To Be Sustainable
The sustainability movement is notorious for being overpriced and unattainable. Sustainable practice has amounted to metal straws and reusable grocery bags to appease the general public when in reality, these practices only impact .001% of the world’s plastic crisis.
With buildings being the cause of 40% of the world’s leading carbon emissions, it is no wonder architects have jumped at the opportunity to be as sustainable as possible. However, these buildings only seem to come to fruition in specific project categories. Environmentally conscious projects are most commonly university buildings, hospitals, and institutional buildings. The reason? Cost.
LEED or other sustainable rating systems raise initial project costs by $50-65 a square foot. This harsh reality is why sustainability is assumed to be out of reach, leading people to resort to “solving” the crisis with band-aid solutions.
In the housing market, sustainability has seemed even further out of reach. For a large college institution, $50-65 is the difference between one or two donors. For a family looking to invest in a house, sustainable living could mean a whole year of college tuition for one of their children. The upfront costs of sustainable living – while proven to save money in the long run – are why sustainable housing is most commonly assumed to mean luxury housing.
Behind the Cost
While it is frustrating to deem sustainability as a rich man’s luxury, sustainable housing practices are expensive for a reason. These projects set themselves apart in material choice, appearance, and construction practices.
Sustainable options require new material options to satisfy carbon-neutral requirements. Carbon pro-active materials are research-intensive during the creation phase. Therefore, the production of such a material requires manufacturers to invest a large sum of time and money. While eco-friendly buildings are aesthetically trending, eco-excellence has not yet become standard practice. Limited demand for sustainable materials, requires suppliers to increase prices to make a profit. This cost is no issue when the clients have an unlimited budget for their future luxury home.
Clients willing to build luxury housing are interested in setting themselves apart. A willingness to build something unique with a large budget allows for the testing of atypical materials and new sustainable technologies. The current sustainably certified house, while trending aesthetically, does not comply with standard HOA and suburban guidelines. For that reason, sustainable housing opportunities are further set apart from the norm.
Construction of luxury houses is intensive in comparison to the standard suburban residence.
Utilization of new materials requires knowledge of the installation. Not only does this result in an increased construction cost, but it could also result in delayed construction completion. A longer assumed timeline does not appeal to a developer looking to quickly construct a new neighbourhood, nor is it appealing to a moving family with nowhere else to live.
Luxury housing implies an unlimited budget for a client looking to increase their prestige. Setbacks such as material costs and construction timelines may be an annoyance but are not deciding factors. Similarly, a project that goes against any typical suburban standard can appeal to a luxury client.
Luxury Houses in Practice
The SeaPod by Ocean Builders is currently marketed as “affordable, eco-friendly, and eco-restorative living”. From that description, the SeaPod could be the sustainable housing solution that solves the rising sea level crisis. However, what is not marketed upfront is the “premium pricing” due to the luxurious view and style of living a SeaPod provides. These houses also utilize new oxygen-trapped steel tubes for floatation, which are currently only utilized for this project, resulting in another increased price. Lastly, the construction of SeaPods – a floating three-story concrete and steel building – is not a standard construction practice. SeaPods, despite their marketing, are most definitely considered a luxury housing opportunity.
There are many other examples of newly promoted housing projects that pass under the guise of being sustainable and affordable when, in reality, these are fictitious promoting tools. For those unable to afford these luxurious housing options, it can seem like the future is bleak for affordably sustainable housing options.
Future of Sustainable Housing
So, does this mean sustainable housing will always be associated with luxury housing? Luckily, no! While sustainable housing almost always means luxury housing, houses like the SeaPod will not always be a rare commodity.
Luxury housing strongly increases future sustainable development opportunities. While the costs of current carbon-efficient materials are expensive, the continual construction of luxury housing with these materials will eventually increase demand until these materials are standard practice. This will minimize cost and negate the difference between non-sustainable and eco-friendly materials.
Increased construction with these materials will also familiarize contractors with these materials resulting in a quicker installation process. Again, this will result in a lower cost and faster, standardized project timelines.
Once overall time and costs are lower, developers will be more inclined to construct neighborhoods with sustainably implemented practices. As a result, despite its deemed rarity, sustainable housing will become the leading factor in all housing projects. In the meantime, let’s continue building sustainably luxurious housing!
Citations:
Eco Friendly Affordable Sea Homes, affordable life at sea, Ocean Pod (2023) Ocean Builders. Available at: https://oceanbuilders.com/ (Accessed: 28 April 2024).
Ei (2023) Sustainable luxury: How eco-friendly villas redefine high-end accommodation, LinkedIn. Available at: https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/sustainable-luxury-how-eco-friendly-villas-redefine-mbrec/ (Accessed: 28 April 2024).
Estate, L.C.I.R. (2024) Earth day: Top 10 eco-friendly home trends, Christie’s International Real Estate. Available at: https://www.christiesrealestate.com/blog/top-eco-friendly-home-trends/ (Accessed: 28 April 2024).
Reynolds, E. (2023) From Panamanian seapods to Santa Monica Bungalows: 9 Luxe Homes For Sale designed for eco-conscious living, Robb Report. Available at: https://robbreport.com/shelter/homes-for-sale/9-sustainable-luxury-homes-with-the-eco-conscious-buyer-in-mind-1234813859/ (Accessed: 28 April 2024).
