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Our society is in a constant state of change. The way we do things today, whether it's the clothes we wear, the food we eat, or how we live our everyday lives, will be different in a few years' time.
In fact, some trends that are popular right now will not even exist in 2022. This article looks at what sustainable driveway design ideas you should consider when designing your new home in 2022. What will our homes look like? What type of materials will they be made from? How can sustainability factor into these decisions? These are all questions to ask when considering sustainable driveway design for your new home. This article will also provide an overview of how sustainable driveways have been incorporated into modern construction.
Try a Short-Skirt Driveway
If you want to include a sustainable driveway design in your new home, consider using a short-skirt sidewalk. This is where the driveway surface is level with the sidewalk directly in front of it; this leaves space for walking on either side (instead of walking alongside both sides of the driveway) while still allowing enough room for cars to pull in. This is a sustainable driveway design as it uses less concrete and asphalt, meaning more of the materials can be recycled or reused elsewhere.
Hidden Grass Driveway
A hidden grass driveway is an innovative approach to sustainable driveways. For the past few decades, concrete and asphalt have been used almost exclusively for driveways (with a little bit of gravel or stone). Concrete and asphalt are cheap, durable, and easy to install; however, they produce tonnes of waste during construction. With the hidden grass driveways, the top layer of soil is mowed regularly to maintain a short grass surface. This grass then acts as insulation for the driveway surface, preventing heat from the sun from penetrating the ground. Not only does this help keep your home cooler in summer, but it can also reduce noise pollution caused by cars driving on asphalt and concrete surfaces.
In addition to this, lawns also help reduce stormwater runoff. Runoff is when rainwater picks up pollutants from the road and carries them into our rivers and oceans. This can have a negative effect on biodiversity in these ecosystems, so reducing runoff is vital if we want to keep the environment healthy.
Use Greenery and Vegetation
If you're wanting to incorporate sustainable driveway design into your new home, then consider using greenery and vegetation. This can be done in a variety of ways, but one idea is to plant shrubs and evergreen trees next to the sidewalk and driveway. By planting these on both sides of sidewalks and driveways, it will reduce heat absorption from the sun and the heat will be reflected back into the air. For driveways, you can also use plants that have high water content and high root depth to help absorb excess moisture and prevent puddles.
Porous Paving Made From Recycled Materials
The traditional driveway is usually made from asphalt or concrete because of its durability; however, these materials do not promote good drainage and may cause wet patches on your driveway during the winter. To reduce stormwater runoff, consider using porous paving. This is made from recycled or quarried materials such as stone dust, sand, and gravel; this allows water to filter through the material itself so that it can be absorbed by the surrounding soil. Replacing traditional driveways with porous paving is a great way to promote drainage.
Ribbon Driveways
A ribbon driveway is a sustainable driveway design that can be used to replace traditional driveways. Ribbon driveways are usually made from crushed limestone, which allows the surface to drain properly when it rains. In addition, limestone has been known to cleanse rainwater of toxins and pollutants before they make their way into natural water sources such as rivers and lakes.
GeoTextiles
GeoTextiles are materials that can be used in construction projects to reduce erosion, retain moisture, and prevent sediment from entering bodies of water. GeoTextiles are a great way to promote a healthy environment if you're trying to build a sustainable home. Geotextiles are usually made from recycled plastic bottles, which can be obtained for free at most recycling plants.
Eco-Friendly Driveway Designs for Your Dream Home
With our natural environment in mind, it only makes sense that sustainable driveway design ideas are incorporated into modern construction. By combining these materials and methods into your next home build project, you'll be helping to create a greener future for us all.
If you are ready to start designing your new sustainable driveway, reach out to the team at Houston Driveway Replacement today for a consultation.