How to Design a Sustainable Living House

Make Form Follow Function

1). Design your house based on what you want to accomplish in it, rather than starting out with an idea of what you want it to look like. Make a list of all the things you need to do in your house as a basis for its design: Sleeping, cooking, socializing, studying and relaxing are some examples of the purposes of a house.
2). Make sketches of the areas you envision for the different functions, and begin to relate these to the surroundings of the house. For example, if you are a morning person, you may want to design your kitchen so it is exposed to the sunrise. The bedroom should be in a location that is away from traffic, and it doesn't necessarily need as much light. By arranging things in this way, you are reducing the amount of energy you will need to provide for your needs, taking advantage of amenities such as solar heat and daylight that are already there for free.
3). Design the house to suit it to its location. Take the local climate and the lay of the land where the house is going into account. Consider berming the northern side of the house into a hillside for increased heat retention.

1). Reduce the energy footprint of the house by utilizing the most efficient appliances and energy systems. Research the most efficient heating system that is appropriate for your climate. This could be an airtight woodstove, a geothermal system or a series of solar hot water panels.
2). Eliminate unnecessary appliances for maximum energy savings. Ask yourself if you really need a dishwasher. Replace your dryer with a clothesline. Eliminating these appliances will reduce your energy needs, give you more space in your house and eliminate potential repair costs as well.
3). Incorporate things such as passively heated concrete slabs, low-e south facing windows and super-insulated walls into your house design. These are aspects of a house that would be difficult to add later after the house is built, but when incorporated into its original design will quickly pay for themselves through reduced utility bills.