Sustainable Houses From Every Continent

A sustainable home from each of the 7 continents.

Net-Zero Home

North America

This home, located in New York, was designed by North River Architecture and Planning (NRAP). The house includes a photovoltaic array (9kW), producing more energy than the home needs each year. The walls are made of a durable material — corrugated steel — requiring zero maintenance.

Source: “This Net‑Zero New York Passive House Teaches its Community to Build Green.” Dwell.

MeMo House

South America

The MeMo House, located in Argentina, features a continuous three‑dimensional garden, able to be accessed from all floors of the home. The orientation of the home allows for optimization of solar energy to supply heat and electricity to the home; the location of the MeMo House follows the sun’s path! To prevent water waste, a rainwater harvesting system is utilized to irrigate the garden.

Source: “10 of South America’s Most Sustainable Buildings.” Rethinking the Future.

'Inno-Native' Home

Africa

This home, located in Ghana, is made of adobe mud and timber. The ‘Inno‑Native’ Home has no air conditioning and lowers cooling costs with two different methods: 3 foot elevated deck and floor‑to‑ceiling jalousies along with slatted wooden screens. Solar panels are also utilized to provide additional electricity.

Source: “Nine Sustainable Structures in Africa.” Construct Africa.

Friends Lab House

Europe

Friends Lab, found in England, was designed by AMPS Arquitectura & Diseño. Prefabricated panels of cross‑laminated timber provide more thermal properties for the home. This home is close to carbon neutral with a 30 kW solar array along with a double ground‑source heat pump. These additions power the entire farm.

Source: “A Black Gable Farmhouse Harvests its Own Electricity, Heat, and Water.” Dwell.

House-K

Asia

House‑K located in Japan features multiple sustainable aspects. One of these includes the home’s green roof! House‑K also incorporates eco‑friendly architecture throughout the home.

Source: “Sustainable Japanese Home with Grass Roof and a Breezy Modern Design.” Decoist.

Hutt 01

Australia

This home located in Australia features a number of sustainable features including an almost off‑the‑grid electricity system, cross ventilation, efficient appliances and lighting, and an ecogarden aquaponics system with a CLT structure and green roof.

Source: “Hutt 01.” Sustainable House Day.

Princess Elisabeth

Research Station

Antarctica

This research station in Antarctica is covered in solar panels — the roof, the walls, the sleeping pods. Nine wind turbines are placed without the property, their energy used to melt snow into water, reducing waste. The station’s wind turbines allow for the property to use 100% renewable energy from the wind, sun, and water. Every piece of equipment in the station utilizes this renewable energy. Heating costs are significantly lowered from the nine layers of insulation. Energy is used on a necessity system — emergencies and doctor offices having priority, while showering and laundry are at the lowest priority.

Source: “Antarctica’s first zero emission research station shows that sustainable living is possible anywhere.” The Conversation.