Whether you are building your forever home or renovating an older house, it’s always wise to add some features that will make the property more flexible at different stages of life. This will not only increase the value of your home but also save you money in the long term.
Some of these features can be installed during the construction stage and are relatively inexpensive to do. These include underfloor heating which is more energy efficient than traditional radiators. Choosing a material like stone for your flooring will help keep the heat in the room for hours after the fire has gone out. Insulation is another good option for keeping a house warm in winter and cool in summer, especially in regions that experience extreme weather.
Smart mirrors, double-glazed windows and multi-split air-con are all examples of technology that can be included in a new build to future proof it. These are hot trends that will likely remain in demand, and could even boost a home’s value down the line. For advice from Sustainable Architects, go to a site like Quattro Sustainable Architects
Other future proofing choices may be to pre-wire a house for an electric car or solar panels, and consider water conservation and insulation. The cost of these improvements are not as high as some people think, but the benefits will last a lifetime and reduce a household’s carbon footprint. This is known as ‘resource efficiency’ and goes beyond just reducing the use of fossil fuels to other resources such as electricity, timber, metal and water.
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