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Congratulations on deciding to build your dream home. You will have many choices to make before your new home is complete. One area you may not have put much thought into is your environmental impact. Did you know going green can apply to your building process? Keep reading to learn the answers to your top questions about green homes.
What Is a Green Home?
The term green home should not be confused with a greenhouse. While a greenhouse will help you grow plants, a green home is an environmentally friendly dwelling. You can make an existing home more sustainable by upgrading features, or you can consult custom home builder, Bill Starkey, to work components into your new build.
How Do You Build a Green Home?
If you are looking to have a green home built, you may be wondering where to begin. A great place to start is by researching reputable builders. While any builder may be able to incorporate sustainable products and efficient systems, you may see more benefits working with a builder who has experience with green architecture.
Work with your builder to make sure your home turns out as expected. You can create a list of features you wish to include as well as your overall sustainability goals. Certain builders may have pre-designed models you can choose from, and others can design a completely custom house.
What Are Some Green Home Features?
Two overarching areas contribute to the environmental friendliness of the finished product.
The Construction
You can consider a home’s construction the design and systems that are implemented. It is more efficient to build a two-story home than a sprawling ranch. If possible, try for a south-facing exposure and level foundation. You can include environmentally friendly features such as solar panels, geothermal heat, and energy-efficient windows.
The Materials
The materials and finishings that go into your home can also be green. You should consider more renewable items. Great examples of sustainable building materials include bamboo, stone, reclaimed wood, cork, and recycled steel. Part of the finishing process may also be selecting energy-efficient appliances and fixtures.
Are There Benefits of Building Green?
Constructing green architecture is a win-win situation for you and the environment.
The Owner
As the owner of a green home, you will enjoy many benefits. An energy and water-efficient house correlate to lower monthly bills. Many sustainable building materials are more durable, which means there will be less routine maintenance for you. It has been shown that an environmentally-friendly build can create better indoor air quality. This combination of owner benefits may lead to a higher market value of your home as well.
The Environment
Environmental benefits are one of the main goals of green architecture. The building process promotes sustainable materials, reduces waste, and improves efficiency. That means your home will have a lower ecological footprint.
If you go green in other areas of your life, why not go green with your construction? Contact a builder today to create a home that benefits you and the environment.
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