The world has entered what some may consider an age of excess. Wasteful, uninhabitable homes exist on a grand scale. Building an eco-friendly home is possible and doable in your backyard. Different eco-friendly ideas come with unique benefits. However, you will have to make the selection based on what suits you best before making it happen. The following are eco-minded home building solutions that are worth your consideration.
Window-Porch-Dwelling
One of the most obvious ways to build an eco-friendly home is to live out on the porch if you have one. If not, creating a window-porch dwelling could be just what you need. Homes built with a window over each dormer or gable end are up to three times more efficient at heating and cooling than conventional homes. Furthermore, these dwellings turn their houses into miniature greenhouses. They can grow vegetable gardens and even host chickens and goats. Perhaps that is the next step in your home improvement plans.
Sun-Fed Flooring
Rather than looking to retrofit or hire a contractor to create a sun-fed floor installation, you could build one yourself. One example is the addition of grow light. This is a string of tiny lights that hangs from the ceiling. It spreads its light throughout the room, creating an indoor garden that can be watered and fed by rainwater collection under the roof. This type of living space is suitable for your wallet and the environment.
Natural Ventilation
In addition to those eco-friendly roof windows, consider pulling your home’s design back to a simpler time. The best consideration would be when houses did not have central air or heat. The windows in the walls let the sunshine in. This keeps the interiors at a comfortable temperature. Of course, these are more traditional homes. However, you could always build one yourself if you wanted to bring the whole family together under one roof.
Green-Friendly Wall Insulation
Eco-friendly wall insulation is a big part of managing your energy consumption. The structure will require more resources than putting up drywall and painting that wall. You will also want to factor in how the insulation works. The latest technology allows for safe and effective insulation. When ready to make your next home improvement project, you can make purchases online or at local home improvement stores.
Solar-Powered Water Heater
Consider a solar-powered water heater if you are in an area that gets plenty of sun. This is one of the best and most common eco minded solutions. It will save you money on your utility bill. The heater will also reduce pollution by eliminating the need to burn fossil fuels. The heaters are super easy to install, require little maintenance, and are green-friendly. Plus, they are usually water heaters powered by the sun. You could even use this system to feed your home’s hot tub or swimming pool.
Bamboo Flooring Underneath
Bamboo flooring is not only eco-friendly but also affordable and durable. This is a great flooring solution for the budget shopper. It is generally much cheaper than cork or hardwood floors. Bamboo grows quickly and naturally resists pests better than any other wood flooring. It is also very resilient. If you accidentally drop something on this type of flooring, it will bounce right back instead of getting dented or damaged. This flooring is suitable for your home and the environment, too.
Environmentalism is more critical than ever. Today much of the problem is caused by downright wasteful buildings. In many cases, people invest a significant amount to build with no concern for how long it will last or how they can impact change in an eco-friendly way. However, it is crucial to construct eco-minded homes. To create environmentally friendly homes, consider the eco-minded solutions listed above.
