Green products for home

Experts believe that the future of home design will be green home design. Statistics have proved that between 2005 and 2008 there has been an 8% increase in the demand for green home design. The ecological upheavals and climate change have prompted the government and concerned individuals to emphasize the need for green home designs. Green home design is a home design that reduces the use of energy, water and natural resources. Avoiding fossil fuels and encouraging the use of natural easily available fuel sources like the sun and wind is the thrust of green home design.

The material used for furniture and woodwork should be from trees that can be grown back easily and recyclable sources like rubber floors from car tires and glass from recycled bottles in green home design. Something I think you will enjoy. A green home design adds to nature without endangering any part of it. Green home designs make maximum use of natural light and air for temperature control eliminating the need for fuel driven temperature control equipment. Green Home designs are expensive but the long term benefits are good health and wealth. Research in green home design is ongoing and technology is developing at a fast pace so that mass produced green building material will soon be available to meet the growing demand at a lower cost. .

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.

Fears of a global climate catastrophe is prompting people to use green home construction methods that are in truth old world styles of construction. Changing living styles in tune to the surrounding landscape is the thrust of green home construction. Artificiallly heated and cooled homes suffer the aftermath of unhealthy fumes and emissions and people are increasingly turning to natural elements like wind and solar energy as healthier options of heating and cooling. Something else you will like

Recycling is the cornerstone of green home construction and recycled material from salvage yards, recycled steel from demolished buildings, windows made of recycled glass bottles are used instead of newly manufactured material. Green home construction Particle board made from recycled material is used for partition screens and furniture. People who prefer green home constructions prefer to walk with recycled flooring material like rubber from car tires and eco linoleum underfoot.

Straw bale covered with clay plaster is the green home construction alternative to concrete walls. Green home construction involves using non toxic paint making the interiors of the home healthy. Green home construction is not a cheap method of construction but it gives residents long term benefits of good health, energy bill savings and low maintenance costs.

What does it mean when people say that they are building a green home? There are several features that most green homes have include using the sun and land for natural heating and cooling, reduced construction waste, using sustainable resources, and/or using energy efficient appliances and fixtures. These features can be implemented in many ways both in building a green home and in updating an existing home.

So, how can you go about building a green home? There are really some very simple steps you can take to improve the home that you have now or to take into consideration when building a green home. A huge step you can take on the road to greenness is to update fixtures and appliances, most importantly, those which use water.

One of the first things to do is to update your toilet. Old toilets use much more water than updated ones and can be replaced relatively easily. Another important group of fixture to check are your faucets. Gallons of water can be wasted each day from leaky faucets and you may not even realize it! I realize that replacement is expensive, but top-loading washers do use more water than do front loading washers. Don’t run out and buy a new washer today, but do keep this in mind when you are in the market for one.

Other features to keep in mind when building a green home or updating an existing home are windows and insulation. When building a green home, energy efficient windows can really help cut heating costs, especially with fuel costs the way that they are. Additionally, proper insulation can help cut both heating and cooling costs.

While I understand that it is not always possible to go out and spend a lot of money on updates for your home, there are many things that you can do to that are very inexpensive. I think the most inexpensive thing that I have done to make my home more green is to purchase a water-saving showerhead. It cost me about seven dollars, and uses half the water that a conventional showerhead does. Building a green home or updating and existing home is actually pretty simple and does not need to be expensive.

The Green home building initiative has its genesis in the Green Movement, which was in its heyday in the 1960s, especially among the Hippies. Thereafter, the Green movement evolved differently in the United States and Europe. The political authority of the green movement gained significantly with the institution of the German Green Party in 1970s. This gave rise to the creation of many more Green politics and following in Europe with an institutional role. Many of these Green parties formed part of coalition governments in Europe thus giving governmental support to green initiatives quite early on. A prime example is the green legislation tax passed in the late 1990s by the German government.

No such legislative activity took place in the States. In this country, the Green movement has continued its march without any federal support. Initially, building green homes was much more costly to build than regular houses. The American building industry following the pragmatic capitalist line, sought to maximize profits unlike the European builders who had the pressure of the governments and influential NGOs to persevere building green.

Building Biology is a well recognized 30 year old movement in Europe, and the main argument forwarded by its proponents is that indigenously available materials are healthier than concrete, steel and plastic foam construction material. Consequently, over the years, Europeans have been building walls with the help of loam. Contributing to the conservation efforts is also possible by using recycled paper as insulation. Till very recently, Americans considered used bathing water as waste water; instead this is an invaluable resource to be used for landscaping. The LEED norms in vogue in the United States are not legal regulations yet. One may look at the French initiative, to implement its local building green norms in the European Union, as a positive influence on the State.

For ages, Americans have built their houses with wood, a cheap and plentiful commodity. However, the housing boom in the Untied States led to increased import of timber and thus saw a rapid denuding of tropical rainforest. The real estate developers did not see it fit to consider the incalculable harm that was being done to the global environment. In contrast, forest conservation has been a priority with the European nations and this has resulted in them shifting to using quick rowing wood such as bamboo for construction purposes. Little surprise as to the reason Europeans seem far ahead in structuring green homes as against Americans.

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.

Every day, it seems like citizens and governments all over the world are becoming increasingly aware of the need to conserve. And even though the United States is doing more every day to conserve energy, Americans are still a step behind in the energy conservation movement. Many countries, especially European countries, have been the frontrunners in conserving energy and using green home building for decades.

Energy Conservation in Europe

Europe is at the forefront of the green movement, including green home design… and with good reason. Because on the continent, gasoline, natural gases, and energy costs significantly more than it does in America, and it has been that way for many years. Because of this, both individual Europeans and European governments are much more energy conscious than Americans. This instinct for energy conservation is seen in Europe in several key ways.

One of the main ways that Europeans save energy is through a tightly knit and efficient public transport system. Almost every major city in Europe has an efficient public transport system (with underground trains, overground trains, buses, trams, etc.) that is well patronized by residents. While cars are common in Europe, many more Europeans use public transport (or even ride bicycles) than would be found in the U.S..

Europeans also build their homes with energy conservation in mind. In large European cities in particular, green home building concepts are widely used. Most city dwellers live in apartments with far less square footage than American homes. In addition, most European houses, apartments, and businesses use simple green home building ideas to keep their spaces cool in summer instead of the air conditioning so common in the U.S. These include roll down screens, patio shading, double windows, and more.The Green Home Building Trend in the U.S.

To sum it up: in Europe, the people have been conscious of the need to switch off the lights when they are not using them for decades… because they needed to save money. Americans, who are used to thinking of energy as a cheap and limitless commodity, are just starting to adjust to a “more European” mindset… including remembering to turn out the lights. This changing mindset is evidenced by the increasing popularity of green home building.

Green home building and design uses concepts, such as smaller home size, basic insulation, and position to the sun to conserve energy, as well as alternative energy technology (such as solar power) to provide power to homes. Green home building also incorporates more complex concepts, such as the use of sustainable materials and less harmful products, to protect the environment and conserve energy in the long run. America is a little behind, but with luck will start catching up to the standard set by Europe.

Several aspects will impact a green home construction, and these need to be integrated in the primary plan of the building. In a green home, use of recyclable material is very important from the point of view of conservation. This could include using high fly ash content cement instead of normal cement. Wood salvaged from old buildings and reengineered wood can be used in constructing a green home. It is best to incorporate the green features during the construction phase. Installation of a drip irrigation system instead of a sprinkler system is one such measure. A rainwater harvesting plant is best effective when installed in the initial design stage. To aid absorption of rainwater into the surrounding soil, pathways, and roadways can be made out of permeable paving material.

The use of Forest Stewardship Council (SFC) certified wood for doors, window frames and other places where wood is required also helps the green cause. Green home constructions aim at cleaner indoor environment by making use of no/low formaldehyde interior paints. Harnessing the power of the sun by fitting solar heaters and photovoltaic cells helps reduce electricity consumption and lower bills. Greater reflectivity of light colored roofs as against dark colored helps in reducing heat buildup in the house. Also, they last longer because since the heat absorbed is less, they do not expand thermally as much as dark colored roofs.

Green Home construction need to also address the inside fittings of the house, both static as well as movable. It is best to use recycled wood furniture for the house interiors. Garden furniture can be made out of recycled plastic, which is easily available in the market. A green initiative gaining popularity is using cork or bamboo flooring instead of the usual hardwood flooring. Avoid using vinyl linoleum, natural linoleum is a better choice. Leak proof ducting helps in conservation of energy. It has been estimated that leaks in ducting cause a loss over 10% of the energy used. Using low volume flush toilets and fitting flow reducers to faucets and shower heads helps cut down 40% of the water volume and nobody will even notice the difference. Formaldehyde free wall and ceiling insulation help reduce sickness. Cellulose insulation made out of recycled paper is one such good material for wall insulation.

In a green home construction, effective use is made of low emissive double paned windows. The advantages of double paned windows are that they help in providing insulation as well as reduction of noise. The frames of windows should be made of wood as these provide more insulation. A piping jacket helps reduce heat loss. These guidelines should come in handy if you are planning to build a green home.

Green Home designs are home designs that synchronize with nature and the surrounding landscape. Green Home designs encourage the use of locally available and naturally occurring building material like recycled rubber, lumber, concrete and drywall bricks.

Green home designs suggest the use of durable, easy to maintain and fire resistant construction material. Green home designs are insulation focused and use double insulated doors and windows to keep the interior warm in winter and cool in winter without the use of expensive temperature control equipment. Green home designs do not use lead paint or formaldehyde treated particle board for kitchen and other cabinets which are forbidden construction material under law. A green home design is recognized by the power saver usage of compact fluorescent lamps, dimmers and thermostats.

Cool in summer and warm is winter is the hallmark of a green home because it makes maximum use of natural sunlight and fresh air. A green home design is a federal and state tax saver because both federal and state tax deductions are available for energy saving home designs. A home with a green home design can be easily sold because of its low maintenance and low energy consumption record.

Keywords: Green house building, Building a green home

A green home is an energy saver and helps the owner cut unnecessary monthly energy costs. It is estimated that a U.S. family that does not live in a green home spends nearly $1300 a year on home energy bills. By letting in light and air green homes reduce the cost of buying air conditioners or heaters. Utilizing alternate forms of energy like solar and wind power in a green home reduces the emissions of household fittings that are powered by gas, electricity or thermal power. Naturally occurring stone and terra cotta bricks are eco friendly and do not have the harmful effects of chemically treated mass produced building material. Building a green home includes using Recycled building material to avoid waste.

Lighting in a green home should be with fluorescent lamps that are designed with minimum heat emission. When building a green home it is preferable that pastel shades or whitewash is used to color the walls to make greater use of natural sunlight. The cost involved in building a green home may be off putting for some but it is a small price to pay compared to the long term energy and maintenance savings benefits it provides.

Entry Tags: Information, Resource, Green homes