GUIDE TO HAVING A GREEN HOME BUILDING

During this time of rising energy costs, global warming that is a result of our over-excessive use of fossil fuels and toxic substances that saps the strength from our planet, a move towards the usage of more environmentally friendly sources of energy like geothermal, wind and solar energies have been renewed. In response to that, home designers are now using a naturalistic method in home design that includes and contains the above mentioned alternative energy sources, and contribute to developing harmony in the environment.

These kinds of buildings are known as Green Home Buildings.

Green Home Building is the design which stems from the natural outcome of a focus on the reduction of usage of fossil based energy sources, indirectly or directly, while on the other hand elevating and increasing the efficiency of renewable alternative energy resource use (example: water, solar and wind energies). This in turn reduces the green building’s impact on human health and the environment, achievable by the use of natural materials, site designing, and proper integration into the natural environment.

But the question we have all been asking is how can I go green, or participate in green home building if I live in a condominium in the middle of New York City, with no house of my own, and no possibility of redesigning my home?

But an answer exists. Every little helps. Going green or designing a green home building is not an arduous task but can be done by any number of methods which can include anything from where and how you build your home, to the materials employed in the construction and furnishing of that home, to the energy efficient appliances used, down to the individualized methods employed for cutting and reducing energy waste.

You can be on your way to having a green home building simply even by choosing a sustainable bamboo floor instead or Oak or Mahogany, or seats made from recycled materials instead of cow or elephant leather.

Green home building s with solar panels, a composting toilet and solar water heaters and energy conserving appliances might be your legacy for building an efficient and sustainable planet.

Be as Green as You want to be

In the US, the average household spends approximately $1400 a year on energy and energy related bills. A green home building, on the other hand, uses 30% less electricity, 25% less natural gas, and 38% less total energy. With the recent absurd rises in electricity and energy bills, the green home building can lower your energy and electricity bills, potentially increasing your home’s resale value, and putting extra savings from electricity in your pockets.

TIPS FOR GREEN HOME BUILDING

Transforming your home into an energy efficient home doesn’t need to bankrupt you. You could:

· Maximize open spaces on your land.

Develop new buildings that incorporate parts of an existing or pre-existing older building like walls, roofs and floors.

· Fix renewable alternative energy sources like a wind generator, or solar panels ( Click here to see how you can do this for less than $ 200).

· Reduce energy use with Insulation and a high efficient furnace and appliances

· Build storage for recycling your waste materials

· Buy products made of recyclable materials

· Replace incandescent bulbs in your home with energy saving bulbs. They use up to 90% less electricity, and last longer.

Install a home control timer on your lighting and heating, ventilation and cooling systems. Program your home to turn off lights and systems while sleeping, saving you hundreds of dollars.

The intertwined concepts of renewable alternative energy sources and sustainability are integral to green home building.

Effective green building can lead to reduced operating costs by increasing productivity and using less energy and water, improved public and occupant health due to improved indoor air quality, and reduced environmental impacts by lessening the effects of global warming.

Enjoy your newly redesigned and environmentally friendly home.