From Guest Blogger Amelia Atkins: Ten Building Techniques and Ideas for a Green Home

One’s home is the biggest source of energy waste as well as financial strain. In that respect, coming up with a thorough plan on how to build your home in a green and environmentally friendly manner won’t only help the planet and minimize your carbon footprint, but will also save you a ton of money in the long run. So, what are some essential steps to take into consideration in this regard? Keep on reading to find out.

1. Location first

Obviously, when looking to build a home from scratch, location is the first thing to look into. Essentially, choose a location that will minimize sun exposure so that your home stays cool without the need to use air conditioning. Moreover, look for a place that’s not in an environmentally sensitive area, as well as a place that’s close to public transport, important commercial buildings and local shops.

2. Energy efficient equipment

When building and equipping your home, choose elements that are star rated. This means that they are energy efficient and won’t eat up unnecessary energy. This is especially important when it comes to your kitchen appliances.

3. Insulate your home

If you want to make sure your home is green and cost-effective, insulation is a must. Insulating your home means that warm air won’t escape as easily during colder months, just like cool air won’t escape in warmer months. That way, you’ll minimize the need for using heaters/coolers in your home.

4. Consider solar panels

Even though you want to minimize sun exposure inside your home in a way that would provide a cool environment during the hot days, that doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t utilize natural light to the fullest. This is especially true for places that are naturally warmer, such as Australia. In that respect, discuss the possibility of installing solar panels. These may be expensive at first, but will pay off considerably in the long run. Don’t hesitate to ask around and look for professional builders in Sydney that can help you green up your home from top to bottom.

5. Building sustainability

Just like you would use recyclable materials for your floors and windows, opt for sustainable materials for your home’s construction as well. Natural, renewable materials such as bamboo, reclaimed wood, recycled glass, aluminum, recycled plastic and tile, etc. are all great materials for a green and eco-friendly home.

6. Recycling and reusing

If you had your own home before, do your best to reuse and recycle as many materials as possible for the construction of your new home. What’s more, even if you haven’t owned a house before, opt for materials for your floors, windows, doors, etc. that are made of easily recyclable and reusable materials.

7. Energy efficient widows

Just like your appliances and equipment, windows can be star rated and energy efficient as well. Basically, these windows will make sure that energy waste generally caused by windows is as minimal as possible. Thanks to that, you will soon be able to cover the additional cost of an energy rated window as well.

8. Eco-friendly lights

It’s no secret that your lights can cause great energy waste, especially if you want to illuminate your home thoroughly. In that respect, your best option is to opt for LED or CFL lights. You have a variety of options here – also, these lights will use less energy while lasting a lot longer compared to regular lights.

9. Conserve water

It’s not just about saving electricity, but conserving water as well. In that respect, one of the main things you can do when building your green home is to opt for low flow water fixtures as well as toilets. Of course, appliances that use water such as washing machines and dishwashers should be star-rated, as mentioned before.

10. Better air quality

Finally, ventilation, heating and air conditioning are essential for a comfortable home interior. So, in order for the indoor air quality to be acceptable as well as eco-friendly, you should look into the benefits of an energy star rated HVAC system. When properly installed, it can make a huge difference for your finances, lifestyle quality and environment.

Of course, don’t ignore your own power when it comes to saving the environment and money. Once your home is complete, there are tons of things that you can do in order to minimize energy waste and your carbon footprint. Opt for organic alternatives, support locally-operated brands and always remember to turn off appliances you’re not using at that moment.