Reducing your operating costs on a luxury home is intelligent interior design.
Interiors by Wanda Michelle specialises in the interior design of luxury residential properties. Most of our clients’ homes have substantial footprints of 700 square meters and sometimes upward of 1500 sqm under roof. South Africa’s energy crisis needs no introduction, nor does Eskom’s plight to ramp up electricity tariffs and municipal water rates.
During a major renovation and especially starting a new build is the perfect time to be conscious of the movement towards sustainable luxury. This accelerated advance toward building more sustainable homes is not just a trend, it is a reflection of our clientele’s environmental awareness and their, as well as our, passion for producing more energy-efficient residences by way of using high-end amenities and green tech. As professional interior designers, our primary responsibility is to communicate and steer homeowners toward sustainability, the question is how?
Reducing operational costs is great interior design
The objective is to create awareness around what is a long-term investment ultimately to reduce operational costs, but it is also about clients enjoying the joys of luxury homes without them having to compromise sustainability ethics and moral principles.
Solar solutions
With the advent of load-shedding in SA, there has been an almost chaotic increase in solar and inverter providers as the barrier to entry is low and demand has been abnormally high. The market is riddled with ‘bakkie brigades’ installing inferior and badly specified technologies. This is not an investment one should make by simply shopping on price alone.
Professional insulation motorised window treatments
South Africa is a land of extreme temperatures; our current projects are in the Val de Vie Estate in the Cape Winelands where temperatures peak above 40 degrees yet winter in the valley often brings snow. The same can be said for Bishops Court Estate in Cape Towns’ Southern Suburbs where they see as much winter rain as London. We utilise high-end, performance materials to combat losing energy which is contained by using solar reflective glass with plastic interlayers, and high-end double-glazed window frames with thermal breaks to reduce the transfer of heat from inside to outside. Rigid foam boards and the best quality spray foam and fiberglass solutions in the market further insulate.
Heat absorption in the home is a major issue in SA, especially with new builds where the glass-to-brick ratio is very high. In such cases, we recommend motorised blinds and curtains linked to an external light sensor that lowers and raises the blind configurations dependent on the time of day, season, and position of the sun. This has an enormous effect on internal climate control and ultimately energy savings.
Water recycling and landscaping
For larger properties, you can substantially reduce your footprint by harvesting rainwater, utilising a greywater system, and considering a borehole depending on your area and the water table. By planting local indigenous plants, you reduce the need for irrigation water as they have already adapted to the local climate, and it is good for the resident wildlife.
Energy-Efficient Lighting
By installing energy-efficient LED lighting huge savings are possible. In the past, LED bulbs gave off a very cool white light which was a problem when people and interior designers were trying to create a warmer ambiance, but that can now be achieved with warm LEDs.
Energy-efficient appliances
If you thought, you were saving money by running your seven to ten-year-old washing machine and tumble dryer think again. Today’s modern appliances use a fraction of the electricity and water of older appliances and are a great investment.
Your property value increases
Implementing some of these basic energy-saving initiatives is good for the environment, good for your soul, and ultimately good for the potential resale of your property. It is a win-win scenario no matter how you look at it.
