A home that’s energy efficient and built from sustainable components is a great investment. It helps keep costs down, increases the value of your property and can save you money on maintenance.
A green home is a smart way to build a home, but you need the right tools and resources. Here are some ways to go about it.
Energy Efficiency
Energy efficiency is a term that refers to the use of less energy than usual in a certain process. This can be accomplished by using appliances that have been designed to work with less energy, or it can be achieved through measures such as ensuring proper insulation and weatherization in the home.
In addition to reducing the impact on the environment, energy efficiency can also lower your energy bill. The Department of Energy estimates that homeowners could save about 25-30% on their utility bills by implementing energy efficient appliances and projects in their homes.
One way to ensure energy efficiency while building a green home is to select roofing, siding and window materials that reflect and re-emit heat rather than dissipating it. Insulation also helps reduce the amount of energy used for heating and cooling.
Another way to maximize energy efficiency is by designing the home to make use of natural light instead of lighting it with electricity. By placing windows and skylights strategically, you can increase natural light without increasing the overall heat of the home.
You can also reduce your water consumption by utilizing low-flow fixtures such as shower heads, toilets and faucets. This will help to decrease the amount of water you use while cleaning your home, which can save you money on your utility bills and contribute to a healthier living environment for yourself and your family.
A green home will also be much more comfortable to live in during a power outage, especially if the home has been designed with energy-efficient features. This is because the home will have a better ability to maintain its temperature and air quality during a blackout, which can be more than twice as comfortable as a home that is not designed for such a situation.
Other ways to go green while building a home include selecting environmentally-friendly materials for construction, choosing appliances that have been designed to work with less electricity, and ensuring that the roof and exterior walls are made from recyclables. This will minimize the negative effects of environmental pollution, and keep your home clean and safe for the long run.
Health
The design and construction of a ‘green’ home will benefit you and your family, in a number of ways. It will reduce energy consumption and emissions, provide you with sustainable options for indoor comfort and convenience, and promote a healthy, environmentally friendly way of living. For these reasons alone, most Canton roofers would recommend starting your journey to a green home by installing environment-friendly roofing.
Health and Wellness
Several studies have shown that people who live in greener homes enjoy greater benefits when it comes to their physical well-being. Specifically, they report better sleep quality, less headaches and improved mood. This is likely due to the efficiencies and efficiency of a green home, but it’s also likely that you will enjoy fewer allergies, respiratory problems and skin irritations.
Air Efficient
A good quality ventilation system is key to a successful green home. It will bring in fresh air from the outdoors to replace stale, contaminated and/or polluted air in your home. In addition, the right ventilation systems will also reduce moisture and humidity levels.
Insulation
Nontoxic insulation, derived from materials like soy or cotton, with a high R (heat resistance) factor in a home’s walls and roof will help prevent cool air leakage in the summer and warm air leakage in the winter.
Lighting
The right light fixtures and bulbs in your ‘green’ home will not only improve the aesthetic appeal of your home, but they will help lower your utility bills and carbon footprint. The latest LED lights, for instance, are designed to last longer, use less energy and produce lower glare than traditional lighting sources.
Other ‘green’ products that might be considered for your home include a water-efficient toilet, low-flow showerheads and faucets and a smart thermostat to control heating and cooling. You’ll also find that eco-friendly lighting, plumbing and other systems will make your home easier to heat and cool, save energy and keep your home feeling comfortable year-round.
The best part of building a ‘green’ home is that the benefits are long-lasting and you can see them pay off in the form of higher property values, improved health and greater energy savings. You may even find that you can sell your ‘green’ home more quickly and for more money than one built from conventional materials.
Environment
Green homes use less energy than standard houses and rely on renewable sources of electricity, such as solar panels or geothermal power. This saves money on energy bills and reduces the home’s carbon footprint, which can also help combat climate change.
Green building standards are set by government agencies, and they typically involve using eco-friendly materials and methods. These include energy-efficient windows, efficient heating and cooling systems, energy-rated appliances and lighting fixtures, and third party verification of all these elements to ensure that they meet the highest energy efficiency standards.
These homes are built with the environment in mind, from the first stage of construction, to the finishing touches. The materials used to build the house are usually of higher quality than those used in standard construction, making them more durable and reducing repairs and replacement costs in the future.
Moreover, green homes consume less water than standard houses, which can be a significant benefit in hot and dry environments. Efficient plumbing and bath fixtures, drought-tolerant landscaping, and water-conserving irrigation systems all contribute to a low water bill.
Another way that green homes save energy is by making the most of natural lighting. They use task lighting strategies to provide enough light for tasks while minimizing the need for supplemental electricity.
A green home also aims to improve the indoor air quality of its occupants by limiting the amount of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) that can irritate the respiratory system and other health conditions. This includes removing or reusing materials that release chemicals such as paint, carpet, engineered wood and synthetic fabrics that emit VOCs.
Other pollution-control measures involve reducing or eliminating fuel-burning combustion appliances, deteriorating asbestos-containing insulation and cabinetry made from certain pressed wood products. They may also use mechanical ventilation systems that filter fresh air from outside.
It’s important to choose a home construction contractor that specializes in ‘green’ or sustainable construction, since their expertise can help you make the right decisions for your green home. If they do not have the experience, you can still persuade them to incorporate environmentally friendly construction practices into the project by presenting them with facts and evidence that support your choices.
Value
Green homes are built to be more efficient in their use of energy, water and building materials. They are also designed to be healthier for the residents of the home. They often include features like solar panels and water-conserving appliances.
A green-built home will typically have a higher resale value than a conventionally built one. This is due in part to the fact that many homeowners are motivated to buy a green home for health and environmental reasons, rather than simply for the sake of saving money on their energy bills.
In addition, a green home typically costs less to build than a traditional home. This is because builders can save on material costs by using more sustainable and efficient materials than they would with standard construction methods.
This can be particularly true of windows, which can save homeowners thousands on their heating and cooling costs in the long run. For example, replacing double-pane windows with triple-pane fiberglass windows can cut energy costs by up to 40%.
If you’re planning to build a green home, it’s important to consult with an architect or home builder who has the expertise and experience to cost-effectively plan and build a green home. It can be a daunting task to try and figure out all the different aspects of green building, so it’s worth working with a professional who can walk you through the process step-by-step.
Choosing the right green building materials is another key component of building a green home. These materials will help to reduce the environmental impact of the home and will last longer than traditional materials.
The right materials can add up to a significant amount of money over the life of the house, so it’s important to choose wisely. It’s best to let the builder explain their chosen materials, so that you can decide for yourself which is the best option.
It’s a good idea to make sure that you do not agree to any materials that the builder suggests unless they are specifically green or environmentally friendly. This is because some materials that are popular with builders can be harmful to human health or have a negative impact on the environment.