A luxury house can be traditional or contemporary, ornate or minimalist, functional, or fantastic, big or small. But can it also be ecological? It can be all of these things, depending on those at the forefront of sustainable architecture and environmental design. Being earth-conscious doesn’t have to mean “doing without”. Quite the opposite: elegant, even dazzlingly beautiful houses all over the world have green roofs, get energy from geothermal energy, and use solar panels all year round. Ecological features also include humidity-controlled indoor air, filtered drinking water, LED lighting, HEPA air filters, and Internet systems and controls for “smart homes”.
5 EXAMPLES OF SUSTAINABLE LUXURY
LED LIGHTING
Lighting is once again undergoing a radical change thanks to advances in LED technology. LED bulbs are much more energy-efficient than 20th-century filament bulbs, which means that a house’s carbon footprint can be greatly reduced without turning off the lights. Software, smartphones and their virtual wheels can instantly change the intensity, temperature, color, and even the mood of the light itself, restoring the soft, romantic flicker and brightness of old lamps and candles.
SOLAR PANELS
Using the inexhaustible energy of the sun, rooftop solar panels can provide a lightweight, cost-effective way to boost a house’s “passive” energy over the long term. Solar panels are fashionable and can be an attractive and artistic addition.
Casa de Luz is a private beachfront property on the white sands of Playa Langosta on the Pacific coast of Costa Rica. The main residence, designed by renowned architect Abraham Valenzuela, offers 7,200 square feet of living space. The multiple outdoor spaces include an infinity pool with an ocean view, a palapa bar, tropical gardens, and tide pools. A solar power system and a power plant ensure the electrical needs of the entire property. High-tech features include high-speed Internet, audio for the entire house, security surveillance, backup water system, and air conditioning throughout the house.
AMX TECHNOLOGY
Today’s eco-friendly houses aren’t just sustainable, they’re smart. AMX, part of Samsung’s Harman Professional Division, designs and engineers the Internet of Things. AMX smart-home systems control light, heat, sound, and even irrigation at the touch of a button. Ideal for homeowners who split their time between several residences, each home-automation system can be programmed remotely so that energy is not wasted when the property is vacant. Smart technology can also help protect the home. There are many apps with remote, one-touch security notifications, such as surveillance cameras alerts, presence detectors, and live-stream audio-visual transmission.
This sensational harborfront compound, situated on a private promontory on Grand Cayman Island, offers an impressive 25,000 square feet of luxury living spaces innovatively designed with every conceivable amenity: from the AMX sound system to the waterfront amphitheater, complete with swim-up bar.
GEOTHERMAL HEATING AND COOLING
Like solar panels, geothermal heating and cooling harness the forces of nature to provide optimal indoor conditions at any time of year. This technology allows homeowners to make the most luxurious home’s environmental footprint relatively small, even as its design makes a big aesthetic impact. An efficient geothermal system can provide 20 years of reliable heating and cooling, with minimal maintenance, so the benefits of installing one may outweigh the costs, especially if it’s for a new-build or to replace an old system.
__Geothermal Home Netherlands
This unique contemporary villa in Oisterwijk, Netherlands, is set within nearly three acres of private parkland bordered by the region’s famous forests and fenlands. Inside the sleek façade lies a warm and inviting interior, equipped with luxury lifestyle amenities, including a cutting-edge audio-visual system and geothermal heating and cooling.
GREEN ROOFS AND WALLS
The earliest “green roof” might have been the famous Hanging Gardens of Babylon, but it was not until the early 1970s in Germany that technology caught up with aesthetics, and green roofs became a viable design option. Today, green roofs are so practical and effective that mainstream, design-focused authorities like HGTV are offering primers on how to install your own. Luxury homes have incorporated green roofs and balconies for a mix of efficient, natural cooling and landscaped aesthetic beauty.
Green roofs are aesthetically pleasing and environmentally friendly. Using vegetation in place of conventional roofing materials also reduces air pollution and absorbs stormwater runoff. They also lower energy costs and even extend the life of the roof’s supporting structure.