Perhaps you are not aware, but the growing trend now is that people prefer outdoor living more than staying indoors. It seems like it is a more reasonable option, especially if they intend to entertain guests as much as often.
They get to entertain as many people as they want without having the guests invade their privacy, even family game nights and dinners seem much more exciting when they are hosted outdoors.
Constantly being in nature also improves our mood and reduces the negative impact that stress has on our health. Furthermore, people and companies are learning more about the need to protect our environment through their actions and inactions. This is why sustainable outdoor design is the perfect choice for your backyard.
Sustainable outdoor design helps homeowners conserve water, reduce pesticides using native plants, reduce erosion using ground cover plants, use trees to provide shade for the building, etc.
In this article, we will be discussing eco-friendly solutions for your backyard focusing especially on water conservation techniques, eco-friendly materials and energy-efficient features.
Water Conservation Techniques
Why is it important to conserve water in outdoor spaces and even in drought-prone locations? Water conservation is important to make citizens responsible for their water supply and to help them use water wisely.
You can keep your water pure while also keeping the environment safe. You can also save money and energy, especially during droughts.
Knowing these benefits is not enough, what are the techniques or practices that can help one conserve or save water?
Examples of water-saving practices include:
- You can plant more drought-tolerant ornaments or plants that are peculiar to your region.
- Collect rainwater by installing a rain barrel system.
- Schedule plant irrigation by using an adjustable sprinkler or drip irrigation instead of doing it all the time.
- Inspect for any outdoor leaks and repair them.
Eco-Friendly Materials
When undertaking your outdoor design projects, you need to go for sustainable or eco-friendly materials because of the numerous benefits that come with it.
First, it will improve your finances and boost your productivity. Also, it reduces the amount of waste you have to deal with and improves your comfort and general well-being.
You are also more environmentally responsible when your actions reduce the level of pollution, depletion and waste generation.
Examples of eco-friendly materials include bamboo, herb, recycled plastic, locally sourced stone, reclaimed wood, composite cladding, paper recycling, recyclable packaging, straw bale, recycled steel, etc.
The above materials can be used to construct certain beneficial tools such as decks, fences, outdoor furniture, patios, walkways, etc. Locally sourced stone can also be used to retain walls to reduce transportation emissions.
Energy-Efficient Features
Energy efficiency is very important in creating sustainable outdoor space because it helps to reduce energy consumption, preserve the earth’s natural habitats and biodiversity, and produce cleaner air and water without necessarily sacrificing your comfort.
You can incorporate some energy-saving features such as:
- Solar-powered lighting (that converts sunlight into usable energy without depending on grid electricity)
- Low-voltage lighting which takes less energy to illuminate one’s path.
- Energy-efficient patio or tankless water heaters.
- Planting trees strategically to give shade or installing shade sails.
- Grills with advanced insulation or solar-powered options.
- Effective weed control.
- Install timers and sensors that switch your light off when you are not using it.
- Turn off the heat pump when not in use.
- Smart switches and thermostats.
- Energy-efficient windows for ventilation and skylights to provide warmth.
- Doors that are suitable to your building’s climate zone.
Beyond the Basics: Sustainable Practices
Aside from the obvious means listed above, you can also turn your kitchen scraps and yard waste into compost which can be a rich fertilizer for your garden.
You can also provide habitats for some animals or nesting sites for bees and butterflies. If you plant native plants, you can easily attract pollinators.
You can even start rainwater harvesting to save as much water as possible and maximize its usage. Also, instead of buying new furniture, you can go for thrift or eco-friendly furniture.
Whether you are purchasing cleaning agents or applying cleaning methods, go for products or methods that are environment-friendly. Furthermore, instead of purchasing decorations made from unsustainable materials, you can create your decorations yourself.
To End With,
The fact is we owe it to ourselves to preserve our environment as much as we can.
Following the suggestions in this article will give you a beautiful and inviting space while still maintaining sustainability.
Aside from being environmentally responsible, it also saves you a lot financially as most of the above ideas are cost-effective methods.
Eco-friendly options are always the best method to choose for your outdoor space as it has so many benefits attached to it. Starting from ensuring a healthy environment (cleaner air and water), to saving money and other natural resources.
