Eco-Friendly Homes: Sustainable Living with a Green Home

Not just for hippies and tree huggers anymore, eco-friendly homes are going mainstream, largely spurred on by the spiraling cost of energy. There’s more to eco-friendly homes however, than just saving energy. Using green building materials, eliminating indoor air pollutants and allergens, water conservation, smaller houses and smaller lots are all part of what eco-friendly homes are all about.
 
Eco-friendly houses cost a bit more on average but are well worth it because of the significant cost savings down the (usually short) road. Eco-friendly homes also tend to have higher resale values. Families who are interested in buying eco-friendly homes are primarily interested in three things: Energy efficient building techniques, using green building materials, and indoor air quality.

Energy Efficient Building Techniques 
If the climate is right, for example in the Cotswolds, eco-roofs or rooftop gardens play a large role in cutting energy costs by deflecting heat. Homes in warm or cold climates benefit from using insulation with correct R-factors and double-glazed windows. In cold climates, radiant floor heating is another building technique that works very well and in fact, has been used in Europe for many years. Using less energy means saving money and conserving natural resources.

Although technically not a part of the building infrastructure, energy efficient appliances are nonetheless a large part of what makes a home eco friendly, as are water saving technologies, such as driveways made of porous materials underlain by a cistern to collect rainwater for non-potable uses.

Green Building Materials
It used to be that green building materials such as recycled plastic “wood” or solvent-free paints and stains were difficult to find. Not anymore. Even some of the leading DIY centers are realizing the benefits of green building and are stocking items such as bamboo or engineered laminate flooring made from renewable resources and cellulose insulation made from 80% recovered post-consumer paper. In addition, DIY centers that specialize in green building materials are also cropping up all over the place offering everything from recycled linoleum and recycled carpet for the floor to recycled glass countertops or tiles for your kitchen. 

Air Quality, Heating and Ventilation
Mold and other allergies are often issues for families so indoor air quality is an important issue. Eco-friendly homes strive to use natural heating and ventilation systems with frequent air exchanges (typically achieved through mechanical systems). Eco-friendly homes use such techniques as south facing orientations to ensure plenty of sunlight to heat rooms and inhibit the growth of mold, as well as plenty of windows to catch cross breezes. Interior furnishings and carpets are typically made from recycled or natural materials such as cotton, wool, and seagrass to reduce or eliminate emissions of noxious air pollutants.