Green Home Plans - Putting Them Together, What They Involve
Being “green” is a shorthand description for leading your life in a manner that is in harmony with the long term health of the planet. Any action we take that consumes resources will have some degree of impact on the environment and as consumers we have a choice to either butt up against or blend in with that environment. The sort of home we live in and how we go about living is an example of such a choice. The hallmarks of green home plans are their use of materials which are renewable non-toxic and long lasting – i.e. materials that when used do not adversely affect the planet’s health. This site will look at some of the things that need to be considered when drawing up green home plans. A principle tenet of a green home plan is to recycle wherever possible. This is pertinent when it comes to flooring as you can sand and refinish or even paint and stencil the flooring that is already there. This will limit the use volatile organic compounds (VOC’s) as part of the building process. Vertrazzo, which is recycled glass, is another example of where recycled materials can be used and is a popular choice for use in the kitchen. Recycled glass looks attractive and can come in various colors to suit differing decors. Recycled glass tiles are another attractive alternative frequently turning up in green kitchen plans. Concrete is a material that should also be given consideration when considering options for flooring and kitchen tops. Concrete can come in various textures, patterns and polishes. The reason that concrete can be given consideration under the green umbrella is that it definitely long lasting and uses no glue or finishes containing chemicals that can be harmful to health. Concrete is a natural appearing material and can add a modern look to a kitchen, bathroom or fireplace. When compiling a green home plan look to include as many glass windows and doors as well as roof and wall skylights to allow natural lighting into your home. Skylights provide the green design benefits of reducing and avoiding moisture accumulation in a room while conserving energy consumption. This measure will need to be complemented by adding lots of ceiling and wall insulation. This is one of the best means of keeping a home energy efficient. Plan to use eco-friendly insulation materials. Always chose high performance windows and double or even triple pane windows, doors and skylights as they will help to conserve energy and keep ongoing costs down. Energy efficiency is one of the key themes of green home plan and you can ensure that your plans in respect to using natural lighting and good insulation do not go to waste, by also making sure that you are only using energy efficiency appliances. When choosing appliances, pay consideration to their functionality, style and energy efficiency as well as your budget. This same philosophy applies to those household items that use water – less is best.
With the rising cost of energy, energy efficient design makes good sense on a number of fronts. Saving money after the initial investment, reducing exposure to toxic chemicals and helping save the planet are all goals of good green home plans.
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