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Learn moreThe Regenerative Home: A Vision for Sustainable Living
Context and Publisher
The Regenerative Home is a report published by SPACE10, IKEA's research and design lab, focusing on sustainable solutions for urban living. The report addresses a pressing issue: residential homes contribute to 17–21% of global energy-related carbon emissions and 11% of global food waste. It poses the critical question of how future homes can be designed to benefit both people and the planet.
Core Philosophy: Moving Beyond Sustainability
This report advocates for a regenerative paradigm, a shift from merely reducing harm to actively giving back to the environment. The vision combines traditional knowledge with modern technologies, aiming to transform daily life and routines into practices that close resource loops and produce more than they consume.
Four Pillars of the Regenerative Home
The report identifies four essential components that constitute a regenerative home:
- Building - Emphasizing construction materials, retrofitting, and structural integrity. 2. Energy - Focusing on how homes generate, store, and consume energy. 3. Food - Examining household food systems, waste management, and regenerative practices. 4. Belongings - Analyzing ownership, acquisition, and lifecycle of household objects.
10 Key Insights for Regenerative Living
- Retrofit for Vitality: Enhancing existing buildings through retrofitting prolongs their lifespan and boosts energy efficiency, often being more sustainable than demolition.
- Re-construct: Reusing old materials and furniture aligns with circular economy principles, minimizing waste and resource demand.
- Build Naturally: Utilizing locally-sourced natural materials like straw and clay for construction reduces embodied carbon and supports local economies.
- In-built Energy: Homes should integrate renewable energy systems, such as solar panels, into their design to provide off-grid power.
- Harness Heat: Utilizing thermal heat from urban sources, such as data centers and sewer systems, can reduce fossil fuel reliance and enhance local grids.
- Compost Kitchens: Implementing compost systems within kitchens can close the food-waste loop, utilizing scraps from home-grown produce.
- Waste with Benefits: Redesigning sanitary systems to convert human waste into fertilizer supports biodiversity and urban food production.
- Place-based Production: Local sourcing for furniture and food can create jobs and inspire regenerative business models, thus shortening supply chains.
- Care and Share: Promoting shared ownership or community libraries for household objects reduces consumption while maintaining access to goods.
- Activate Data: Establishing neighborhood data networks can encourage regenerative behaviors, fostering community action in response to environmental changes.
The Regenerative Home report serves as a comprehensive guide for those interested in sustainable housing solutions, outlining practical steps and innovative ideas to promote a more regenerative lifestyle.