Do You Have A Green Home?

This room is green because it has wide, open windows and it features this Tommy Bahama Home Living Room Hibiscus Round Accent Table 593-953.

Green home is a term that could mean so many different things. There are those who consider a home green only if the Energy Star standards have been met. There are those, however who don’t just depend on certifications in order to define a certain home green.

Generally, though, a green home is one that uses less energy. This is also one that’s been built using sustainable materials. And with the leading U.S. wastes already including non-industrial wastes such as demolition and construction wastes, it’s about time that green builders take center stage.

Find the Alternatives

The bulky building materials that are often used in many construction projects throughout the nation comprise the biggest carbon footprint. There is chance, though, because green builders, are seeking ways to give more options. They are now presenting materials that are recycled, locally sourced, reused, durable, and renewable.

The wisest homeowners have taken heed. From the usual aluminum window frames, there are now those that choose local wood as a material. The rapidly growing bamboo plant is also now highly favored among Zen enthusiasts.

It’s All About Energy Efficiency

Now let’s talk about greenhouse gas emissions. It is wrong to presume that only industrial plants emit these harmful gases. Even households can contribute to the problem and U.S. households have been very busy.

There are homeowners who take part in saving Mother Earth by installing only the energy efficient appliances. There are also those who now use solar panels. Yet energy efficiency isn’t the only thing that can make homes sustainable. Zero energy homes could still use steel, concrete and bricks on an environmentally sensitive area and then they become unsustainable in the process.

Consider the Location, Too

Green homes are also often built on developed lands. This is so the environmental impact is reduced if not totally brought down to zero. There is nothing green about sprawl because they eat up a lot of green space.

Another way to consider your home a green home is to build it in close proximity to your school or work so that you won’t have to spend a lot of energy on transportation.

Plant Shade Trees

Planting deciduous trees on all sides of your home will provide the maximum amount of shade. You just need to carefully plan as well as design where the trees would be specifically planted.

Going green through tree planting is another good way to save energy all year round. Imagine a cool home even during summer. And during the coldest months, these trees can also help your home weather the winter winds. You then reduce the heating cost.

Once you’ve decided to plant shade trees, it is best to inspect all around your home first. Determine which walls and windows receive the most amount of sunlight. The east and west sides should be provided with shade since these sides receive 50% more light compared to their south and north counterparts.

Be sure to plant these trees close to your house so that they will have ample room to grow out to their full height and also for proper air circulation. A tree that’s been planted 10 feet away from your house wall will eventually shade that area four times longer than one that’s been planted 20 feet away.

If you have limited space to plant trees, then you can always go for shrubs and vines. Use trellises to shade the walls as well as the windows. Examples of vines that will provide you with year-round shade is the Confederate Jasmine.

Design and Size Also Matter

Yes, size does matter because bluntly put, bigger homes have a larger physical footprint. It is essentially more difficult to maintain a 5,000 sq. ft. home compared to a 1,500 sq. ft. one.

As for the design, it is best to go for the already energy efficient ones such as the passive solar or passive houses.

Tags: green home, green living, McCreerys, McCreerys Home Furnishings, sustainable home

This entry was posted on Friday, October 5th, 2018 at 9:44 am and is filed under Green Living, Interior Design 101, Interior Design Elements. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.