Archive for the ‘Resource’ Category

Green Home Construction Rant

Monday, June 22nd, 2009

Environmentalists have, for many years advocated the cause of green home construction. Spiraling energy costs are the reason why the general public have woken up to the benefits of green construction. Many building contractors are choosing prefabricated factory made green construction components over on site buildings. More Info..

Green architects find that factory made components give them greater control over the manufacture and there is 50-7-% less waste than on site manufacture of components. Most factory green home construction components are for modestly sized homes with modestly sized rooms in keeping with the green home construction philosophy of easy maintenance. Green home construction makes gadgets unnecessary and green housing components come with properly controlled insulation to eliminate the need for artificial heating and cooling equipment. http://greenhomeplans.speakit4.com/

The components are not the only requirements of green home construction. To live in a green home construction, you need to adopt a green, low energy and low water use lifestyle. Making a location choice in an area which is green with plenty of trees around and close to public transport stops will help augment the green atmosphere of a green construction. Green home construction is the choice for those who want a healthy and economical lifestyle. http://greenhousebuilding.blogest4.com/

Green home construction Thoughts

Monday, June 15th, 2009

Costliness is usually the first word associated with green home design. I partially agree with that idea. Frequently, people neglect perfectly good structures to build better ones in an attempt to go green. They are trying, but don’t think it through.

In my mind, green home design shouldn’t be limited to new construction. You should try to promote where you live now. An example of this includes better insulation to reduce energy consumption. Yes, we should build any new construction to green specifications, but so many times I see perfectly good buildings wasted to construct “greener” ones. I don’t like when stores move into greener malls and plazas, and then the old buildings sit for years until they are finally neglected to the point where they are torn down. Lots of money and land could have been saved had someone modernized the existing building rather than wasting it.

My point here is that sometimes, it’s better to revitalize existing structures and make them as green as possible than to construct new buildings and let the old ones waste away. Green home design is not building a brand new home. Green home design means building greenness in your current one.

The Rise Of Green Home Design

Friday, May 22nd, 2009

There is an increasingly popular trend toward the use of green home design. Increasingly, people are paying attention to the environment and are seeking ways to minimize the impact everyday living creates. Major initiatives over the past three decades have raised support and demand for green homes. New home construction using green home design is expected to increase from 2% in 2005 to 10% in 2010.

There are distinct characteristics required to classify a home as “green”. Reduced use of energy, water and natural resources, integration of renewable energy systems, reduced waste and fewer health risks are all requirements of green home design. Building materials are made from natural, toxin-free products and recycled components. Paints and sealants used in green homes are made with low volatile organic compounds (VOC) while wood and insulation products are made from bamboo, soybeans and cotton, which are quickly replaced in the environment. Windows and doors must have a high E factor rating and energy saving appliances and climate control systems must be installed. A green home design will use natural light to minimize the use of electricity and position trees and awnings, etc. to shield summer sun. Air quality is freshened and cleaned through use of both natural and mechanical filtering and venting. Solar energy is a popular renewable energy source used in green home designs. Green homes are often built on previously used parking lots or building sites and wetlands are avoided; existing trees are retained whenever possible.

Green home design has benefits that outweigh the cost of construction. The design and the natural materials lead to reduced internal pollution, and reduction or elimination of mold, mildew, carcinogens, and respiratory pollutants. This creates a healthier environment, reducing risks of respiratory, heart and allergy problems and cancer. The ecological-friendly products and resource conservation create fewer green house effects and pollutants, reducing the negative impact on the environment. The advantages of green home design include financial as well as health and environmental benefits since energy and water use is nearly cut in half. The cost of building a green home is potentially the same as a conventional home and may even be less. There are also initiatives to provide low cost green homes which will further improve cost containment to the benefit of all consumers.

As the technology improves, contractors gain experience, and probably most importantly, consumers gain increased awareness, we should expect to see an increased growth in the demand for green home design.