Do sustainable buildings cost more?
Yes and no. Big inefficient houses cost a lot to build and use enormous amounts of energy to heat, cool and maintain. In comparison, creating smaller efficient houses and using clever design can reduce the construction cost as well as dramatically cutting the running costs over a long time. There are infinite possibilities in between. Some sustainable measures, for example passive solar design (like facing a house to the north) cost nothing, whilst others cost more, such as installing solar panels or geothermal heating. These initial expenditures can be assessed in a balanced way against the significant long term savings generated through the increased efficiency of the building and overall environmental impact. At Soft Loud House Architects we determine the appropriate sustainability measures to meet the needs of the client and give the best environmental outcome to fit within the project budget. Local, ethical and high durability materials often cost more to purchase than equivalent
