Green And Sustainable Homes

Building and living in a green home is making a commitment to oneself, future generations and the environment. For me, the question is not “why would you build a green home?” the question is:

WHY WOULD YOU NOT build a green home?

What Makes a Home a Green and Sustainable Home?

The location, orientation and design of a green home supports the use of renewable energy. For example:

- A well-insulated and tight building envelope
- Passive and active solar thermal energy
- Photovoltaic panels
- Shading to keep the house cool in the summer

All materials used in the construction of a green and sustainable home must be environmentally friendly, made with recycled materials, recyclable, or organically grown and sustainably harvested, preferably from a local source.

Green homes tend to be feel very cozy and comfortable, the minute you step into them. We feel in our bodies, that the design and the materials used are beneficial for us on all levels.

Benefits of Living In A Green Home

There are a multitude of benefits for building and living in a green and sustainable home:

- High Indoor Air Quality: green homes are built with non-toxic materials.
- Fewer problems with mold and mildew than standard construction homes
- Huge energy savings: Green homes are very well insulated and use alternative and renewable energies
- Connected to the outdoors: Green architecture brings nature into your home by strategically locating windows to allow you to see your garden and enjoy the view
- You will be making a big contribution towards preserving this beautiful planet of ours for future generations.

If you are planning to build a new green and sustainable home, it is important to be working with a group of professionals, who are experienced and specialized in the construction of green homes.

A green home requires a high quality of construction. Details are very important. A tight building envelope can only be achieved if the insulation is carefully installed, making sure that all cracks are sealed and gaps are filled.

Some of the green materials or the renewable energy systems must be installed by contractors trained in the installation. The North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners is a great source for finding qualified installers.

A great place to read and learn about green buildings is the United States Green Building Councils (USGBC) LEED program. LEED stands for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design. The LEED building rating system is widely acknowledged as the benchmark for design and construction of green buildings.

The USGBC just published their Green Home Renovation Guidelines. You can download a free copy of these 180+ page guidelines.

It sounds a bit overwhelming. Don’t let that deter you. You can get some really excellent information!

Take your time to get informed so you can clearly convey your intentions to an architect, contractor or the sales people at the hardware stores.

I believe that building green is the only way to go in new home construction, for additions and for renovations.

Tags: Green Architecture, green architecture, green building materials, green homes, renewable energy, solar energy