The Essentials of Smart Green Home Design
Learn the basic philosophy of green building, and how the three major components can come to life in your home.
There are three things that constitute the tenets of smart green home design – recycle, reuse, and reduce. While often considered a mantra among those who want to save the planet, these ideas can also help you build a more earth friendly home for yourself and for your family. To make sure your home is living up to the green ideas of the day here are ways to implement smart green home design in your home.
The idea of recycling can be addressed in a number of ways when considering smart green home designs. First you will want to consider the materials you will use. Materials to use should either be made of recycled materials, or constructed from materials that diminish the amount of waste generated from them. Finding plastics and metal pieces that have been recycled from old pieces will work just as well in your home’s construction as new pieces. There are many materials now available that are constructed from post consumer waste. One example is glass bottles that are made into a countertop material. You will also want to make sure that you home has a recycling plan for your waste. You may want to create a specific area in your kitchen with bins for sorting recycling.
Starting to Use Smart Green Home Design
‘Reuse’ is another common way to make your home an example of smart green home design. Materials are another way to make reuse a part of your remodeling plans. The wood that’s used for framing a new home or room addition can be reclaimed wood that has either been scrapped by other builders or that has come from other buildings that have been torn down. You might also want to use materials and fixtures from demolished homes so that you’re not making anything new in the process. You can also take items from your old home and bring them into the new home you are building to help diminish the energy used in the production of new items. Reusing as much as you can also helps you reduce the amount of waste you create from your project.
As for ‘reduce,’ using smart green home designs will help you to lessen the energy used day to day in your home. While one of the best ways to reduce your energy use might be to install a solar energy system or another form of natural, renewable energy, this may not be the easiest option for most homeowners. Some easy ways to reduce your energy use, and your energy bill, is to switch to compact fluorescent light bulbs. These bulbs last much longer than tradition light bulbs, and use less energy to create light. Turning down your water heater can also reduce the amount of energy your home uses.
By considering these three concepts while planning projects large and small on your home, you can make sure that your home is using smart green home designs. Going green can have benefits for you, as well as the environment, so it’s always smart to consider what you can do to reduce, reuse and recycle.
Tags: energy efficency, General Remodeling, green building, materials