Many homeowners are beginning to experiment with living “off the grid”. This means they are protecting the environment by trying to use as many renewable and sustainable resources as possible. However, by encompassing techniques of “off the grid” living into their homes, homeowners are also saving money. Limiting your waste of the earth’s natural resources and living frugally are two goals that go hand in hand.  The rising costs of energy and resources are leading to less waste for good reason.  Even water, whether yours is provided by the city or from a cistern, is getting expensive. The only people who are in really good shape as far as the cost of water is concerned are those with a well. 

More and more homeowners are looking into rain catchment systems to help take the edge off their water bills and make good use of a free resource.  Adding a rain catchment system is also a great way of ensuring that the likelihood of water damage is lessened by moving any excess rain water away from your house and buildings and putting it in a safe place for future use.

Rain Catchment Systems

Installing a rain catchment system is definitely a job for the professionals.  It involves attaching your home’s gutters to the lead lines to move the rain water to the tanks.  Scientifically, the process is simply about gravity, but getting all of the components of the system in place correctly does require some expertise and experience.  A contractor with a background in green home design and green building will be able to walk you step by step though the installation process. No doubt, you will be delighted to learn that paying for the installation of a rain catchment system is relatively inexpensive, especially when you compare the money savings with the system, as opposed to life without one.

It’s important to be aware that rain catchment systems do take up a decent amount of space in the yard.  This isn’t necessarily the right choice for a family with limited outdoor space.  However, if your home is spacious with a respectable amount of disposable yard, having one of the rain catchment systems installed could be your answer to the question of how to lower your water bills.�

It seems like everywhere you look there are huge houses set far apart from each other.  They sure do look pretty, but you have to wonder how much they cost to build and what the utility bills look like every month.  With a yard that big, do the owners spend every waking moment trying to take care of it or do they have the added expensive of having a lawn care company do it?  These concerns, among others, have lead to more and more people looking into modern small space house designs.  If you are considering building new or looking for an existing home for your family, here are a few of the reasons you might want to consider living the cozy life in a smaller house.

You have probably noticed that your money isn’t going quite as far as it used to.  You can’t help being a bit concerned about that.  Buying or building a large house is often a serious drain on the bank account.  It doesn’t help that even people with good credit are having a hard time getting the kinds of loans needed to build or buy big.  From a purely financial point of view, the modern small space house designs make a lot of sense. 

Modern Small Space House Designs

While we are still talking about the all mighty dollar, you also have to think about how much it will take to keep a big house up and running every month.  The more square footage you have to heat and cool, the higher your utility bills are going to be.  It’s much simpler to care for a small home.

If you are among those of us looking for ways to diminish our impact on the planet, there is no doubt the modern small space house designs can help with that.  Very simply put, small houses use less resources to be built and less energy to run.  If you build new, you also have the option of building with all renewable products. 

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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.

Lots of homeowners are making the decision to go green with either their new home plans or with remodels and additions to existing homes.  Considering the environmentally friendly building practices are getting so much attention nowadays, it’s pretty easy to find a contractor or builder who is well versed in this style of construction.  Eco-friendly floor plans and appliances that use fewer resources are just two ways people are finding to make their homes more earth friendly.  Before you start your next building project, take a look at a few ways you can save the planet and your wallet with lower utility bills. 

One of the most eco-friendly floor plans you are going to find anywhere involves open floor designs.  It is much simpler, takes less energy, and is cheaper to heat or cool one large room as opposed to three or four small ones.  The presence of a great room that includes the dining room, living room, and conveniently connects to the kitchen is ideal in keeping your home environmentally friendly. 

Eco-Friendly Floor Plans

If you live in a warmer climate, consider building to the north or south in order to avoid the majority of the intense heat from the sun.  You can also install sun screens and solar deflectors to limit your cooling needs.  On the other hand, those who have cold winters to deal with would benefit from building the home facing the sun’s path.  Using heat holding materials like concrete and stone is beneficial as well as these materials will radiate heat after the sun has set.

There are other important aspects to think about while you are working to create eco-friendly floor plans.  Having your builder use as many renewable building materials, as well as those that can be found locally is part of doing your share for a better environment.  Insulating the exterior walls and roof of the house is crucial to limiting the amount of energy you and your family will need to take care of your house.  If you are going for new appliances, make sure they are in compliance with the greener living standards.  These small steps are not only good for the planet; they will also save you money in the long run in terms of your monthly bills. 

For more information on eco-friendly floor plans