SOURCE: Sotheby’s
Trends are supposed to be ephemeral—but in architecture and design, sustainability is vaunted for its permanence; for being “evergreen” in more ways than one. Sustainability grows and gains in value because of its positive impact on the planet and its economic efficiency.
So why is sustainability so worthwhile for luxury homeowners? First, it’s good for the environment—and by extension, good for the conscience. Second, it’s cost-effective because of how it ultimately leads to significant savings on energy, water, and other utilities. And third, it’s beautiful; because ecological homes are often on the cutting edge of technology and design, they’re often stunning to behold.
For all these reasons, green luxury properties are intelligent investments not just for a portfolio but for a lifestyle. These four homes showcase the best in high-end green living.
Clean Living with Sustainable Luxury
Green living is clean living—and it doesn’t get greener than this ultramodern villa that uses two types of renewable, high-performance power generation to ensure energy efficiency. The first are rooftop solar panels to fulfill the home’s electricity needs; the second is geothermal heating, which is combined with surfaces that facilitate radiant cooling to provide year-round comfort without requiring additional resources.
This villa is an example of a renewable energy home, sufficient to fuel all the extra amenities of a prestigious property. Each of the six chic bedrooms is complete with its own ensuite, there’s a marvelously minimalist spa facility furnished with a pool and sauna, and luxury smart home technology delivers fully automated functionality.
Empowering a Productive Ecosystem
Solar panels are one of the most effective and well-established ways to renewably power a property, and few homes can compete with the vast photovoltaic array at this pastoral estate. Certified organic for nearly two decades, this home doesn’t just take care of its own needs in terms of energy consumption—it also nourishes the land, with 20 acres devoted to vineyards, 10 dedicated to olive orchards, and the remaining 40 left to nurture local vegetation and biodiversity.
Sustainability is all about rejuvenation and restoration rather than discarding and disposing, and this property perfectly captures that spirit by leading the way in responsible design despite being more than two centuries old. Parts of the estate date back even further, such as a rare church and ruin that have stood on the site since the year 1000.
Eco-Friendly Luxury Real Estate at its Finest
The term “renewable” often refers to renewable sources of energy when discussing sustainable design. But there’s a broader conversation to be had around renewable resources, such as recycled and repurposed timber, as well as rainwater collection and purification. Both are on display in this charming residence that creatively merges the traditional and the contemporary.
Energy recovery ventilation has been incorporated into its structure to ensure the interior environment is as fresh as the exterior. The property boasts an outdoor kitchen and dining area, fire pit, sauna, and shower, along with nine different seating areas set amid a lushly treed landscape—and one of those areas is a scenic terrace surrounded by a canopy.
Innovating Towards a Milder Climate
To help moderate the climate of the planet, it’s crucial to have effective mechanisms to efficiently moderate the climate of the home—and that’s exactly what this stunning sculpture of a house succeeds at doing. An electric heat pump helps to control temperatures, while electric blinds enable effortless passive cooling. And when ideal conditions are created indoors, double-glazed windows, insulation chambers, and insulating materials such locally sourced wood and wool help maintain them.
With solar power, rainwater harvesting, and land that supports native flora and fauna, this property includes several sustainable features one would expect of a home built according to rigorous Passive House standards.
Sustainable architectural and design elements aren’t just aesthetically impressive; they’re also as economical as they are ethical, delivering short- and long-term value for the current homeowner, future homeowners, and the earth as a whole. This is why sustainable luxury homes are so prominent and popular today, and will still be tomorrow; indeed, green living may be considered “on-trend”, but as other fads come and go, this one is here to stay.
SOURCE: Sotheby’s