A modern house, or at least an owner trying to live in a modern house doesn’t have to be an architectural wonder constructed with totally renewable materials and plugged into the most advanced systems that moderate active heating and cooling to reduce the drag on the bigger shared system.

At least according to Dwell in “At Home in the Zone.”

Making mostly small changes and tackling our houses by thinking of them as different zones will help us develop a personalized strategy, “one that balances our desire to live sustainably with a desire to live comfortably”.

Some of the ideas:

Get a programmable thermostat to property utilize HVAC system.

Exterior awnings and indoor window treatments block the suns rays reducing unwanted solar gain in hot months.

Use cross ventilation and supplement with fans. Use HVAC as last resort.

Stop drinking bottled water.

Get rid of the TV in the bedroom – the bedroom should be calming.

Use low-flow showerheads and dual-flush toilets.

Buy in bulk to reduce packaging.

Remove your grass and install low-maintenance perennials.

Collect rain water in a barrel.

Yes, these for the most part are “no-brainer” items that you could probably think of on your own, but nevertheless the article is a great starter for those who a looking to catch up. Read post in Dwell.