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Going Green in Your Home

Green homes are houses that are kinder to the planet. They use lesser energy, produce less waste, and are a healthier environment for people to live in.  Green homes come out of a philosophy of being more eco-friendly to the environment. They save on electricity, find ways to cut down on carbon-waste and general energy consumption.   Green homes can put money in your pocket, and give you the peace of mind you are doing your bit to help sustain our planet.

Green Energy

Most of us would to make the world a little “greener” by reducing our home energy consumption.   There has been improvement in building techniques and materials over the last couple of decades, which means that homes are becoming more energy efficient.   Do you dream of a house with no carbon emissions and zero-net-energy use?  This can be achieved with a strategy that includes alternative energy sources, and conscientious fabrication methods and standards.  We can channel in green energy into our homes without breaking the bank.  There are DIY home energy programs that cost thousands of dollars but there are also DIY solar and windturbine schemes that will only cost a few hundred dollars, and that can be implemented without great technical skills. You can reach your goal of a Zero Energy Home, and it maybe just a couple of steps away…

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Design: Living Green Designer Homes

When we think of eco friendly homes, or sustainable homes, we probably have an image of an odd-looking place? Too many panels and windmills all over it, maybe half buried on a hill, or too high tech for our budget?  That may have been the case once but it’s now possible to design a home that is beautiful, and will give you a degree of independence from both present and future water and energy cost increases and shortages.  For many years there has been a growing concern about environmental and design issues.  There is information available from government from which you can learn about design  of green buildings for energy conservation.  Good modern design standards readily integrate sustainable features such as rainwater collection, alternative power sources, grey water recycling, solar hot water and water efficient landscaping.

Sustainability

In December 2006, The Code for Sustainable Homes was introduced as a voluntary code in the UK and by May 2008 has become a national standard.  It rates the key elements of design and construction which impact upon  sustainability and efficiency. It is used by architects, builders and consumers alike  in helping them plan and design new homes. The code awards new homes a star rating from 1 to 6, based on their performance against 9 sustainability criteria which assess the overall environmental impact. These are model green home building guidelines!  Building regulations require at least One Star.  Six Stars reflects exemplary sustainability.

The sustainability criteria by which new homes are measured are:

• Energy and CO2 Emissions
  Water H20 & Surface Water Run-off
  Materials
  Waste
  Pollution
  Health and Well-Being
  Management of the environmental impacts of the
  construction and operation
  Ecology

The key is to achieve sustainability without compromising either design or quality.  The Code introduces minimum standards for energy and environmental factors affecting the sustainability of a home, and the rating takes into account different elements of sustainability. These include energy, transport, pollution, materials, land use and ecology and health and well-being.  The UK Government has set the industry  a target of delivering zero-carbon homes by 2016. The aim of sustainable homes is to deliver real improvements in key areas such as carbon dioxide emissions and water use. 

Carbon

Carbon reduction is high on the political agenda of all nations, yet there is a clear struggle for governments to come to terms with the measures that must be taken to achieve the reduction goals that our best science tells us is needed. Much can be achieved by action at the household level that can drastically reduce the enormity of the taks that faces governments looking at the problems on a macro scale. Motivation for the changes that are needed is key, as it is in anything great but difficult that we strive for. One ‘carrot’ in the budget for households is the direct benefit of reduced energy bills achieved by making an effort to reduce their own carbon pollution.  In the UK, London Green Homes service uniquely offers a free telephone advice service, a website and a paid-for green service to provide a free tailor-made package of carbon saving lifestyle improvements.  The service has great flexibility,  offering Londoners advice on a broad range of actions to reduce carbon emissions from lifestyle changes; and explains how best to save money on energy bills.  It is the UK’s first one-stop-shop for information on how to make homes more carbon efficient. 

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A US survey has shown that 87% of home buyers want to know how their homes rate in terms of environmental performance in order to make an informed decision when moving house.  Further, 84% would pay an average 2% more for an eco-friendly home. Environmentally friendly homes are no longer a luxury reserved only for the richest Americans.  Environmental concerns, dependence on foreign oil, water shortages, vanishing species, are all factors in an increasing the awareness of the call for us to be better stewards of the earth and its resources. 

In this environmentally aware world, we are hearing more about green homes, eco friendly living and sustainable homes.  Green homes that are designed to be energy efficient, use environmentally friendly and healthy materials and conserver water are becoming the standard.

In addition to new building standards, there are simple environmentally friendly, DIY projects that will help curb energy costs, and improve your homes value.

Space is still the most important consideration for home buyers, but environmental considerations and use of eco-friendly materials are very high on the list of priorities.    Architectural firms today are often committed to developing creative yet environmentally sustainable components of space for the betterment of lifestyle and family in a way that supports responsible stewardship of the environment and natural resources. Green living and building, with an  emphasis on health, energy efficiency and environmental conservation, has never been more relevant than it is today.

As time goes on, there will be more attention given to advocating for socially just and environmentally-minded rebuilding solutions.  Home-building imposes very significant environmental and social costs at all levels.  Impacts of new home construction include:

• quarrying to
  provide basic raw construction materials like aggregates,
  water consumption, and the widespread use of toxic
  chemicals in building materials. 

Conclusion

Green homes can put money in your pocket, they don’t need to be thought of as an expensive way to do what’s demanded of us for the environment.  Sustainable homes give you peace of mind from knowing that you are doing everything you can to help sustain the planet.  Sustainable homes don’t have to be unattractive anymore,   and unsuitable for residential architecture.  Green homes are better for the environment because they use less energy, less water, and have a lower impact on the environment.