As more and more people become aware of protecting the environment along with the concept of green building, architects, designers and builders are now adding green elements in each home that’s built. With the emergence of modern construction concepts and advancement in technology, you can now incorporate these features without compromising the overall appeal of your dream custom home.
Well, despite the increased interest by various domains regarding green building, many people still do not have a clear understanding of what a green home constitutes and how such structures are designed and built. An Eco-friendly home has beneficial effects on the overall well-being and health of your family and it’s also a financially sound option.
When building your dream home, one thing you should prioritise is decreasing carbon emissions. You have already heard of global warming, and carbon emissions are the primary cause. However, most homes are not environmentally friendly enough to help reduce the emissions. If it continues, glacier melting, an increase in water levels, disappearance of land and flooding might all happen, which is no good news. Well, if you are planning to build a custom green home, there are several features that you should consider during the design stage and this article will mention some of them.
Begin with an environmentally friendly property, one that is big enough to accommodate everyone and its maintenance cost is efficient and effective. It should not be too large or too small that you are sardine together.
The location is ideally important. You should consider being part of a green community with homes that have Eco-friendly features.
A green home should use sustainable materials during its construction. You should choose organic or renewable materials.
An Eco-friendly home should have energy efficient appliances, regardless of their size.
An environmentally friendly home should also be well insulated. Most green homes have a noble gas layer that is designed to conserve heat during winter and keep smooth, cool and fresh air in the warmer seasons.
You should also consider a solar system in order to harness the renewable and free energy of the sun. A solar system is an essential component in a green home as it helps reduce your carbon footprint and also saves you on utility bills.
High-efficiency carbon, smoke and radon detectors all tied to the energy consumption and security monitors are other Eco-home features that you should consider. They ascertain easy management.
The paints you intend to use should be non-toxic or non-volatile, thus creating a safe and healthy environment for everyone.
The home should also merge drought-resistant plants and trees in the landscaping, which affects water consumption. The drainage system should also be ideal and focused on conserving rainwater.
As a last tip, we would like to share something that will help you save more energy. Green homes usually come with a renewable, non-toxic ranging from 16 to 20 inches in the attic. Older houses were lucky to have 8” of insulation, but since you are designing your own custom home, you can bring it up to a minimum of 16” which will bring down your energy bills by 25%.