Building a new home, or renovating, is the perfect time to build in features that will reduce your energy and water usage (and bills) and your exposure to chemicals for years to come. You might simply add a few green features, such as better insulation, or you could go the whole hog and create your dream self-sufficient eco-home. Energy efficiency, in particular, will also add to your home’s resale value, with energy prices likely to soar in future. Switch to Green building now....
Key Steps to Build
Install solar hot water:
If your home is suitable (with an area of south-facing roof) then solar hot water can provide 70 per cent of your hot water.
Get advice on using passive solar design, insulation and skylights:
Good design reduces the need for heating, lighting and air-conditioning by making best use of natural light, heat and shade.
Install composting toilets:
Instead of using precious drinking water to flush waste into the sewage system, composting toilets have a fan to extract moisture and odours, allowing solid matter to break down into useful compost for your garden. And no, they don’t smell! In a sane world, every new home would have them.
Use natural paints and varnishes:
Standard paints contain petrochemicals that emit harmful toxins.
Use salvaged materials:
Discarded building materials make up the bulk of landfill.
Avoid nylon carpets:
Nylon is a petrochemical product. Instead, choose 100 per cent wool with natural fibre backing and no brominated flame retardant. All carpets provide a home for allergy-causing dustmite, so consider alternatives such as tiles, sustainably sourced timber, bamboo or cork.
Want to do More..
- See if your home is suited for solar panels or a wind turbine.
- Consider eco-friendly building materials, such as mud-brick, rammed earth or strawbale.
- Paint interior walls in light colours to reduce the need for lighting.
Building
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