Green construction has to be neither cost prohibitive or complicated, according to experts at the Pacific Coast Builders Conference. According to these experts, building homes that are green and energy efficient does not have to be rocket science at all, but rather you can build a very efficient home at a very low cost. The following is a collection of building practices that are attainable and sustainable that can help you make your building projects greener without requiring a lot of money.
Energy Efficiency –
In most green building certification programs, energy efficiency plays a very large role. Consumers want homes that offer reduced costs of operation. Begin by building the home to require less air conditioning in the first place, and make sure that the air conditioning unit is charged properly otherwise the system’s SEER may drop out. When installing insulation, make sure to use the thermal bypass checklist by Energy Star, which shows common insulation installation mistakes and how they can be avoided. The most cost effective features for saving energy tend to vary based on the climate for your local, for example tankless water heaters are excellent for climates like San Diego where you do not need much heat or air conditioning.
Durability –
Install backer board that is resistant to moisture, such as DensShield Tile Backer by Georgia Pacific, because standard gypsum board is an excellent breeding ground for mold, which needs to be avoided. Concentrating on the initial design is the best way to provide the biggest bang for the amount of money that you are spending. Another thing worth implementing is to avoid roof pitches that intersect with vertical wall planes, because this can cause problems relating to moisture management. Remember the basics when it comes to durability, most of all. One tip that was recommended was to avoid reverse shingling house wrap, which can cause enormous problems in the long run.
Water Efficiency –
Aim to install high efficiency fixtures and appliances, as high efficiency dishwashers can use only 5 to 7 gallons of water per load rather than 12 gallons for example. Other high efficiency fixtures are also useful, such as toilets, showers, washing machines and faucets, many of which can provide savings of up to 50%. You should also work to install water conserving landscaping, avoiding invasive species and only using low flow irrigation systems, drip and bubbler systems along with smart irrigation controllers for the best results.
Resource Conservation –
You should avoid using plants in your landscaping that require a lot of shearing, because green waste like this can take up a lot of space in local landfills. Instead, include a built in recycling center so that recycling can be made easier for homeowners.
There are many building practices that can create greener homes without requiring much more money in the process.
Photo Credits: 1
Originally posted 2009-02-04 05:50:39. Republished by Blog Post Promoter
Related Posts -
The Truth of Green Product Claims If you are confused when it comes to green building products and the claims that are being made by their manufacturers, you are not the only one. Navigating the complex world behind green products and the claims that they make is not always easy, but it has become necessary in...... -
Study Shows Homeowners Using Landscaping to Save Energy and Water In this current day and age, where common activities among people include the tightening of wallets and the fearing of soaring energy bills, almost everyone has had to adopt some substantial practices inside and outside of their own homes. Americans are also incorporating techniques in their landscaping that are allowing...... -
Insulated Vinyl Siding's Green Performance Documented in New Study Recent studies that have been sponsored on the behalf of NYSERDA, insulated vinyl siding has demonstrated that it contributes to energy consumption savings as well as savings in CO2 emissions and energy costs, which means that insulated vinyl siding is capable of outperforming fiber cement when these environmental measures and...... -
Quick and Easy Steps to Green Remodeling For a lot of home remodelers, the idea of going green can be absolutely overwhelming. Luckily, there is a wealth of information out there, and just because you are not already implementing these ideas, that does not mean you're too far behind to make some leeway. According to leading remodelers...... -
Green Building Materials Green Construction is the practice of building in a way that increases efficiency of the use of materials like energy, water and other materials and resources while reducing the impact on human health and the environment during the process of building through more efficient design, site selection, construction, operation, maintenance......
Related Websites -
Structural Insulated Panels Help Contractors Meet Challenges of Difficult Building Environments Most construction professionals are familiar with the "Project Management Triangle," a concept that ties cost, schedule, scope and quality together. Impact any of these project elements, and you impact the others. Academics frequently present the triangle as an inflexible set of constraints. Nonsense.Under any given construction practices, the Project...... -
Save 40% on Home Heating Costs This Winter Are you dreading the next few months of heating and energy costs? Even though the prices for heating your home have fallen over the last two years, it is still costly to keep your home warm throughout the winter. Some people may consider taking strides to make their home...... -
How to Buy the Right Water Heater A water heater is an essential appliance that is commonly overlooked in many homes. Typically they will provide years of service, and you may never realize that it is either terribly inefficient or even faulty. Here are some tips to help you determine whether your current water heater should be...... -
Solar Energy Is Not New. The following is a guest post by Nan Fischer, a Certified EcoBroker specializing in green real estate in Taos, NM. Check out her website www.nanfischer.com, and follow her on Twitter for a daily green news feed, www.twitter.com/nan_fischer. Greetings to all you energy conscious, eco-minded folks! I hope you are ready...... -
Adobe/Thermal Mass Building - Eliminating The Need For Air Conditioning. As most of you guys already know, we recently moved to Taos, NM and are renting an old adobe home near the center of town. Growing up on the east coast and then living in California, I have never lived in an adobe house before - walls 18 inches......
- Water Filters Kitchen Plumbing Fixtures Home Improvement
- Solar Water Pumps Alternative Solar Energy Electrical Solar Home Improvement
- Manufactured Homes Real Estate Opportunities
- Hot Cold Water Dispensers Kitchen Plumbing Fixtures Home Improvement
- Local US Political Historical Memorabilia Collectibles
Categories:
Going Green Tips, Green Construction, Home
Tags:
0 comments ↓
There are no comments yet...Kick things off by filling out the form below.
Leave a Comment