5 Eco-Home Tips:
Everyday people decide to build themselves a new, eco-friendly, home and they so something that happens to everyone, they make mistakes. Even with a great deal of planning, things may still go wrong, but here is a list to help alleviate that problem and offer some tips for success.
1. Location-
Something often over looked is the location of the intended structure. Forgetting that it may be difficult to build into a hard rock surface or very marshy land, can be a costly problem. Closing their eyes to building in an area that doesn't have the abundant natural resources necessary for renewable energy production may also cause the owners to fall into a predicament.
Before they buy a property, someone check it out, see if it's suitable to be built upon. Also, if there is a plan to have solar panels, don't go to a very rainy area and if wishing for wind power, go somewhere windy. This seems logical, but is very easy to forget to include in the planning.
2. Eco-Friendlyness-
When trying to build a green home, the problem of actually remembering to be eco-friendly, may be ignored. It is possible to hurt the region when using large equipment or with the use rare materials in the building process. Also, the displacement of animals in the project may be of concern.
Although there is very few ways to obstruct the later, it is feasible to prevent the others. I don't suggest building without a single machine, because the job would never be finish, but try to limit the use to smaller areas. It is possible to substitute other materials as well. Cork instead of oak flooring, eco-friendly paint, and using recycled material are just a few examples. This may also save some money, because these items are often cheaper.
3. Appliances- Untold amount of water and energy is wasted everyday, because of inefficient appliances. Does the dishwasher need to really use the extra water? Does it work better? No, neither does the toilet or shower. None of these need to use as much energy as they do and the less energy they use, the better they are for the environment and the owner's wallet. Dishwashers and toilets that use less water can be purchased and showers may be fitted with an eco-drain (uses the run-off to preheat the incoming water). It is also possible to install a solar water heater, instead of the conventional. |
4. Utilities-
Coal burning or nuclear power plants? Both are ecological disasters and extreamly expensive. Living off the grid sounds great, but very difficult. It is actually much simpler then it is believed to be.
Installing solar cells and wind generators arn't the only way to gain cheap energy. Using a heat circulator(bottom of page) is a good way to warm up a room in the winter as well.
5. Food-
Having a garden in the plan is great way to avoid having to buy a lot of food. It can be fun and quite rewarding. Harvesting run-off is a good way to water them too.
Sadly, other then raising animals, I don't have any way to get meat products. Purchasing in bulk from a butcher may help lower some costs.
