What’s your dream home? Maybe it’s a modern mansion with a sprawling lawn and a view of the ocean. Or maybe it’s a cozy cottage that’s nestled in the woods. Either way, you’re probably looking for a place that you can call your own and enjoy for years to come. However, when you’re building a new home, you need to consider more than just the aesthetics of the space—you also need to consider how your new house will affect the environment. An environment-friendly house is something you can be proud of.
Moreover, you need to consider the impact that your home will have on the rest of the planet.
The biggest problem with most new homes is that they’re built with little consideration for the environment. The building materials are usually made of heavy metals like steel, which are used to make things like appliances, but when you throw these heavy metals into a landfill, they can cause serious damage to the environment. The best way to avoid this is to build a home that’s made of sustainable materials like wood and fiber cement.
In short, these materials are not only eco-friendly, but they’re also low-maintenance.
However, you don’t have to be an expert to build an eco-friendly home. In fact, you don’t even need to know much about building materials to build a house that’s green. Instead, all you need is the right guidance.
The good news is that you don’t need to be an expert to build an eco-friendly home. All you need is the right guidance. Here are some of the secret ingredients to building an environment-friendly house.
1. Use Low-VOC Paint
Low-VOC paints are environmentally friendly because they do not emit volatile organic compounds (VOCs) into the air. VOCs are harmful chemicals that can cause a variety of health problems, such as asthma, skin rashes, and eye irritation. VOCs also contribute to global warming.
VOCs are often used in paint because they are inexpensive and easy to apply. However, they also have a negative impact on the environment. In fact, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) estimates that VOCs are responsible for about 6% of all air pollution.
To make a low-VOC paint, manufacturers remove volatile organic compounds from the product before it is applied. The remaining components, including pigments, binders, and solvents, are safe for humans and the environment.
2. Use Energy-Saving Light Bulbs
Lightbulbs are a necessary part of everyday life. They provide us with light and a sense of security. But, did you know that many of these bulbs can actually be hazardous to our health?
The most common form of light bulb is the incandescent bulb. This type of bulb provides a great deal of light but produces a large amount of heat. If not properly handled, this heat can lead to a fire. These bulbs also last very long, but they have a short lifespan. As a result, they require frequent replacement.
There are other types of light bulbs that don’t produce as much heat. They’re called compact fluorescent bulbs (CFLs). CFLs use less electricity than incandescent bulbs. In fact, CFLs use about 90% less energy than incandescent bulbs. But, CFLs still contain mercury. This mercury can cause serious health problems if inhaled or ingested.
So what can we do to help save our environment? CFLs are a great way to help reduce our carbon footprint. They are safer for our health and the environment.
Another option is using LED lights. LEDs are more energy efficient than other lighting options. Also, they are cheaper to run than traditional incandescent lights. Moreover, they last longer than other types of lights. Additionally, they can be dimmed to conserve electricity. LED lights do not produce heat like incandescent bulbs. Best of all, the technology is still evolving and new models and applications are being introduced.
3. Use a Solar Water Heater
Solar water heaters are a great way to save money and reduce your carbon footprint. They also help you save energy and money by providing hot water when you need it, without using electricity. In fact, solar water heaters can help you save more than $1,000 in utility costs over the course of a year.
What Are Solar Water Heaters?
Solar water heaters are a type of renewable energy technology that uses the sun’s heat to produce hot water for your home. The water is heated by a collection of panels that absorb sunlight and convert it into energy.
How Does a Solar Water Heater Work?
The solar water heater collects the sun’s rays through a glass or plastic tube. These tubes are called collectors. Collectors can be made from a variety of materials including copper, aluminum, and stainless steel. Copper and aluminum collectors are most common.
The collector absorbs the sun’s rays and converts them into thermal energy. This energy is then transferred to the water. The hot water is then pumped to the hot water tank where it is stored until you need it.
Why Should You Use a Solar Water Heater?
Solar water heaters are a great way to save money and reduce your carbon footprint. They also help you save energy and money by providing hot water when you need it, without using electricity. In fact, solar water heaters can help you save more than $1,000 in utility costs over the course of a year.
There are many benefits of using a solar water heater. One of the biggest is that you can save money on your utility bills. You can use less energy to heat water because the sun does all the work. Another benefit is that you can save energy on hot water. This is because you can heat water at night and store it in the tank.
Solar water heaters also help you save money on your electric bill. Because they use the sun’s rays to generate energy, you don’t have to pay for electricity to produce hot water. The sun also helps to keep the air inside your home cooler. This means that you don’t have to run your air conditioner as much.
4. Use a Heat Recovery Ventilator (HRV)
A heat recovery ventilator (HRV) is a type of ventilation system that recovers energy from the exhaust air and reuses it for heating or cooling purposes. It was developed in the 1980s by the United States Department of Energy (DOE) and has since been widely used in residential and commercial buildings.
Heat recovery ventilators are often used in conjunction with a conventional ventilation system. The main purpose of the HRV is to remove excess heat from the building, which reduces the amount of energy required for heating and cooling. The HRV also helps to reduce the amount of carbon dioxide (CO2. released into the environment.
The HRV consists of two components—a blower and an air-to-air heat exchanger. The blower moves air through the heat exchanger, which uses the heat from the exhaust air to heat or cool the incoming air.
The exhaust air from the building is first passed through a heat exchanger, where it absorbs heat from the incoming fresh air. The heated exhaust air is then exhausted out of the building, while the incoming fresh air is recirculated into the building.
The main advantage of the HRV is that it can recover about 75 percent of the energy in the exhaust air. This means that less energy is needed to heat or cool the incoming air. It also reduces the amount of CO2 released into the environment.
5. Install a Carbon Monoxide Detector
Carbon Monoxide is a colorless, odorless, tasteless gas that can be deadly if inhaled or absorbed through the skin.
It’s produced when fuel (gasoline, natural gas, kerosene, propane, etc.) burns. Carbon monoxide is colorless and odorless. It can be dangerous because it can cause headaches, dizziness, nausea, and even unconsciousness.
Carbon monoxide detectors are designed to alert people to the presence of the gas. They’re inexpensive, easy to install, and can save lives.
When you first purchase your home, you should have your home inspected by a professional to make sure there aren’t any hidden problems that could be harmful.
Install a carbon monoxide detector in every room. The detectors should be placed in the following locations:
• On each floor in the kitchen
• In each bedroom
• In each bathroom
• Near the furnace
• In the basement
Carbon Monoxide detectors are available at hardware stores and home improvement centers.
6. Use a Programmable Thermostat
A programmable thermostat allows you to control your home’s temperature remotely. It can be programmed to turn on and off when you are at work or asleep, to adjust your home’s temperature at different times throughout the day, and to let you know when your home’s temperature is outside of the desired range.
There are two types of programmable thermostats: those that are connected to the heating and cooling systems in your home and those that are remote.
Programmable thermostats are beneficial because they allow you to save energy, money, and time. They also reduce the risk of carbon monoxide poisoning by keeping your home’s temperature within a comfortable range.
For example, if your home’s temperature is set too high, you will use more energy to heat your home. If it is set too low, you will have to use more energy to cool your home.
Programmable thermostats can also help prevent you from getting sick. They can be programmed to automatically turn on the air conditioner or heater at night when you are asleep or at work. This keeps your home’s temperature within a safe range.
Another benefit of programmable thermostats is that they can help you save money. They can be programmed to turn on and off at certain times throughout the day. This reduces the amount of time that your home’s heating and cooling systems are on. Some models can even be controlled using a smart phone.
There you have it, the six secrets to building an environment-friendly home.
Mack Allen