Green Home Design Concepts
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by: hugatree
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There is an increasingly popular trend toward the use of green home design. Increasingly, people are paying attention to the environment and are seeking ways to minimize the impact everyday living creates. Major initiatives over the past three decades have raised support and demand for green homes. New home construction using green home design is expected to increase from 2% in 2005 to 10% in 2010.
Several key factors are integral to green homebuilding. Reduced use of energy, water and natural resources, integration of renewable energy systems, reduced waste and fewer health risks are all requirements of green home design. Products used in construction must be toxin-free and made from natural or recycled materials. Paints and sealants used in green homes are made with low volatile organic compounds (VOC) while wood and insulation products are made from bamboo, soybeans and cotton, which are quickly replaced in the environment. Windows and doors must have a high E factor rating and energy saving appliances and climate control systems must be installed. The green home design incorporates the use of windows and skylights to take advantage of natural light, with trees and other shading devices used to limit heat from summer sun. Natural and mechanical methods of air ventilation filter and vent the air, keeping it fresh and clean. Solar energy is a popular renewable energy source used in green home designs. Green homes are often built on previously used parking lots or building sites and wetlands are avoided; existing trees are retained whenever possible.
Green home design has benefits that outweigh the cost of construction. Reduction or elimination of internal pollutants, mold, mildew and carcinogens result from the use of toxin-free, natural products and overall design. Due to this pollutant free environment, occupants of green homes experience fewer respiratory and heart problems, allergies and cancer. The ecological-friendly products and resource conservation create fewer green house effects and pollutants, reducing the negative impact on the environment. Besides the health and environmental benefits of green home design, there is approximately 40% reduction in energy and 50% reduction in water use making green homes more economical to run. With knowledgeable contractors the construction costs are said to be about the same or less than conventional home construction. There are also initiatives to provide low cost green homes which will further improve cost containment to the benefit of all consumers.
As consumers are educated to the benefits of green home design and products and designs improve, more people will choose to build environmentally friendly homes. Similar articles Submit feeds . Green homes . Rss database . Green home designs . Articles .
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