All Posts in "GREEN HOME"

Innovative Green Home Designs and Floor Plans

Green homes are becoming increasingly popular as people become more environmentally conscious. Innovative green home designs and floor plans are changing the landscape of the housing industry, providing homeowners with sustainable living options while reducing their carbon footprint. In this article, we will explore some of the most innovative green home designs and floor plans available today.

Tiny Homes

Tiny homes have been gaining popularity in recent years as an affordable and sustainable housing option. These homes are typically around 400 square feet, providing homeowners with a minimalist living experience. Tiny homes use less energy and require fewer resources to build, making them an eco-friendly choice. They often feature solar panels, rainwater harvesting systems, and composting toilets to reduce environmental impact. Despite their small size, tiny homes can be designed with a variety of unique features such as custom storage, retractable furniture, and multi-functional spaces.

Net-Zero Homes

Net-zero homes are designed to produce as much energy as they consume, resulting in an overall zero-carbon footprint. These homes often feature highly efficient heating and cooling systems, solar panels, and energy-efficient appliances. Net-zero homes are often built using sustainable materials such as bamboo, recycled steel, and reclaimed wood. These homes are not only environmentally sustainable but also result in significant energy cost savings for homeowners.

Passive House Designs

Passive house designs rely on energy-efficient techniques to reduce energy demand and minimize the home’s carbon footprint. These designs utilize passive solar gain, high levels of insulation, and triple-pane windows to maintain a comfortable … READ MORE ...

Emily Burgman by — March 22, 2023 in Green Home Energy
Biophilic Design Elements in Sustainable Architecture

Biophilic design is an approach to architecture that incorporates nature and natural elements into building design. It aims to improve human well-being by creating a connection between the built environment and the natural world. Sustainable architecture is another approach that seeks to minimize the environmental impact of buildings. Using biophilic design elements in sustainable architecture creates a space that is not only sustainable but also supports human health and well-being. In this article, we will explore some of the key biophilic design elements that can be incorporated into sustainable architecture.

Natural Light and Views

One of the primary biophilic design elements in sustainable architecture is the use of natural light and views. Access to natural light and views of nature has been shown to improve human health and productivity. Large windows, skylights, and open layouts allow for increased natural light and views of surrounding natural environments. This not only connects the building’s occupants to nature but also reduces the need for artificial lighting, leading to energy savings.

Living Green Walls

Living green walls are a biophilic design element that is becoming increasingly popular in sustainable architecture. These vertical gardens are made up of live plants that grow vertically on the walls of a building. Living green walls provide several benefits, including enhancing indoor air quality, reducing noise levels, and improving mental well-being. The plants also act as natural insulation, reducing the energy needed to heat and cool the building.

Indoor-Outdoor Connection

Incorporating an indoor-outdoor connection into the design of a … READ MORE ...

Emily Burgman by — January 20, 2023 in Green Architecture
How to Make Renewable Energy at Home

If you’re looking for a way to cut your energy bills, you may be interested in learning how to make renewable energy at home. There are several types of solar power systems that you can implement at your home. These include Photovoltaic, Microhydropower, and Small Wind electric systems.

Solar panels

Solar panels can be used for residential purposes, and they are a great way to reduce your carbon footprint. You can even use them to power your entire home.

The average American household consumes 900 kilowatts (kWh) of electricity every month. Using solar energy will save you a significant amount of money. But, before you get too excited, you should make sure you’re prepared for the install.

To get started, you’ll want to gather some information on the different types of solar power. It will help you determine the right size of system for your needs. Some options include roof-mounted solar, ground-mounted solar, and a combination of the two.

You’ll also want to look into a few factors, including the size of your roof, the orientation of your home, and the weather you live in. These factors will affect how much you can offset your electric bill with solar.

One of the first things you should do is find a local contractor to install your solar panels. A good one will be familiar with your local regulations.

Small wind electric systems

Home wind electric systems are a way to generate clean electrical energy. They are also a renewable resource that … READ MORE ...

Emily Burgman by — January 19, 2023 in GREEN HOME
Eco Friendly House Ideas

Whether you want to build an eco friendly house from scratch or you are looking for ideas to renovate your existing home, there are plenty of ways to go green. For example, you can use straw bale construction, repurpose materials in your home, install solar panels, and more.

Wood

If you are looking for eco friendly house ideas, wood may be a good option. This building material has several benefits, including a low carbon footprint, higher performance than concrete, and easy recycling. Wood has also been proven to reduce water pollution.

Its light weight makes it an easy material to transport. It also helps to reduce air pollution. In fact, a single m3 of wood contains more than 750 kilograms of CO2. Compared to concrete, wood’s carbon footprint is smaller, reducing the need for a more efficient energy system.

Another benefit is its durability. It can stand up to a variety of forces, including fire and termites. Moreover, it can be treated with impregnation, coating, or drying to make it resistant to damage.

Straw bale construction

Straw bale construction for eco friendly house ideas is a sustainable method of building that can save you a lot of energy over conventional buildings. But it is not without its challenges.

In order to be successful, you need to consider a number of factors. First, you must build your house within a reasonable budget. This means that you must be able to secure financing for the project. Next, you need to be able … READ MORE ...

Emily Burgman by — January 6, 2023 in Eco Friendly Homes
How New Green Building Technology Can Make Your Home More Energy Efficient

The latest trends in green building technology can be used to help make your home more energy efficient. By improving the insulation and water efficiency of your home, you can conserve resources and make the most of the energy you consume. You can even use LEDs or CFLs to save energy.

Energy efficiency

Energy efficiency in buildings is an important step towards a more sustainable future. Not only does energy efficiency cut costs for both building owners and tenants, it can also create opportunities for local businesses and boost property values.

Using technology, smart systems can make existing buildings more energy efficient. This includes automated lighting, temperature settings, and heating and cooling controls. These systems can also detect usage patterns and make adjustments to setpoints. Moreover, they can identify areas outside of optimal ranges.

Boosting buildings’ energy efficiency can reduce pollution, increase energy security, and boost productivity. But there are challenges to tracking and scaling energy efficiency investments.

The building sector accounts for the largest share of total global energy consumption. However, there is little transparency on the industry’s energy efficiency investments.

Water efficiency

Water efficiency in new green building technology is a topic that is getting more and more attention these days. More and more buildings are popping up around the world, and the demand for water has increased exponentially. This has led to a significant deficit in the global water supply.

A number of government agencies are trying to spread the concept of water conservation and efficiency. Some … READ MORE ...

Emily Burgman by — December 23, 2022 in Green Building