The time to build your green, energy efficient, and sustainable home is now. The world’s Eco-friendly technology is rapidly changing and new ways to incorporate this technology into your home are surfacing every day.

What is a Green Home?

There are many environmentally friendly ways to create a green home and it is widely open to interpretation. Creating a green home can simply mean adding green features such as solar panels on the roof. However, some argue that certification through green building programs is the only way to know if a home meets adequate sustainability standards. Whether you build a completely green home, or stick to adding green features to your existing home, building a sustainable green home can offer numerous advantages to homeowners and communities.

Why Build Green?

Along with the advantages to homeowners and communities, green homes and buildings offer numerous benefits:

• Building a green home ensures the least amount of damage to the environment by protecting the air, water and wildlife for the future generations.
• Building a green home offers an economic advantage. With sustainable home elements, green homes pay for themselves with savings and lowered utility bills. 
• Building a green home can provide added comfort. Many green features create a cozier, more comfortable home. 
• Building a green home can be aesthetically pleasing. Now, more than ever, there is an astonishing selection of sustainable materials and home elements at all types of price points. These materials are beautiful and lead to endless possibilities in design and integration.

Sustainable Materials

Building a green home is about using sustainable materials. What does sustainable mean? The term sustainable hits as many of these points as possible:

• Using recycled or reused materials. A recycled material has been reprocessed, such as turning rubber tires into flooring. Reused materials are used whole, such as windows, doors and flooring. Incorporating these types of materials into your house will create a sustainable house while helping the environment.
• Using sustainably harvested materials. This means that the product comes from a supply chain that is documented and certified. Wood is an example of a sustainably harvested material. You can use these types of sustainable materials to build your green home.
• Using quickly renewable resources. Renewable resources can be used repeatedly and replaced naturally. Bamboo, which is normally used for flooring is the fastest growing plant in the world and can grow anywhere from 1 to 4 inches in a day. Bamboo also regrows quickly after being it cut down, making it the #1 renewable resource.
• Using non-toxic and non-allergenic materials. Black mold and formaldehyde are dangerous elements found in toxic and allergenic building materials. Using non-toxic and non-allergenic materials to build your green home will allow you to keep your family safe.
• Using locally sourced materials. Materials are best when they are sourced locally, rather than being freighted across great distances. This can help keep the air and environment clean.

These are just a few ways that you can incorporate sustainable materials into building your green home.

Eco-Friendly Elements

Along with the major sustainable materials that you can use to build your home, there are also smaller-scale changes that you can make to your home to create the most sustainable home possible. Here are some ideas for incorporating those Eco-friendly elements into your home:

• Build a smaller home for a smaller eco-footprint
• Orient your home to get the most out of the sun and wind
• Install energy- and water-efficient appliances
• Install energy-efficient lighting
• Properly seal and insulate your home
• Consider going solar! 

Solar

Going solar is an incredible way to benefit the environment while still saving money on utility bills. It is also a way to create a green home that is sustainable. What can the switch to solar energy do for the environment and climate change? Here are a few reasons to go solar:

• Solar energy is a sustainable form of energy and is a on-time investment that will provide long-term results. Because it is sustainable, it will fulfill the needs of this generation without compromising the needs of future generations. 
• Solar energy is a clean energy and is not a threat to the planet as it has no harmful emissions of any kind during its production. 
• Solar energy helps reduce air and water pollution. Solar energy results in very few, if any, air pollutants. The amount of water that is needed to generate solar electricity is significantly less than most traditional electricity sources. By going solar, you can reduce your carbon footprint while simultaneously creating a more healthy environment for you and your neighbors. 
• Solar technology is cost effective and continues to fall. This will reduce the dependency on expensive fuel and gas. 
• Solar energy does not have health hazards like respiratory diseases and various kinds of cancers and cardiovascular problems.

There are many ways that solar can actually help the environment and why it is a safer and cleaner alternative to traditional energy sources. Green homes can benefit from solar panels as they create cleaner energy and help you save money. If you’re interested in going solar, visit our website for a free quote!

Building your Eco-friendly green home can be done by incorporating any type of sustainable elements you want. It has never been easier to build a green home and the benefits to the environment are endless!