{"id":33995,"date":"2020-06-12T08:00:46","date_gmt":"2020-06-12T06:00:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ecobnb.com\/blog\/?p=33995"},"modified":"2020-06-11T18:26:46","modified_gmt":"2020-06-11T16:26:46","slug":"building-eco-friendly-house","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ecobnb.com\/blog\/2020\/06\/building-eco-friendly-house\/","title":{"rendered":"Building Your Eco-Friendly House"},"content":{"rendered":"

Sometimes the most effective new home is an older house<\/strong>. Consider the quantity of building materials<\/strong> and fuel saved by buying an existing home instead of building a replacement one. An honest quality older home is renovated and retrofitted to form it more environmentally friendly, at a lower cost than if you were ranging from scratch.<\/p>\n

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Photo by Bruno Martins on Unsplash<\/div><\/div>\n

Higher housing density means more efficient utilities and shorter commutes, so consider that living in a populated area<\/strong> could also be the greener choice. Significantly, by choosing an existing home, you’re not transforming wild habitat or agricultural land and contributing to further landscape fragmentation.<\/p>\n

Small Is Big<\/h2>\n
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Tiny house, photo via Wikimedia Commons<\/div><\/div>\n

A smaller home<\/strong> needs fewer building materials and requires less energy to cool down and warmth. When planning a replacement home, ensure to honestly assess your needs, both in terms of the amount of rooms needed, and therefore the size of these rooms. Tiny homes, currently very fashionable on television shows, are attractive and have clear environmental and energetic advantages.<\/p>\n

While most people would have a tough time living permanently in these small spaces, they’re a form of laboratory which might provide important lessons about energy efficiency, space use, and general frugality. Your indulgence for these TV shows can provide you with great ideas applicable on a more livable scale.<\/p>\n

Build with Sustainable Materials<\/h2>\n
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Photo by Martin Dufosset on Unsplash<\/div><\/div>\n

Today many options exist when selecting environmentally responsible building materials. the alternatives are vast, including sustainability-certified wood products, reclaimed or salvaged wood, and insulation made up of recycled materials.<\/p>\n

Another advantage to carefully selecting building materials is best indoor air quality. many sorts of carpeting, wall coverings, stains, and paints release volatile organic compounds and other air pollutants. Healthier alternatives exist, like low-VOC paints and hard-wax oil for floors. Given the amount of hours you spend in your house daily, minimizing your exposure to those toxic components is extremely important.<\/p>\n

Make it a Passive House<\/h2>\n
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Passivhaus cross-section, English annotation, photo via Wikimedia<\/div><\/div>\n

The passive house concept consists during a series of standards aimed toward maximizing energy efficiency. The concept relies on design elements that target reducing the wants for heating and cooling. the planning elements include:<\/p>\n