What is a Green Home?

When it comes to building a property of your own, then it is a good idea to go down the route of creating a green home. A green home is a type of house that is designed to be environmentally friendly and sustainable. This means that it will focus on using building materials efficiently in its creation and energy and other resources efficiently when it is a functioning property.

Green homes initially became a popular idea in the 1970’s when worries about the levels of fossil fuels left started to kick in, as well as rising prices for crude oil. In the 2000’s, a move came about with various bodies creating a voluntary green home building standard – meaning that homes would have a uniform level of environmental friendliness.

What Does A Green Home Consist Of?

There are a number of things that would help you to create a green home – it depends on what you want to achieve with your project. Some suggestions include:

• Modern Building Material – using modern building materials such as SIPs (structural Insulated panels) means that your new green home project, will be less resource intensive, as the materials used are designed with efficiency in mind. This also means that your home will be quicker and easier to put together than a normal home, due to SIPs being prefabricated off site. This means that less damage is done to the environment around the project.
• Insulation – if you don’t think that using the modern end of the building materials spectrum, then with a traditional home it is vital to make sure that it is well insulated. This is because a well insulated home will save you money on your bills, as well as being better for the environment – good wall insulation (internal wall insulation or external wall insulation) and loft insulation will make sure your home is warm and your bills are lower.
• Alternative energy sources – a green home works best when it is as close to self sufficient as possible. Biomass boilers are a great way of providing heat and hot water for your home – using renewable biomass pellets as fuel which are cheap and easily sourced. Solar PV Panels are a great way to provide enough electricity for your home and mean that your bills will shrink and are better for the environment. There is government funding available for these which means that they are a cost effective means of running a home.

What Are The Benefits of A Green Home?

When it comes to a green home, there are a number of benefits. Firstly, taking into account the energy saving potential that a green home presents, then in the long term it is a great option to consider, as the amount you save on bills that are rising, will be able to be used on other things. Benefiting the environment by using less resources, and be less damaging during the construction process. Finally, when it comes to selling your home then a green home is ideal, as checks need to be made in terms of energy efficiency – something that is rarely an issue with a green home.

If you require more information on home energy efficiency and alternative energy sources, or on how to get the most from alternative building methods such as SIPs then contact Clays LLP or Synergize today.