Plans for Green Homes

The best of natural and comfortable living with minimum energy costs is the secret of green home plans The only energy use in green home plans is solar or wind energy with energy spinning equipment placed in strategic points to maximize the use and conservation of energy An efficient green home plan prevents unwanted moisture and air from coming in or going out from the home by emphasizing on properly insulated skins .



Green home plans are built in such a manner that they do not trespass into the resources of the earth Conventional green home plans have straight walls sloped roofs and all other features of a conventional western home Green home plans have revived the native American culture of building houses without ninety degree straight walls and these homes have rounded walls and domed roofs Submit rss



Earth sheltered green home plans are another style of home plan geared towards healthy living This style of green home plan advocates building homes underground because of the minimal variation in interior temperature and the use of artificial means of temperature control is not required High costs of energy and building material has made green home plans popular even more than the need to conserve natural resources Green built home

Building green homes

'Green Architecture - The future of Construction' screamed one headline. Is it for real? Do you really need to waste your time over some foggy, expensive idea? Well think again. Syndiate rss. Look at it this way; even if you believe only a fraction of Al Gore's documentary An Inconvenient Truth, there is no getting away from the fact that our planet is in trouble, thanks to our indiscriminate exploitation of natural resources. Oh yes! You too can contribute towards providing some respite - try living in a green home.



Building green homes is not a passing fancy anymore. Just look around and see the world wide initiatives such as the LEED standard of USA, Code for Sustainable Homes ... UK, Green Star in Australia, R2000 in Canada - the list goes on. The intent is obviously serious. Is building green beyond our means? Well I understand from the literature available on the net, that Green homes do cost up to 6-7% more than normal homes initially. Green home decor. Perhaps others have a better estimate. But those costs get recovered over time and Green homes are estimated to consume about 30% lesser energy. Boy, wouldn't I like to see those fat water and electricity bills go South!!! As far as I am concerned, Green is the way to go.

Teach Me About Green Home Construction

All that 'green' talk has had you suitably enthused to build a green home. What are steps required to commence your green home construction? Well, for starters there are some basic questions, which need to be asked when planning green home construction. These basic questions are ... where do you want to build your dream 'green' home? Which green resources are indigenously on hand? To build your green house what are the suitable green designs? Are there other people also interested? To construct the green home are there qualified designers available? Is there ant help from the government? We will answer each of these questions to get a clear picture on how to build your green house.

The designs required for construction of green homes will depend largely on the geographical location you choose. If it were in the mountains, a different type of approach would be required, say to a house in the plains or the deserts or by the seaside.

The subsequent item on your checklist for construction of your 'green' home would be the availability of local green resources. Your choice would have to be sensible, even though plentiful organic resources are available. For example, choosing to cut down those trees which are plentiful instead of the rare long living variety which are much more difficult to replace. Using products made from material recycled from city's landfill is an option and could be your contribution to national resource conservation.

The sort of green design needed for your house will again be a function of the area where you plan to build the house taking into consideration the general weather. For example, sloping traditional roofs with runnels would be appropriate in wet weather climate rather than flat topped log cabins, which are more suitable for the mountains. Straw bale and compressed earth blocks are more appropriate for 'green' home constructions in warmer regions.

Involving other people is a positive way to ensure the viability of green home construction. Because a 'posse' is always better than a 'lonesome ranger' as numbers add to safety. It helps you to conserve resources and save money. For instance, common swimming pool, common solar panel grid, common water harvesting projects and common recycling plants can easily be shared by a community wishing to build green homes.

Novices cannot indulge in green home construction. Get yourself a good architect with proven track record who knows all the pros and cons of green home construction. The architect will know what to tap, what sort of initiatives will get you best tax benefits from the government and what will prove economical in the long run. That, in short, is the answer to construct your dream green home.

Green homes Entry

To save on energy bills green home construction should be adopted when you construct a building. The EPA gives energy star certification to construction material that reduce energy consumption specifying what can be used in green home construction. All Energy Star certified products reduce water and energy consumption by 10-50% and are the material certified for use in green home construction. Enjoy.



Using low VOC (volatile organic compound ) paints that contain no lead or formaldehyde makes green home construction good for your health. Sealing your home from damp using insulation in green home construction prevents mold from setting in and affecting your lungs. See this link for more. Green home construction uses light fixtures that emit light but not heat. Green Home Construction at first was an expensive proposition that promised long term savings because of reduced energy bills.



Today, with the great demand for green home construction rates for material have become as competitive as conventional construction material. Mass production of green home construction material that is fabricated and brought on site and put together has helped reducing the costs of green housing material. Green home construction reduces the energy cost of running the home with cooling and heating devices, reduces the cost of frequent replacement of fittings and saves you from running up high medical bills.

Building a green house On My Mind

Resource protection is the theme of green home building. Green home building is building sustainable buildings in harmony with nature. A green home is an emission free home building that causes no disturbance to the atmosphere. Homes are synchronized with nature. Green home building begins with an eco friendly plan. See more.



Light, airy homes using low energy users like fluorescent lamps and solar panels prevent wastage of energy. There is no reliance on artificial temperature alteration devices like air conditioners and central heating. Water is now regarded as a dwindling resource and green home building uses plumbing that conserves water and recycles waste water for flushing and irrigation. Extremes in temperature in a home are controlled by ventilation and insulation in green home building.. Naturally available material like adobe, cob, soil cement and rammed earth are used for construction of walls.



Rainwater harvesting is another water efficient method adopted in green home building. Green home building makes use of wind energy generation and solar panels and reduces the use of fossil fuels. Green home building is not a costly indulgence or fly by night fashion but a prudent building style that preserves the earth for posterity.



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Green home builders Blog

Green building is the new cool thing. I just want to share my thought on this topic a little bit. The ideas behind building green and green architecture have been around for a long long time. But there is serious new interest in the topic today that there wasn't before. What's changed is the financial equation on the idea of building green. The real big change is the cost of heating your house. And having the price of gas for your car also go up has also gotten people to think more.



I believe this to be a great step forward in the environmental movement. Without a business case, it's much harder to get people to adopt environmentally friendly policies. I'm very much interested to watch how the financial changes impact this entire discussion. I would bet that building green, saving energy, and overall environmental awareness comes back into the mainstream discussion like it was in the 70's.



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Thoughts on building a green home

What does it mean when people say that they are building a green home? Features of most green homes include utilizing the sun and land for natural heating and cooling, lessening waste produced by construction, making using of sustainable resources, and employing energy efficient fixtures and appliances. There are many ways that these features can be implemented in both building a green home and in updating existing homes.

So, in what way can you go about building a green home? Actually, there are some pretty simple things that you can do to improve the home that you have or that you can take into consideration when building a green home. A huge step you can take on the road to greenness is to update fixtures and appliances, most importantly, those which use water.

One of the first things to do is to update your toilet. Older toilets use a lot more water than new ones and are relatively easy to replace. It is also important to check your faucets in your home. Gallons of water can be wasted each day from leaky faucets and you may not even realize it! Additionally, and I do know that this is expensive, but top-loading washers use a lot more water than front loaders. I am not saying that you should run out and buy a brand new washing machine, however, you should keep that in mind if you find that you are going to be purchasing a new washing machine.

Other features to keep in mind when building a green home or updating an existing home are windows and insulation. If you are building a green home, paying a little more for energy efficient windows can help cut heating costs, which is especially important with today's fuel costs. Also, having your home properly insulated can cut heating and cooling costs.

I do know that it isn't always possible to spend a lot of money on updates for your home, but there are inexpensive updates that can make a big differences. The cheapest, easiest update that I have done to make my own home more green is to purchase a water-saving showerhead. It cost me about seven dollars, and uses half the water that a conventional showerhead does. Building a green home is pretty simple and doesn't have to be expensive.

Building a Green House ... The Future Prospects | The Latent Benefits In Building Green | Green Buildings ... The Hidden Potential | Why You Stand To Gain By Building Green | Building a Green House ... A Revolution Curtailed | Building Green ... A Benefits Report

Building a Green house is challenging and may well burn a hole in your pocket. It has been estimated that on an average, a green house will cost within a range of 0.5% to 6.5% more than a normal house. Practically speaking, it might does not make sense investing more in a green house. Such a view is misleading, as most people do not take into account the likely potential of building a Green house. As ecological concerns acquire a global magnitude, many nations are examining them seriously. The Green Movement is slowly but surely transforming from informal pressure groups into positive governmental action by inclusion of legislations in many parts of the world. In the United States, many states have commenced offering tax benefits for those who build green.

The green house building phenomena is gaining credibility including a premium in the real estate market. As oil inches to $150 per barrel and is slated to go up to $200 per barrel, operating costs worldwide will go up exponentially. The first effects of this surge in crude oil price will hit the users of electricity generated by Naptha fired plants. The air conditioning bills which till now seemed within limits would cross far over to the danger mark. The cascading effect of oil price rise will increase the costs of construction in every segment. With such a scenario of the future, building a green house would seem to be a wise decision. The motives for such an action is clear. According to a Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory study, building a green house right from the design stage can save as much as 40 percent of a building's utility bills for heating, cooling, and ventilation. Such a prediction will make building green houses an attractive proposition in the future. A simple extrapolation would conclude that such green features would enhance the salability and price of the real estate. The amount of land available for construction is getting increasingly dear, forcing developers to squeeze in more features in the available plots. Standard green features such as shared pools, a general rainwater harvesting plant, and common gardens are a de rigueur now a days.

In the not too distant future, customers will insist on houses with green features. This may be forced upon the customers to avoid being penalized by stricter government environmental laws. At present the effect of Euro IV on the automobile industry is a clear example. The same analogy may well become a reality 20 years from now for building houses. Therefore, building a Green House is a safe and a wise proposition.

Green Home Design Primer

Green home design is becoming more and more popular as people begin to realize the effects of wastefulness on the environment. Consider this, just a few years ago (2005), homes incorporating green home design concepts only made up 2% of the total homes being built or remodeled. However, it is estimated that by the year 2010, homes using green home design will approach or exceed 10% of all homes on the market. If you are thinking about making your home a greener living space, there is not a better time to get started than right now.

Using a green home design for your living space accomplishes many things in addition to helping the environment, including saving you money. Since homes incorporating green home design are more energy efficient, you can expect to see a return on your investment in the way savings on your energy bills. Besides saving you money, a home that makes use of green home design is also healthier for everyone living inside the space. These are simple things that you can benefit from immediately.

If you are considering green home design, you will be pleased to know that you do not have to build a completely new home. Green concepts can be incorporated into an already existing home. One of the factors that concerns many people about homes using green home design concepts is cost. Right now, it is quite a bit more expensive to build a or remodel a greener living space.

However, the benefits you gain far outweigh the initial cost. Plus, you do not have to do a complete overhaul of your immediately - think gradual changes. And as time goes on, the cost of green home design will continue to decrease and become less of a prohibitive factor. It is also beneficial to locate a contractor who is familiar with green home design to lower your costs further.

If you decide to incorporate green home design concepts in your home, you can expect to benefit from a home that is cost efficient, healthier for your family, and friendly to the environment as well. Green home design makes use of toxin free building materials which improves the quality of the air inside your home greatly. The air inside of a greener home is filtered via the help of natural and mechanical ventilation systems that purify the air. Homes that use green home design concepts also experience much lower rate of mold and mildew.

While it may be slightly more expensive initially to use green home design, you will definitely reap the benefits over time. By considering building a new home or remodeling your current home using green home design, you have peace of mind that you are doing your part to reduce your footprint on the environment as well as reaping the natural rewards of green home design.

How green home designs have changed since the 70s

The Green movement has seen a considerable evolution since the early 70s. Those momentous years of the Peace Movement, Vietnam War and the twilight zone of hippie culture, building 'Green' was still emerging. Many concept homes were designed in those early years which looked more like cave dwellings or ant hills and one really wondered whether people were actually serious about living in such homes.

Environment, ecology and living with the nature were very much a concept then, but was the domain of few people. That has changed to Green buildings being built by large construction companies with considerable support from the government. A trendy concept of the 70s has now transformed into an 'official mascot' of many a nations.

In the 70s there was no real professional effort at building Green homes. Designs mimicked natural designs of indigenous people without really trying to incorporate the wishes and aspirations of modern day living. There was no concerted effort at scientifically arriving at Green home designs. Today, Green home designs follow strict certification processes in countries the world over. In the US, The Leadership in Energy and Environment Design (LEED) is an initiative that sets standards for Green Home designs. The same standards have been incorporated by some countries while others have evolved their own. In the 70s, Green home designs tended to concentrate on 'stand alone' projects. Present day evolution looks at Green Home designs as a full fledged eco system. Now, factors such as recycling, indigenous practices, environment and architecture are examined holistically.

Science too has played an important role in the evolution of Green home designs. In the 70s powerful computers were not available. Computer Aided Designs (CAD) with wind flow computations and solar capture calculations make designing Green homes far more efficient than the 70s. Even 'greening' of construction materials has received an impetus thanks to advances in science. Nature friendly, recycled products, made possible by advances in science are regularly used by construction companies. A typical example is of Fly ash, a waste product which can as well be used in mixed cement with same qualities. The global environmental challenges are forcing countries to understand the need to conserve our resources. Thus Green home designs have traveled from a 'niche' specialization in the 70s to the mainstream of the construction business today.

The New Discipline of Green Home Design

Green home design is the wave of the future. Increasingly, people are paying attention to the environment and are seeking ways to minimize the impact everyday living creates. Over the last 30 years, efforts to develop technology and build more environmentally friendly homes are paying off. New home construction using green home design is expected to increase from 2% in 2005 to 10% in 2010.

Several key factors are integral to green homebuilding. Reduced use of energy, water and natural resources, integration of renewable energy systems, reduced waste and fewer health risks are all requirements of green home design. Building materials are made from natural, toxin-free products and recycled components. Paints and sealants have low VOC (volatile organic compound) content, and wood and insulation products are often made from rapidly renewable sources, such as bamboo, soybeans and cotton. Windows and doors have a high Energy Star rating and electric appliances and HVAC (heating, ventilation and air conditioning) systems must be energy efficient. A green home design will use natural light to minimize the use of electricity and position trees and awnings, etc. to shield summer sun. Air quality is freshened and cleaned through use of both natural and mechanical filtering and venting. Many green home designs incorporate the use of renewable energy sources such as solar electric systems. Green homes are often built on previously used parking lots or building sites and wetlands are avoided; existing trees are retained whenever possible.

Green home design has benefits that outweigh the cost of construction. The design and the natural materials lead to reduced internal pollution, and reduction or elimination of mold, mildew, carcinogens, and respiratory pollutants. This creates a healthier environment, reducing risks of respiratory, heart and allergy problems and cancer. The healthier products used and the efficient use of resources cause fewer green house effects and pollution. Besides the health and environmental benefits of green home design, there is approximately 40% reduction in energy and 50% reduction in water use making green homes more economical to run. The cost of building a green home is potentially the same as a conventional home and may even be less. There are also initiatives to provide low cost green homes which will further improve cost containment to the benefit of all consumers.

As the technology improves, contractors gain experience, and probably most importantly, consumers gain increased awareness, we should expect to see an increased growth in the demand for green home design.

Building An Environmentally Green House Has Endless Benefits

Energy and cost efficiency are two perks of building using green architecture and design. 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. In green house design, electricity is used more efficiently.

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. Another way to access electricity is through the installation of solar panels. 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. For instance, using a gray water system could allow green home residents to collect water used while showering for watering a garden or flushing toilets! Since water is being reused throughout the home, less of this precious resource is being unnecessarily wasted in day to day living. 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.

Building materials used and design of the dwelling are also key factors to consider when building a green house. Recycled or salvaged materials are an option in building a green house. Green house designs can incorporate recycled or salvaged materials for almost every need, including flooring, roofing and even insulation! Not only are recycled or salvaged materials often more cost effective for building, they are often more durable than other materials. Using locally salvaged building materials can reduce the carbon footprint of a home even more if they are locally obtained. In building a green house, using building materials obtained locally is better for the environment because they do not require as much energy to manufacture and transport.

Different kinds of architecture can be used in building a green house in order to regulate indoor temperatures. Design which increases exposure to sunlight and heat retention is possible with green architecture and would benefit those building in cold climates. In warmer climates, a comparable principle of design can be used in building a green house. By harnessing biomass from beneath the surface of the Earth as well as limiting sun exposure, those in warmer climates can keep cool. The ways to reduce carbon footprints while saving money are truly endless when building a green house!

Green home bathroom Blog

Green home design is the new hot thing. It's about time that this happen. There have been so many years of debate over global warming, but no action Check this out..

Green homes Entry Today

When many people think of green home design, they think about the cost of such construction. I would actually agree with that statement. I think that many times, people get so wrapped up in going green that they ignore fine structures in order to build "better" structures. Their heart is in the right place, but it doesn't make much sense to me.



In my mind, green home design shouldn't be limited to new construction. Greenness should be promoted in your current home. For example, insulate your home in a better manner to reduce your fuel consumption in the winter and thus reduce your heating costs. I agree with the idea of being green, but not with the idea of being wasteful in the name of greenness. I just think that it is so horrible when stores move into malls or plazas, which are "greener", and the old buildings that they used to be in just sit empty for years and years until they tear them down. Lots of money and land could have been saved had someone modernized the existing building rather than wasting it. Bookmark.



My point here is that it is usually more efficient to improve existing structures than to waste them and build new ones. Green home design doesn't mean building a new home. Green home design means building greenness in your current one. Another site you will like.

What are the considerations of building

Costliness is usually the first word associated with green home building. I would actually have to agree, sort of. Frequently, people neglect perfectly good structures to build better ones in an attempt to go green. Their heart is in the right place, but it doesn't make much sense to me.



I don't think green home building should include only new construction. Greenness should be promoted in your current home. For example, insulate your home in a better manner to reduce your fuel consumption in the winter and thus reduce your heating costs. Yes, we should build any new construction to green specifications, but so many times I see perfectly good buildings wasted to construct "greener" ones. http://greenhomedesigns.bloggytown.net/ For example, in my town, one major supermarket went out of business and a different major supermarket came into town. They had a perfectly fine existing structure, but needed to build a newer, better one right next door and coincidently had to demolish acres of woods to do so. Now, they brag about how their market is so green. Hmm...



My point here is that it is usually more efficient to improve existing structures than to waste them and build new ones. Green home building doesn't mean building a new home. Green home building means building greenness in your current one. http://greenhomedesign.bloginfo411.com/

Green homes Blog Entry

Green Home designs are home designs that synchronize with nature and the surrounding landscape. Recycled lumber , concrete, rubber and dry wall bricks are some of the many eco sensitive material that form an integral part of a green home design.



Green home designs suggest the use of durable, easy to maintain and fire resistant construction material. Air conditioning and central heating are unnecessary in a green home design because by using proper insulation techniques the interior is warm in winter and cool in summer. Green home designs do not use lead paint or formaldehyde treated particle board for kitchen and other cabinets which are forbidden construction material under law. A green home design is recognized by the power saver usage of compact fluorescent lamps, dimmers and thermostats. Articles



Cool in summer and warm is winter is the hallmark of a green home because it makes maximum use of natural sunlight and fresh air. A green home is designed for low energy usage and in recognition of its value, both the federal and State governments allow tax deductions for green home designs. A home with a green home design can be easily sold because of its low maintenance and low energy consumption record. Click this link for more



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Does Europe know something about green home building that the US doesn't

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. This phrase "green home building" is talked about in such a way that people are astonished by new technologies, but really, these technologies are 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. It can be easily transported in large quantities, which will conserve fuel. Additionally, AAC is made of 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.

An additional green home building material that is used widely in Europe but not in the United States is the Wood Fiber Board. This type of board is created from the wood chip waste which is a byproduct of sawmills. According to GreenHomeBuilding.com, these boards are free of allergens and they do not emit any toxins during their manufacture. They are cheap to make, durable, and totally compostable. But, we do not use those very much here in the United States. We prefer cutting more trees, I guess.. It seems as though we prefer not using something we already have, but rather wasting to create new products.

Europe is by far more advanced then we are when it comes to green home building practices. They have been doing these things for about one hundred years, so for Europeans, there is nothing new or innovative about green home building; it is a way of life. We are in the right mind set to become equal in greenness to Europe, but I just hope it is not too late.

Green home designs Entry Today

Green Home Plans are home plans certified by LEED ( Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) which is a voluntary rating system that certifies high performance energy efficient housing. Green home plans are drawn up with a view to use the elements of nature to energize a home without interfering with the surrounding environment.



Green home plans are for modestly sized buildings because the smaller the size, the less energy is required to be used. A green home plan is a daylight friendly pan and all windows will utilize day light without increasing or decreasing the temperature of the interiors of the home. Architects who design houses based on green house plans look for fittings which are given Energy Star certification by the EPA.



Green home plans focus on water recycling and reusing of non potable water for gardening. The healthy atmosphere for the interior in a green home plan is achieved by providing adequate yard space for growing trees which direct fresh air into the home. At first green home plans were regarded as expensive and the preserve of environmentalists but now their popularity has reduced the costs of green construction for all. See this link for more.

Green Home Buildings ... Why The Europeans are Far Ahead | Advancements In Green Home Buildings ... Lessons From Europe | Green Home Buildings and the European Contribution | Is the US Catching Up to Europe in Building Green Homes? | Europe Vs The States In Building Green Homes | Building Green Homes ... Comparing The European and US Standing

The Green home building initiative has its genesis in the Green Movement, which was in its heyday in the 1960s, especially among the Hippies. Thereafter, the Green movement evolved differently in the United States and Europe. The political authority of the green movement gained significantly with the institution of the German Green Party in 1970s. This gave rise to the creation of many more Green politics and following in Europe with an institutional role. Many of these Green parties formed part of coalition governments in Europe thus giving governmental support to green initiatives quite early on. A prime example is the green legislation tax passed in the late 1990s by the German government.

No such legislative activity took place in the States. The Green movement in the nation has continued as an informal initiative with hardly any federal backing. Initially, building green homes was much more costly to build than regular houses. American construction companies, sans the governmental pressures faced by their European counterparts, sought only to augment their profits rather than build green.

One of the popular movements in Europe that has persisted over 30 years is termed Building Biology, and opines that traditional brick and mortar buildings with its ingredients of steel, concrete, plastic foams are unhealthy; it also recommends that naturally occurring local building materials are a better choice. Consequently, over the years, Europeans have been building walls with the help of loam. Contributing to the conservation efforts is also possible by using recycled paper as insulation. Till very recently, Americans considered used bathing water as waste water; instead this is an invaluable resource to be used for landscaping. The LEED norms in vogue in the United States are not legal regulations yet. One may look at the French initiative, to implement its local building green norms in the European Union, as a positive influence on the State.

Houses in the US are usually constructed of wood which is both abundant and economical.\ The swift expansion of the US construction industry raised import of wood and consequently the loss of substantial tropical rainforest areas. The real estate developers did not see it fit to consider the incalculable harm that was being done to the global environment. The Europeans on the other had very early on understood the likely adverse impact on the environment and commenced forest plantation in their own countries as also using bamboo and other quick growing woods instead of tropical rainforest woods. Little surprise as to the reason Europeans seem far ahead in structuring green homes as against Americans.

Green House Building ... Sustaining Our Future

Our Planet is facing dramatic changes owing to the accelerated rate of human development and indiscriminate exploitation of natural resources. A warning sign that our delicate global ecosystem is very near the 'tipping' scale is characterized by Global warming. Therefore, it devolves upon the human race to find solutions so that man and nature can harmonize their needs to ensure a sustainable future. Building 'Green' Houses is one such important initiative.

What is a 'Green' House building? It encompasses cost effective and eco-friendly use of resources to build houses, institutions, markets, malls, and other similar structures.

There are various methods used for building 'Green' houses. Use of architectural designs, which maximize the availability of natural sunlight and wind, help reduce consumption of electricity and polluting air conditioners. Another method is to use solar heaters and photovoltaic cells to save electricity. Conservation, an important facet of 'green' design is helped by using locally available natural materials. Rationalizing one's needs also helps the green initiative; for example, building a house only as large as you actually need. Conservation of water is a 'green' principle, which can be achieved through installing smaller cisterns, using recycled water for your garden and rainwater harvesting.

The advantages of building 'green' are many. Experts have estimated that a well-planned 'green' building consumes upto 30% less energy than a normal building. Greater use of natural air and sunlight make 'green' building healthier, increasing human efficiency and yes, mean lesser visits to the doctor!

It is generally misconstrued that green building costs more to build than normal buildings. Such a perception is not true. A well-conceived 'green' house project might cost in the range of 0.5% to 6.5% over a normal building in the initial costing. In the long term, those initial costs are recovered.

For 'green' buildings to be sustainable it is recommended that one considers incorporation of the 'green' features in the initial design itself. Sustainability of a 'green' concept is also increased by establishing a common area for selected facilities or sharing of resources including a common swimming pool or a rain water conservation unit in the neighborhood.

'Green' is here to stay. In fact more and more people will be opting to live in 'green' buildings in the future. Giving encouragement to this initiative will be our contribution towards securing a sustainable future for mankind and our planet.

Green Home Design Ideas

As a people, our current wasteful lifestyles won't be sustainable for long. This is a fact that we're becoming more and more aware of every day. And so green home design, formerly a small market, is spreading steadily over the world. Some experts predict that green home design will soon make up a huge slice of the real estate industry.

In the U.S., housing accounts for 38% of the country's carbon emissions. Especially if we want to stop global warming, building our homes with green home designs will have a significant effect on the future. If you're looking to incorporate a bit of green home design, there are a hundred small things you can do to green-up your home. But for those into truly lowering their home's impact on the environment, there are four basic green home design rules to follow.

Rule 1 in Green Home Design: Go Small

Large homes are a symbol of wealth, status, and success. But large homes use up an incredible amount of energy for heating and cooling-- and this energy generally comes from nasty fossil fuels that muck up our environment. These homes also require more resources for building and create more waste as a result. So it's important for you to build small if you want to incorporate a green home design.

Green Home Design Rule 2: Incorporate Passive Solar Design

Passive solar cooling and heating is one of the most important elements of green home design. The relatively simple concept behind passive solar design is to design a home according to the climate. In warm climates, design is used to reduce the amount of heat absorbed by the home. In colder areas, design is used to reduce the amount of heat lost. To do this, green home design is incorporated into the orientation of the building, the location of the windows, the flooring (stone is best), and other elements of the home to reduce the amount of energy wasted.

Rule 3 in Green Home Design: Recycle and Reuse Materials

Almost everything used in a traditional home harms the environment in some way, either by its manufacture (plastics and artificials) or its transport (naturals). The use of renewable or recycled materials which are manufactured locally helps to reduce the damage building can have on the environment. Consider installing bamboo or recycled wood flooring and incorporate a green home design using recycled materials, such as cellulose insulation and lumber composites, throughout the home.

Rule 4 in Green Home Design: Shrink your AC

Heating and cooling a home accounts for the huge majority of its energy consumption. And no matter how tempting a large AC system might sound during the hot summer months, this type of system can ruin your good intentions for a green home. Big air conditioning systems cool the air too much and too quickly, causing them to turn on an off constantly. Because of this, they don't last nearly as long as smaller systems, creating a huge amount of waste along with energy loss.

World Variations in Green Home Building

As new information comes in, the global community becomes more and more concerned about the environment and energy conservation. And even though the United States is doing more every day to conserve energy, Americans are still a step behind in the energy conservation movement. Europe in particular has been leading the way in green home building and especially in energy conservation for many years.

European Energy Consciousness

Europe is at the forefront of the green movement, including green home design... and with good reason. In Europe, oil, natural gas, and electricity are more expensive than in the U.S., and have been for decades. And of course this makes Europe more aware of energy and power usage than the U.S.. This is seen in European culture in a lot of ways.

One of the main ways that Europeans save energy is through a tightly knit and efficient public transport system. In addition to mass transit in essentially every major European city, the continent also boasts a well utilized long distance passenger rail service. While cars are common in Europe, many more Europeans use public transport (or even ride bicycles) than would be found in the U.S..

Europeans also build their homes with energy conservation in mind. In large European cities in particular, green home building concepts are widely used. Most people residing in a large European city live in a much smaller space than the average U.S. home. Most homes (and many businesses) in Europe do not have central air conditioning, and use basic green home building concepts for cooling. They use simple ideas, such as rolling black out screens, roll out terrace shades, double paned windows, etc., to cool or heat their homes.

The Green Home Building Trend in the U.S.

To sum it up: in Europe, the people have been conscious of the need to switch off the lights when they are not using them for decades... because they needed to save money. Americans, who are used to thinking of energy as a cheap and limitless commodity, are just starting to adjust to a "more European" mindset... including remembering to turn out the lights. This is easy to see when you consider how popular green home building and design has become in America during recent years.

The green home building concepts being used in America revolve around simple ideas, such as less square footage, improved insulation, and smarter positioning to the sun, as well as the use of alternative energy sources like solar paneling. More long term, in depth ideas are also used in green home building in America, such as using renewable materials and environmentally friendly building processes. America is a little behind, but with luck will start catching up to the standard set by Europe.

Building a green house Today

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. The reaction from the climate activists was negative because they want to see more action.
This is understandable. But, this is a step forward. Before this point, the republicans were not even acknowledging that climate change was real. Nothing could have been further from the truth. So, in that sense I'm glad to see that the republicans are finally catching up with reality.



Entry Tags: Green home construction