Many people today are discovering the benefits of having a green home. Innovative practices that green home builders use can do miracles in terms of energy efficiency and environmental friendliness.
What is a green home?
Green home builders use a number of strategies that guarantee efficient energy usage and environmental friendliness. Very basic modifications to traditional construction and design practices are needed to create a green home.
Green home builders can create a whole-house strategy that involves all components including heating, insulation, windows, doors, appliances and furniture. If these are selected and created in ecological way, the house owner will diminish utility bills, experience a higher degree of comfort and healthier living.
To achieve all that, home owners need to work with green home builders on all elements vital to the construction process. Some of the most common techniques used to create a green home provide excellent results in terms of environmental friendliness and sustainable living.
Design of a green home
The first step towards having a green home is selecting the proper eco-friendly architecture and design.
A simple web search will provide you with numerous options. Today, many architects and green home builders use green practices and can create an eco friendly project. Examine previous work and look for references before hiring someone to do your project.
Keep in mind that green architecture relies primarily on natural materials. Other basics to consider include the installation of solar panels, the selection of an appropriate home size, and techniques used to conserve electricity and water.
Energy efficiency techniques
Green home builders know the importance of energy conservation practices. The selection of appropriate techniques will increase your home’s energy efficiency and will minimize the amount of electricity and water wasted.
Insulation is a basic step towards energy efficiency. Both new houses and old constructions can be insulated to minimize the loss of heat.
Interior and exterior wall insulation keeps heat inside during the winter and maintains cool temperatures during the summer. You can also insulate the attic. Various insulation materials, among which foam, fiberglass and cellulose are used.
Proper window selection is also very important to minimize heat loss.
Pick only energy efficient light bulbs. Traditional ones utilize more electricity while producing the same results.
Eco-friendly painting
According to the US Green Building Council’s Green Home Guide, the selection of eco-friendly paint is another important step towards creating a green home.
Traditional paints are responsible for about nine percent of the volatile organic compound (VOC) emissions from consumer and commercial products, the US Environmental Protection Agency reports.
VOC is a major component of smog. The accumulation of such compounds can lead to various respiratory and skin problems. Ask your green home builders about alternatives to the traditionally used paints.
One option is latex paints, which are water-soluble and having lower VOC levels than oil-based paints. The most ecological option that green home builders use is the selection of natural paints. These are made entirely from organic and renewable materials including clay, chalk and citrus oils.
Green roofing
Roofing techniques can also increase energy efficiency.
The roof needs to be insulated from below to diminish the loss of heat. Roof insulation can significantly minimize the need to get the house cool in the summer and heated in the winter.
Cool roofs are something else that your green home builders might advice you to get. These usually have a light color, which makes them reflect rather than absorb sunlight. If the roof is already created, your green home builders can use coating to turn it into a cool roof.
Green furniture
The interior, accessories, decorations and furniture can also contribute to an environmentally friendly home.
As you have probably guessed already, green furniture is made of natural and non-toxic materials. If the furniture is made of wood, demand documents that prove the origin of the material used.
Reuse is one of the basic principles of green living. Going for second-hand furniture and antique pieces is another option that will allow you enjoy an eco-friendly home.
When planning your new house, make sure that you select the best green home builders. Examine the offers of various companies and compare the conditions and the communication ease. If your work relationship with builders is effective, you will get the results that you want.
Sources of information:
US Green Building’s Council, Green Home Guide
US Department of Energy, Energy Efficiency & Renewable Energy
=====================================================================
Erin has been a part of NC custom home builders in and around Charlotte. He has been associated with building projects of various sizes for both residential and commercial properties
Article Source: http://www.articlealley.com/article_2163770_15.html
Author: Samuel Teo
No comments:
Post a Comment