Tips for Designing a Green Home
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March 13, 2013Designing your own green home can be a huge undertaking. You want a home with a nice functional floor plan and appealing design that is built with quality eco-friendly materials that will last for years to come.
And, you of course don’t want the building process to take forever either because you’re anxious to get into your new home. While the whole process is definitely a big undertaking, you may be surprised at how simple and smooth it can go if you plan properly and use the right materials and process.
Choosing Your Home Plans
It doesn’t matter if you need small home plans for a little country cottage or a multi-level sprawling six bedroom ranch house, you have the ultimate say in the final blueprints. You want your home to reflect your style and save you money in the long run.
Do you need extra room for entertaining or storage? Do you want to bring the outdoors in? Rely on your plans to help maximize and enhance the best living space possible. Take your plans from basic to best by choosing a layout that will feature clean lines and a durable structure.
Earth-Friendly and Energy Efficient
The best way to design a green home is to make the most of the space around you. This includes using natural light and environmentally friendly materials. Your home can run on the beauty and wonder of nature with a minimal carbon footprint. When it comes time to fit your home, try to incorporate these simple alternatives.
- Use earth-friendly roofing material, like recycled aluminum. This type of roofing option is durable and heat-resistant.
- Look for foam core structural fittings and insulated panels. Quality wood will last longer.
- Install resilient bamboo flooring throughout the home. It’s a fast growing grass that helps the environment. It’s made to withstand staining, termites, and water damage.
- Keep cooled or heated air from escaping when you use double paned energy-efficient windows that feature a certified energy star rating for better insulation.
- For better heating and air-conditioning, mount solar panels on your home. This helps to both enhance the value of your home and also reduce your monthly electric bill.
- Use rainwater barrels and a tankless water heater. This again will help you save a significant amount of money every month.
- A natural gas fireplace is also better for the environment than burning wood.
Use a Trusted Designer
When you’re ready to begin construction, make sure you are working with a trusted design professionals. They need to understand what you want to achieve with your home, whether it will be your luxury home away from home, or a new functional home/office condo.
There are additional ways to continue the eco-friendly theme in every bedroom. Choose your furniture from reliable, environmentally friendly providers. Go with a clean motif that includes organic cotton sheets, rattan bedding, bamboo sheeting, and other recycled woods.
Consider decorating your walls with only the paints that are natural. There are specially formulated paints that do not use harsh chemicals and compounds, and apply safe paint brands that use fresh plant minerals and oils.
Paul Foresman is the director of business development for online home plans specialist Design Basics. From craftsman house plans to luxury house plans and everything in between, Design Basics has a plan to fulfill your dreams!
Source: Living Green Magazine (By Paul Foresman)
Once you have decided on building a house in the most eco-friendly way possible, your major short-, medium- and long term expenses are probably going to be water- and electricity bills. Rainwater harvesting and grey water recycling can go a long way to reducing living expenses while helping the environment. At the heart of most water conservation systems is the water tank (or water tanks). Be sure to choose high quality water tanks at the outset as cheaper, inferior quality water tanks will not last long and will need to be disposed – not good for the environment. We recommend water tanks, rainwater tanks, tank stands and other products made by JoJo Tanks in South Africa. JoJo Tanks products are guaranteed and made from high quality materials to ensure maximum useful life. Click on the links below to view the wide range of JoJo water tanks and other JoJo products available.
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Live in the USA and need rainwater harvesting equipment? Click HERE!
