General

Green home building is all the rage in America today, and many people do not realize that green home building practices have been in play for decades in Europe. We have many technologies that are just emerging in the United States that seem to be new and innovate…they are not. Green home building is usually discussed in such a way that people marvel about these new technologies, but they are really only new to us.

For example, in Europe, a substance called Autoclave Aerated Concentrate, or AAC for short, has been used in constructing buildings for over two decades. GreenHomeBuilding.com says that this substance is popular in Europe because it is completely fire proof, highly insulating, and very lightweight. This means that it can be easily transported in larger quantities, which will consume less fuel. Also, the AAC is made of very simple ingredients: water, sand, cement, lime, and aluminum powder. The main ingredient in AAC is air, which makes up over eighty percent of it composition. The most important benefit is the fact that its production does not produce any byproducts. This material has been used by builders in Germany for almost one hundred years, but was only introduced in the United States in 1996, and it is not yet widely accepted.

Another example of a green home building technology that is widely used in Europe, but is not very well known in the United States is the Wood Fiber Board. These boards are made from wood chip waste produced by sawmills. According to GreenHomeBuilding.com, these boards are free of allergens and they do not emit any toxins during their manufacture. They are very inexpensive to produce, and they are totally compostable. They are not used much in the United States. We like to cut down new trees to make new boards. We do not like using what we already have to make something new.

Europe is way ahead of us when it comes to green home building practices. People in Europe have been using such construction methods for about a century, so it is nothing new for them…it is a way of life. We have a long way to go, but we are finally in the right frame of mind here in the United States to begin conserving resources… I just hope it is not too late.

Big news this week on climate change and policy For the first time, there was affirmation from the White House that climate change was real. I see this as very big for the climate change camp. However, policy change is not very clear as a result of this announcement. From what I saw, the environmental folks were not too happy because the republicans didn’t say they were going to do anything about it. Check This Out.
This is understandable. But, this is a step forward. Prior to this week’s statements, the republicans were saying that there is no real consensus on the climate change debate. That was just flat-out wrong. From my point of view, they are now finally acknowledging what has been accepted by the scientific community for many years now.

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Building with green design concepts and architecture can be a rewarding experience for both your wallet and the environment. Although the initial costs of building a green house may top those of a conventional home, expenditures can be made up in reduced utility bills. One way in which building a green house is more efficient than building a standard house is in the reduced consumption of electricity.

Building a green house easily allows for new energy sources to be utilized. Using wind turbines can be one way to create electricity in green homes. Solar panels are an additional way to power electricity in a green house. Gas and coal power are steadily increasing in price, but it will probably have little effect on those installing green technologies. The only costs in using solar and wind power are the materials and installation costs. Both abundant and constantly renewable, the resources of sunlight and wind are free! Both solar panels and wind turbines are economical and environmentally friendly tools that can be used to tackle energy issues inherent in building a green house.

A gray water system is another design concept that can be used in building a green house. Gray water systems are more efficient because they use water from one area of household and recycle it elsewhere in the dwelling. Green home residents with gray water systems could use the same water to irrigate a garden that they had previously used to shower. Unnecessary water waste is decreased in recycling water throughout the home from day to day. Reducing the carbon footprint of a home and saving money on water utilities are two benefits afforded by using state of the art gray water system technologies.

When building a green house, design and building materials are main factors to consider. In building a green house, there are many options including recycled materials. From insulation to roofing and even flooring, it is possible to use recycled or salvaged materials for nearly every surface in green house designs! Recycled and salvaged materials have the double benefit of being both more cost effective and in many cases, more durable than other kinds of building materials. Locally salvaged building materials are even more beneficial in reducing the carbon footprint of a home. Since it does not require as much energy to manufacture and transport locally salvaged building materials, less pollution is created building a green house.

Temperatures within a green house can be regulated by building with different kinds of architecture. Design which increases exposure to sunlight and heat retention is possible with green architecture and would benefit those building in cold climates. A comparable design principle can be applied to those building a green house in warmer areas. By harnessing biomass from beneath the surface of the Earth as well as limiting sun exposure, those in warmer climates can keep cool. There are many ways to save money while reducing carbon footprints in building a green house.

A well-designed green home construction requires consideration of several factors, which must be incorporated in the initial structuring stages. Using eco-friendly raw materials is an important management measure in the construction of green homes. This could include using high fly ash content cement instead of normal cement. Wood salvaged from old buildings and reengineered wood can be used in constructing a green home. It is best to incorporate the green features during the construction phase. Installation of a drip irrigation system instead of a sprinkler system is one such measure. Investing in a rainwater harvesting system is yet another step toward going Green. To aid absorption of rainwater into the surrounding soil, pathways, and roadways can be made out of permeable paving material.

The use of Forest Stewardship Council (SFC) certified wood for doors, window frames and other places where wood is required also helps the green cause. Even employing no/low formaldehyde based paints for the interiors of the house helps in creating healthier living conditions. Harnessing the power of the sun by fitting solar heaters and photovoltaic cells helps reduce electricity consumption and lower bills. It is better to fit light colored roofs than dark colored roofs because they are more reflective and thus reduce buildup of heat inside the house. Also, they last longer because since the heat absorbed is less, they do not expand thermally as much as dark colored roofs.

Green Home Construction holistically handles both fixed as well as movable items in a house. It is best to use recycled wood furniture for the house interiors. Garden furniture can be made out of recycled plastic, which is easily available in the market. A green initiative gaining popularity is using cork or bamboo flooring instead of the usual hardwood flooring. It is better to use natural linoleum rather than vinyl linoleum. Make sure that the ducting in the house is leak proof. It has been estimated that leaks in ducting cause a loss over 10% of the energy used. Using low volume flush toilets and fitting flow reducers to faucets and shower heads helps cut down 40% of the water volume and nobody will even notice the difference. Use on insulation which does not contain formaldehyde helps prevent sickness. Cellulose insulation made out of recycled paper is one such good material for wall insulation.

In a green home construction, effective use is made of low emissive double paned windows. The advantages of double paned windows are that they help in providing insulation as well as reduction of noise. The frames of windows should be made of wood as these provide more insulation. The piping of the house should have a jacket to reduce loss of heat. Use these tips to make your home truly green.