Green Home Design Is In Fashion
View PDF | Print View
by: hugatree
Total views: 88
Word Count: 431
Green home design is the wave of the future. Increasingly, people are paying attention to the environment and are seeking ways to minimize the impact everyday living creates. Over the last 30 years, efforts to develop technology and build more environmentally friendly homes are paying off. The increase in demand for green home design from 2005 to 2010 is expected to increase from 2 to 10 percent.
There are distinct characteristics required to classify a home as "green". A green home design typically incorporates conservation of energy, water and natural resources, use of renewable energy, waste reduction and a healthier environment. 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. Natural and mechanical methods of air ventilation filter and vent the air, keeping it fresh and clean. Solar energy is a popular renewable energy source used in green home designs. Environmental consideration is given when selecting the site of the home, such as avoidance of fragile ecosystems like wetlands and the preservation of trees and plant growth or reclamation of existing structures or building sites.
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. Due to this pollutant free environment, occupants of green homes experience fewer respiratory and heart problems, allergies 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 consumers are educated to the benefits of green home design and products and designs improve, more people will choose to build environmentally friendly homes.
About the Author
Find more info regarding rss feeds, goto bemyrss.com.
Rating: Not yet rated