Green Home Design

There are various energy and resource saving methods that could be applied to homes. With the constantly changing environment, it’s vital to be environmentally aware and put. It’s even more significant when individuals consider how much money they save by having a green home. These methods are easy and simple concepts that can be easily implemented. Being aware of energy saving benefits also helps create a positive atmosphere. This paper discusses eight green home ideas.

Location

Home location is an important factor to consider.  Homes facing west keep the home cool as it reduces sun exposure. Secondly, a location should not be environmentally sensitive such as flood, hurricane, and earthquake prone areas.  A home should also allow easy access to public transportation and other amenities. This reduces consumption of resources and time(Kibert, 2016).

Size

A small home is likely to have smaller impacts on the environment compared to large homes. Houses that are large are likely to require more resources to cool and heat. It is important to try to keep the place cost effective and manageable (Kamal & Gani, 2016).

Energy Efficient Equipment

 Energy Efficient Equipments are considered environmental friendly by Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).  Choosing ENERGY STAR or other well-known label for energy star appliances for homes has a positive impact on the environment without compromising performance (Kamal & Gani, 2016).

Proper Insulation

Proper insulation is a factor to consider when building a green home. Heating and cooling take a significant percentage of homes’ energy consumption. Air leaks such as many windows, door and ducts are responsible for home’s heat loss. Cooling and heating of a home’s interior space air should not go to waste through improper insulation. Proper insulation does not only reduce energy consumption but also brings down electricity bills considerably (Kamal & Gani, 2016).

Reduce, Reuse, Recycle

It is important to reduce the need for buying products that are not considered environment-friendly. Old materials such as wood floors, windows, doors can be reused. Additionally, recycled materials such as aluminum, recycled tiles, recycled glass, recycled plastic and reclaimed lumber can be used in the green home building (Van & Cowan, 2013).

Use of Sustainable Building Materials

Eco-friendly products can reduce the effect of construction on the surrounding environment. Every part of the house such as building material, roofing material, counters, cabinet and insulation to flooring should be eco-friendly. Products such as reclaimed lumber or natural products such as linoleum, cork, and bamboo are environmentally friendly (Van & Cowan, 2013).

Install Solar Panels and Programmable Thermostat

 Solar energy is a form of a renewable and clean source of energy. Solar panels utilize the natural power and save energy in the long-term. Home location, as well as the construction of solar panels, can determine how much power can be collected. Taking advantage of solar power brings down energy consumption to the utility company. Also, government incentives, grants and tax breaks are huge benefit users of solar power in homes (Darwish, 2014).

Rainwater Harvesting Systems and Tankless Water Heaters

A rainwater harvesting system allows collection of rainwater from roofs and subsequent storage. Collected water can then be utilized for numerous purposes. With tankless water heaters, there is no need to wait for water to get heated. Tankless water heaters use electric coils to heat only water that is required. This eliminates excess energy costs and eliminates the need for hot water tank (Panigrahi et al., 2014).

Efficient Landscaping

Efficient landscaping can allow a home to have direct sunlight through windows.  Planting trees on the western and southern side of a home can keep the home cooler as it blocks sunlight from falling directly on the house.  During winter, trees are likely to lose their leaves and allow more sunlight to reach the home.

References

Darwish, A. S. (2014). Eco-Friendly Buildings: the central factor in transitioning to a Green Economy. International Journal of Environment and Sustainability (IJES), 3(1).

Kamal, M., & Gani, M. O. (2016). A Critical Review on Importance of Eco-structure Building or Green Building in Bangladesh. International Journal of Business Administration, 7(3), p166.

Kibert, C. J. (2016). Sustainable construction: green building design and delivery. John Wiley & Sons.

Panigrahi, S., Ali, S. M., Dash, R., & Praveen, C. S. (2014). Constructional development of green building for the sustainable eco-friendly environment.

Van der Ryn, S., & Cowan, S. (2013). Ecological design. Island Press.

 Sherry Roberts is the author of this paper. A senior editor at Melda Research in nursing paper writing services if you need a similar paper you can place your order for Medicine Essay Writing.