Building Your Dream Green Home
by Jade Piper
Illustration by @antissima_
Green building involves creating structures that eliminate negative impacts on our climate and natural environment, using environmentally responsible processes. Essentially, it’s a method of construction that focuses on producing healthier buildings that create positive impacts on the environment. Green building is increasingly becoming important as voices for environmental conservation grow louder. With the climate crisis on the rise, it's all the more important that we embrace energy-efficient building alternatives to save our planet. Green building not only helps to preserve natural resources but also improves the quality of life.
The following are some of the features that make a building ‘green’:
Use of non-toxic and sustainable materials
Waste reduction by means of re-use and recycling
Use of renewable energy
Efficient use of resources
A flexible design that adapts to a changing environment
Benefits of building a green home
Reduce the environmental impact
A green home utilizes renewable, recycled, and energy-efficient materials; hence it helps to reduce carbon footprint. It also reduces environmental pollution and ensures the preservation of resources.
Save money
Using recycled materials for construction allows you to save money. Energy-efficient options like solar panels, energy star appliances, and tankless water heaters keep utility bills down.
Comfort
A green home boasts excellent air quality, consistent temperature, and improved comfort. Many traditional building materials encourage moisture buildup, and some produce toxicants, which can ruin indoor air quality. A good indoor environment protects your health, improves your productivity and work performance.
Keeps the landscape green
Green building brings about many environmental, social, and economic benefits. From the protection of ecosystems to less waste into the environment and conservation of natural resources, there are plenty of reasons to build a green home.
Key Things to Consider When Building a Green Home
Go solar
Image source @grouphugsolar
One of the best ways to start building your green home is by going solar. Apart from the reduction of energy costs, going solar increases property value and helps to reduce carbon footprint. It's also a great return on your investment thanks to the significant electricity bill savings. In fact, solar panels shouldn’t be considered an expense but rather an investment that will pay off in a few years. The reduction of energy costs and the energy created using solar panels will cover the cost of the panels and generate an ROI of 20% or more. Another great thing about solar panels is that they do not require day-to-day maintenance to operate at full efficiency so the maintenance costs are low. In addition to the tax benefits that come with going solar, you’ll also get the satisfaction of knowing you’re conserving the environment through sustainable energy creation.
Build a smart home
Another way to make your home more green is to incorporate smart features from lighting to appliances to temperature and security. A smart home keeps utility bills low, allowing you to save a significant amount of money. It also improves efficiency in the sense that with the touch of a button, you can operate gadgets and systems from anywhere in your house. For instance, you can turn on your HVAC system, draw shades, program your lawn sprinklers, and monitor security with a single click from anywhere in your house. A smart home allows for customization as you can adjust lighting, draw shades, and automate other home features according to your needs. This not only adds to your comfort but also gives you peace of mind.
Recycle and reuse
One important aspect of green building is reducing the amount of waste generated both from the construction process and inside the home. That’s why it’s a good idea to recycle everything from paper and plastic to metals and glass. Recycling and reusing will not only save natural resources but will also prevent environmental problems that come from landfills and prevent pollution. You can also make your home green by embracing mess-free composting and built-in bins for disposing recyclable trash. Being eco-conscious is also about building a home that will last for many years to come with the use of sustainable and durable building materials.
Install heat-reflective roofing
Heat-reflective roofing keeps the home cool during the warm months of the year, helping you to save on cooling costs. During the cold months, you can use high thermal roofing materials like tile, clay, or slate for insulation.
Be strategic with window openings
The size of window openings will depend on the prevailing climatic conditions. Ideally, they should be placed where they will let in enough natural light while minimizing exposure to the sun.
How to run your household in a green way
Create less waste
Embrace paperless options to cut back on paper waste, purchase durable water bottles to eliminate the need for plastic bottles, and use tote bags as an alternative to plastic bags. This way you’ll reduce the amount of waste the ends up as landfills.
Use green cleaning products
Green cleaning products such as baking soda, lemon juice, and vinegar do not contain harmful chemicals.
Create your own compost
Turn your leftover food and kitchen scraps into compost. Simply put a compost bin in your garden and use it to create rich humus for your lawn and garden while cutting back on waste.
Cultivate a green yard
Plant trees that don't require much water as windbreakers and plant herbs in small pots and keep them inside the house to improve indoor air quality. Also, they’ll make your home more welcoming.
Pursue energy star options
Energy star models will help you save about 10% to 50% of the energy required.
Use window treatments
Use curtains and blinds to keep the heat and cool air outside and make your home more environmentally-friendly.