Eco-Friendly Homes: Sustainable Living with a Green Home
Not
just for hippies and tree huggers anymore, eco-friendly homes are going
mainstream, largely spurred on by the spiraling cost of energy. There’s more to
eco-friendly homes however, than just saving energy. Using green building
materials, eliminating indoor air pollutants and allergens, water conservation,
smaller houses and smaller lots are all part of what eco-friendly homes are all
about.
Eco-friendly houses cost a bit more on average but are well worth it because of
the significant cost savings down the (usually short) road. Eco-friendly homes
also tend to have higher resale values. Families who are interested in buying
eco-friendly homes are primarily interested in three things: Energy efficient
building techniques, using green building materials, and indoor air quality.
Energy
Efficient Building Techniques
Eco-friendly homes tend to be smaller square footage wise and are built on
smaller lots. If the climate is right, for example in Portland, eco-roofs or
rooftop gardens play a large role in cutting energy costs by deflecting heat.
Homes in warm or cold climates benefit from using insulation with correct
R-factors and double-glazed windows. In cold climates, radiant floor heating is
another building technique that works very well and in fact, has been used in
Europe for many years. Using less energy means saving money and conserving
natural resources.
Although technically
not a part of the building infrastructure, energy efficient appliances are
nonetheless a large part of what makes a home eco friendly, as are water saving
technologies, such as driveways made of porous materials underlain by a cistern
to collect rainwater for non-potable uses.
Green
Building Materials
It used to be that green building materials such as
recycled plastic “wood” or solvent-free paints and stains were difficult to
find. Not anymore. Even some of the leading home centers are realizing the
benefits of green building and are stocking items such as bamboo or engineered
laminate flooring made from renewable resources and cellulose insulation made
from 80% recovered post-consumer paper. In addition, home centers that
specialize in green building materials are also cropping up all over the place
offering everything from recycled linoleum and recycled carpet for the floor to
recycled glass countertops or tiles for your kitchen.
Air Quality,
Heating and Ventilation
Mold and other allergies are often issues for families so
indoor air quality is an important issue. Eco-friendly homes strive to use
natural heating and ventilation systems with frequent air exchanges (typically
achieved through mechanical systems). Eco-friendly homes use such techniques as
south facing orientations to ensure plenty of sunlight to heat rooms and
inhibit the growth of mold, as well as plenty of windows to catch cross
breezes. Interior furnishings and carpets are typically made from recycled or
natural materials such as cotton, wool, and seagrass to reduce or eliminate
emissions of noxious air pollutants.