplify and coordinate the planning and designing of sustainable buildings. The construction industry in Australia is about to transform with several emerging building design and construction trends. Let’s look at the top sustainable building design and construction trends in 2024. Focus on Health and Well-Being Sustainable design and construction plans are no longer all about reducing the environmental impact of buildings but are also about creating healthier and more comfortable living spaces.

2. So, you can expect to see architects and construction contractors focusing more on designing and constructing buildings, prioritising the occupants’ health and well-being. Like NatHERS, the emerging design and construction trends require homeowners to regulate glazing, ventilation, insulation, ceiling heights, room sizes, and access to the sunlight of dwellings. It helps improve your home’s energy efficiency and comfort level. Using Sustainable and Natural Materials These days, architects and interior designers suggest making a sustainable home design using sustainable and recycled materials. The following discussed are some of the best examples of sustainable materials applications you will find in the upcoming years: ● Flooring options: Bamboo and cork are among the most environmentally friendly flooring options. Homeowners can use these materials and repurposed wood for décor, furniture, and wall options. ● Roofing materials: Some of the most commonly used sustainable roofing materials you can find in the future are recycled metal, natural slate, clay or concrete tiles, wooden shakes or shingles. Using these sustainable roofing materials can help you score higher during the NaTHERS Assessment in terms of energy consumption and minimising environmental impact. ● Wall options: For wall options, you will find that recycled wood, bamboo, hempcrete, rammed earth, straw bales, and other sustainable materials are in high demand. Widespread Use of Renewable Energy Using renewable energy sources like wind and solar power will become more common to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and increase the availability of cost-effective renewable energy technologies. You can see buildings having: ● Solar thermal systems to reduce water heating costs. ● Photovoltaic (PV) systems using rooftop solar panels. ● Geothermal power is used for water heating or air conditioning. ● Heat pumps which use the warmth of surrounding water, ground, or air for heating water. Prefabrication Green Business Certification, Inc., suggests that green buildings and prefabrication techniques suit eco-friendly homes. Prefabricated houses will continue to serve as an excellent solution for affordable and sustainable home designs.

3. The approach involves assembling a structure’s components in a factory or other manufacturing site and transporting the assembling or sub-assembling to the construction site where the structure needs to be located. Consultants performing the NaTHERS Assessment suggest modular construction because it helps reduce material wastage, construction costs, and time. Moreover, the disruption to the building site and surrounding community will be reduced, promoting safer working conditions and reduced operational efficiency. Practicing Passive Design Passive design is all about designing naturally comfortable buildings without a mechanical heating and cooling system. You can see more houses incorporating passive design principles in the upcoming year. The following are the best passive design practices: ● Insulating walls, floors, and roofs to reduce heat transfer. ● Building orientation lets the building take advantage of the sun and the prevailing winds. ● Window types and placement, like double-glazed windows, keep heat out during the summer and in during the winter. ● Using locally sourced materials to reduce the impact of transporting materials. ● Thermal mass, using materials that can absorb and store heat energy to regulate indoor temperatures. More Green Roofs and Wals Green roofs and walls are increasingly becoming popular in urban regions. Next year, you can expect to see more buildings with green roofs and wall designs. Incorporating such roofs and walls will provide insulation, thermal mass, and shading, improving your home’s thermal performance, which is one of the aims of the NatHERS scheme. Below discussed are other environmental benefits of incorporating green roofs and walls in your building’s design: ● Increasing biodiversity ● Improving air quality ● Reducing stormwater runoff ● Reducing urban heat island effects Smart Home Strategies

4. Many architects and construction contractors develop smart home strategies to construct sustainable buildings. In the upcoming years, you will see smart and modern sustainable home designs using technology to allow the home’s systems and electronics to communicate. In addition, smart houses will be remotely activated from a smartphone or other web-enabled device and controlled by a schedule. By implementing smart home and environmentally-friendly home design strategies, you can make your home more energy efficient, save money on utility bills, and contribute to a healthier environment. Moreover, it will pave the way for you to obtain a NatHERS Certificate with higher energy efficiency ratings. Here are some technologies you can incorporate to build a smart home: ● Smart thermostats: These thermostats leverage artificial intelligence to learn your home’s patterns and preferences to adjust the indoor temperature accordingly. It helps cut down on energy consumption and reduce heating and cooling costs. ● Water consumption monitoring: You can install smart irrigation systems to water plants when necessary, reducing water waste. In addition, smart metres can track household water usage, allowing you to identify water leaks easily and reduce water consumption. ● Smart lighting: These smart systems use motion sensors and times to ensure lights are on when needed, lowering energy consumption and electricity bills. Final Words The Australian government is focusing on promoting a sustainable building environment as the world faces pressing environmental challenges such as climate change and global warming. The interest of architects and designers is shifting towards modern, sustainable home designs. Incorporating the above-discussed emerging trends in your home designs can make your home more energy efficient and sustainable, contribute to a healthier environment, and improve your health and well-being. Moreover, the more energy efficient and sustainable your home is, the higher your chance is to secure a NatHERS Certificate.

5. Contact Us Eco Certificates Website: https://www.ecocertificates.com.au Email ID: info@ecocertificates.com.au Address: Suite G.03, 23 Ryde Road, Pymble NSW, Australia- 2073 Phone Number: +61 1300162436