my best home

a great home starts with a great conversation...


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5. world & waste

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We only have one planet. If we don’t live ‘within our means’ and look after it, then we are not leaving as much for our kids (and their kids etc) to have as we had. Plus we are then making it THEIR problem to clean up. There are somewhere between 8 and 9 billion people on this planet and its pretty straight forward that we are each entitled to the same use of the planet’s resources wherever we may have been born. The amount of productive area on this planet divided by the number of people on it is a great way of KNOWING if we are living sustainably. This is what they mean by an ecological footprint

  • Questions about lifestyle:

    • shopping_basketQ1. MY FOOTPRINT

      I understand that everything has an impact ... materials, energy, driving. So there's really no point in just changing a little bit is there? Do we all have to live like we are in the Dark Ages again?

    • languageQ2. GOING GLOBAL

      Why are we talking about houses? I'm sure every little bit of energy makes a difference but how does that compare for example with one holiday and an overseas plane flight?

    • navigationQ3. GETTING THERE

      OK, so how we get around and our transport ‘choices’ can make up a pretty big part of our total ecological footprint... I understand that. And where my house is located has quite a bit to do with my transport choices obviously.But can't I just choose to walk and cycle even if I live a long way out of town?

    • shopping_cartQ4. TOTAL IT UP

      My total ecological footprint is made up of all sorts of things in my life like transport and food and clothing. So housing is really just one part of the big picture... why is this even an issue for architects?

    • power_settings_newQ5. HOUSE vs PEOPLE

      I understand that the house can make a difference but we plan to live here for 10 or 15 years. Which has a bigger input on my ecological footprint, the house or the energy and water that it uses over this time?

    • inputQ6. GARDEN TO PLATE

      I remember reading that food choice has a really big impact on ecological footprint - something about meat being much worse than veggies? Does having a productive garden make much of a positive contribution to my families ecological footprint?

    • settings_powerQ7. OFF GRID

      So if I want to get serious about this, should I look at going off grid? Would my house be suitable for meeting all my energy needs from renewable sources on site?

    • import_exportQ8. LESS IS MORE

      If I can live in a smaller house without compromising my lifestyle and family's needs does that mean I’m able to reduce my ecological footprint?


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  • Waste Questions:

    • deleteQ9. IT'S GARBAGE

      I remember when I stayed on a farm for a while and all of kitchen scraps and paper got composted. How much benefit is there in having a separate compost bin for our kitchen scraps?Does reducing this waste to landfill help our ecological footprint?

    • import_exportQ10. THROW IT AWAY

      Most households already recycle paper and glass and I know the rest just goes to landfill. What else can we do to help our ecological footprint?

    • invert_colors_offQ11. KEEP IT CLEAN

      We want to make sure we're not putting strong and life-killing chemicals into our waterways. Can you design a bathroom that does not require toxic products to keep it clean?

    • call_madeQ12. HERE WE GO AGAIN

      It always seems like a waste to me when we use fresh water to flush the toilet. Is it possible to have a composting toilet? I could then use it productively on our veggie garden, right?

    • open_in_browserQ13. EMBODIED ENERGY

      I have heard that it takes a lot of energy and water to make concrete (a high embodied energy material). Should I avoid using it in my new home? What about steel and aluminium as well?


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