How to Build a Green Home

Most people who are about to build or choose a new home are quite aware of many challenges they are about to face. Finding a house that they can afford which meets most, if not all, their demands and which is as inexpensive to maintain as possible is not an easy task. Still, it’s definitely not impossible.

While it might be difficult to find or build a home with the financial resources available to you, it’s good to know there are some methods you can apply to make your house quite energy-efficient and healthier for you and your family. This should result in less money spent on bills, less negative impact on the environment, and a much more positive atmosphere in which you and your family will be living.

Where to Build?

You should stay away from sensitive locations prone to earthquakes or floods for obvious reasons, but pay attention that your new home isn’t west-facing, since you want to reduce sun exposure as much as possible, especially if you’re living in an area where there is plenty of sunshine. Also, having good public transport connections or, even better, supermarkets and grocery stores within a walking distance will help you drive less, which means you’ll be helping reduce air pollution.

Size Does Matter

Although we all sometimes wish we lived in a bigger house, you should be realistic with your wishes and expectations. Larger homes are more expensive to maintain and they require more resources, particularly when it comes to heating and cooling. So, keep that in mind when making a final decision.

Invest in Insulation

It’s impossible to neglect the importance of proper insulation when it comes to building a green home since heating and cooling consume most of the energy. Even a tiny leak in a window frame leads to energy loss, which is something you want to avoid at any cost. Apart from reducing the energy consumption, appropriate insulation also lowers your electricity bill.

Reuse and Recycle When Possible

If you’ve been to any of the available display homes in your area, you have probably noticed that the trend is to reuse rather than buy something new. People are trying to reuse old doors and windows and use recycled materials, such as glass and timber. This means that you will save both your money and natural resources.

Use Solar Power

With solar panels becoming more efficient and affordable, there is no reason not to use them when building or renovating your home. They do require a more substantial initial investment, but they really pay off quite quickly. Naturally, not all homes can collect the same amount of energy, but even if you live in cold areas with little sunshine, there are still benefits you can enjoy.

Water

As the most important natural resource, water should be used with utmost care. That’s why you should install a system of harvesting rainwater and storing it in a tank. This water can be used to water your garden or in the toilet.

Lights

Just like solar panels, LED lights require a bigger initial investment, but they also justify their cost as they last much longer than traditional lights and use much less energy.

Landscaping Tricks

If you can protect your windows in the summer by having tall enough trees or shrubs, you’ll need less energy to cool your home. Similarly, once the leaves start falling off before the winter, you’ll be able to enjoy more sunlight during the coldest months, thus minimizing the need to heat the place.

Geothermal Energy

Another example of a sound investment is the equipment that will allow you to use geothermal energy. In the winter, the heat from underground is brought to your HVAC system, while in the summer, the excess heat is extracted from the air and transferred into the earth. This is something that allows you to use much less energy to regulate the temperature of your home.

Of course, there are other tips and tricks you can rely on when trying to build a green home and the more you rely on them, the better results you’ll achieve. So, think carefully and plan well before the construction work starts and you’ll be able to enjoy many benefits.