With the Earth getting warmer and glaciers melting, we as a species are treading on a perilous path.
However, global awareness about global warming is on the rise, and many organizations around the world are now going green. One area where there has been considerable change is in construction — sustainable building methods are now being widely adapted.
A 2020 survey showed that almost 1/3rd of single-family home builders report using sustainable building methods for the majority of their projects.
If you’re one of those people who care about the Earth, here are 5 sustainable building methods for your dream home!
Oh, and by the way, you’ll probably get your dream home insured and as a nature-loving person, you’ll have a lot of plants, trees, and shrubs around.
However, many insurance companies do not cover damage to these so it’s a good idea to ask your insurance provider whether they cover greenery before making any decisions!
1. Start by using sustainable building materials
You should not only aim to build a home that’s eco-friendly but also think about the building process and materials.
There are many raw materials that go into building a house and each is produced industrially, which causes considerable damage to the environment.
But this damage can be avoided by using materials that are natural and sustainable. Examples of natural building materials include bamboo and linoleum.
Bamboo is the perfect alternative to wood because unlike wood, it regenerates extremely quickly and can be harvested every 3 years (vs the 30-40 years needed to harvest trees).
You can also try incorporating recycled materials like lumber, glass, and plastic to reduce the damage de novo production of these items does to the environment.
One may also want to consider the use of aluminum alloy. This material has unique properties which make it an ideal choice for environmentally-friendly construction. The properties of aluminum alloy allow it to be both robust and lightweight.
It is highly resistant to corrosion and possesses good thermal and electrical conductivity. Moreover, aluminum is abundant and has a relatively low environmental impact, as it is 100% recyclable. Combined with its long lifespan, these properties make a compelling choice for green construction projects.
2. Switch to clay plaster
Walls are a major component of a house and using a natural, sustainable material to plaster them will not only improve the quality of air inside your house but also have a major impact on your building method’s eco-friendliness.
Here are some benefits of using clay plaster over the standard one (which is filled with toxic components):
- Your walls don’t accumulate dirt because clay produces negatively charged items to repel it
- You get a balanced and healthy indoor environment because clay balances the humidity inside your house and also detoxifies the air
- Clay reduces your electromagnetic radiation exposure
- Clay feels amazing to touch (if that matters to you)
- It costs almost the same as standard plaster
3. Use solar energy to power your house
Sustainable building is incomplete without making the use of solar energy.
One very popular way to harness the power of the sun is to use solar panels to power your house. The initial installation cost is high (as with almost everything in sustainable construction) but the long-term reduction in your electricity bills is worth the investment.
Plus, you won’t be contributing to the damage that gas- and coal-fired plants do to the environment.
Not only that, if your house is in the right area, you can generate excess electricity and deliver it to your utility company, making money out of it.
Solar panels have become increasingly easy to implement, and now that many governments around the world realize the importance of using environment-friendly energy sources, yours might give you a tax break or another incentive if you decide to use one!
4. Block solar energy to cut down on cooling costs
While solar energy is great for powering up your house, too much of it can lead to significant cooling costs, and the more air conditioning you use, the greater the damage to the environment.
To get around this problem, you can use a technology called Electrochromic Smart Glass, which is basically glass that allows you to control how much light and solar radiation passes through it.
This basically gives you the control of how heated your house is going to get during the summers and if used properly, is a great way of reducing air-conditioning.
5. Clean your sewage before releasing it into nature
Yes, state-run programs are there for that but they’re not really that effective. A better way to minimize the negative impact sewage has on the environment is to treat your wastewater at your house.
There are many methods of doing this but one particularly eco-friendly way is to install a water purification system that uses the power of plants to purify your water.
There will be no use of chemicals and it will be an aesthetically pleasing addition to your garden!