Does Size Matter?
Building a dream home is a fantasy many have mused, and some have achieved in reality. Whether it’s a house in the city, a homestead in the country or a tiny house, the single-family detached dwelling is the most desired by Canadians.
Recent studies show that the average Canadian has the third-largest ecological footprint (EF) globally, with 7.25 hectares, compared to the average Japanese 4.77 and the average Indian 0.86. Considering this time of environmental crisis, it is essential to consider the Ecological Footprint (EF) of the structures we design and build.
Since relocating to Salt Spring in 2020, I have encountered several projects with the best intentions to build eco-conscious homes. Unfortunately, my clients faced significantly higher prices for natural buildings and eco-friendly materials. Ultimately and unfortunately, this has led them to return to conventional construction.
Although conventional construction appears less costly when calculating the immediate cost, it comes with a higher price tag when considering its short lifespan, premature and frequent need for repairs and ultimately, the significant environmental impact.
In light of these considerations, I pose the question: how can we build homes that satisfy our functional, esthetic and wellness needs while maintaining a reasonable budget and minimizing our environmental impact?
To answer this question, consider the following factor: Size
Size is the most impactful factor in this equation. Reducing the size of the structure reduces materials, labour, and energy consumption, to say the least.
An intelligent design is crucial to achieving the right size, responding to all needs while optimizing space within a defined perimeter, bringing many exciting features with delightful surprises and individuality. An intelligent design is multi-functional and flexible, allowing the home to adapt to unknown future needs.
Reducing the size of the structure will free up funds to use high-quality systems and materials that last beyond the current average house lifespan. In Canada, 12%of buildings fail before 25 years, while most structures live between 50 to 90 years. This translates into one to two generations! In 2016, statistics showed over 3 million tons of demolition and land clearing (DLC) went mainly to landfills. Add the millions of tons generated by the manufacturing of new materials and the energy and raw materials used.
So building with high-quality systems and natural building modalities that last five or more generations while using eco-friendly materials significantly lifts the astronomical environmental burden our planet faces.
If a nurturing home is your priority, let’s start by identifying the language that describes that home. If high-quality, welcoming, warm, healthy, and authentic come to mind, turning to scalable, intelligent, adaptable buildings is critical to manifesting these homes that will last for many generations to come.