Exteriors - Eco-Friendly Alternatives
Whatever amount of garden or outdoor space you have at your LEED, Passive House, ZNE or Green Home & however you hope to use it, we can help you turn it into a beautiful, functional & enjoyable space. We cover everything from alternatives to the traditional lawn, native plants, growing food on a balcony to choosing stormwater management systems, building a natural, chemical-free pool, solariums, durable deck building, natural pools, bee keeping and urban farming
About
Exteriors
Build Better, Renovate Better, Live Better - with EcoHome...
A home's exterior spaces offer a vital opportunity to extend your living area, connect with nature, and implement sustainable practices that benefit both your family and the local ecosystem. Creating a green exterior involves designing with intention, choosing durable, eco-friendly materials, managing resources like water responsibly, and integrating nature in a way that supports biodiversity. From sustainable decks and permeable patios to rainwater collection and food production, a well-designed exterior enhances your home's value and your quality of life, with principles applicable to homes across the USA, Canada, the UK, Australia, and New Zealand.
Sustainable Outdoor Structures and Permeable Surfaces
When building outdoor structures like decks, porches, and gazebos, prioritizing durable and sustainable materials is key to ensuring longevity and reducing environmental impact. Excellent material choices include sustainably harvested FSC-certified lumber, thermally modified wood which resists rot without chemicals, and high-quality recycled composite decking. For ground-level surfaces like laneways and patios, moving beyond impermeable concrete and asphalt is crucial for healthy water management. Using permeable pavers, gravel, or wood decking set over a drainage bed allows rainwater to soak into the ground, recharging groundwater, reducing runoff, and mitigating local flooding. These surfaces not only offer environmental benefits but also create visually appealing and resilient outdoor living areas.
Eco-Friendly Landscaping and Water Management
Sustainable landscaping focuses on creating beautiful, functional yards that work in harmony with the local environment, rather than against it. This approach involves selecting native and drought-tolerant plants that thrive in your specific climate with minimal watering, fertilizer, or pesticides. Thoughtful landscape design can also reduce a home's energy use by providing shade in summer and windbreaks in winter. A cornerstone of eco-friendly landscaping is effective rainwater management. Installing rainwater collection systems, such as rain barrels or larger cisterns, captures a valuable free resource for watering gardens. For a truly unique water feature, natural swimming pools and ponds use plants and gravel to filter water, creating a chemical-free habitat for both swimming and local wildlife.
Integrating Food Production and Season Extension
Transforming part of your yard into a space for food production is a rewarding way to increase self-sufficiency, reduce food miles, and connect with your food source. Even small spaces can be productive with the use of raised beds, vertical gardens, or container gardening on decks and patios. For those looking to extend the growing season, especially in cooler climates like Canada, the UK, and the northern USA, a greenhouse is an invaluable addition. A well-designed sunroom or solarium can serve a dual purpose, acting as a space to grow food year-round while also providing passive solar heat gain to the main house during the winter months, further enhancing your home's energy performance and sustainability. We also have Canada's and the USA's most comprehensive high performance and sustainable prefabricated and modular homes directory available here, searchable by Province or State, as well as the largest online directory of green construction contractors and the best and most experienced Architects that are skilled in designing sustainable homes to LEED and Passive House standards here on EcoHome.