“If you don’t like the road you’re walking, start paving another one.”
Dolly Parton
It’s no secret the US is saddled with an affordable housing crisis fueled by low inventory and high interest rates. Meanwhile, home construction is a major contributor to climate change. The only thing better than solving one problem is solving two with the same fix, and that could play out here. New technologies are making homebuilding more affordable and sustainable.
It’s clear we need more homes in the US, especially affordable ones. And yet, building comes with the side effect of carbon emissions. Just how much does construction contribute to climate change? Quite a bit, it turns out. Approximately 40% of heat-trapping emissions come from the real estate industry, with 30% of that from construction.
More affordable and sustainable
I love ideas that are completely out of the box, so when I saw an article about 3D printed houses, I needed to know more. A quick search of “3D printed homes” will send you down a rabbit hole of fascinating videos and articles. Neighborhoods like this one and this one are cropping up around the country. Although made with cement, which emits CO2, they are contructed much more quickly, less expensively, and with a lower carbon footprint than traditional builds. They are more efficient too, and many run on renewable energy.
Similarly cool is a new style of home made by Wikkelhouse in Amsterdam. Not only are these homes sustainable, but they are actually biodegradable. Yes, that’s right. Several layers of extremely durable cardboard form the exterior. They’re inexpensive and climate-friendly. Although not available in the US right now, they give us an idea example of what our options might look like in the future.
I can’t wait to see what technologies like these do to help make homebuilding more affordable and sustainable.
What can we do?
For the rest of us dwelling in boring old wood or brick homes, we can still do some things to reduce our emissions. Ideas include weatherproofing, insulating, electrifying, adjusting thermostats, and changing to LED bulbs. Small changes matter, and together we can make a big difference.
Let’s do something about climate change. Learn about it. Think about it. Talk about it.