Over the course of the last year, there were over twenty climate-based natural disasters causing 95 billion dollars in damages. If that doesn’t highlight the need for everyone to focus on sustainability, it’s hard to imagine what will motivate you. One key way that you can live a more sustainable lifestyle is by designing a green home.
However, it can be difficult to create an eco-friendly home on your own. Here are some crucial steps you need to follow to make your home environmentally friendly from the ground up.
Use Eco-Friendly Materials
The first step to designing a green home is to use eco-friendly materials in its construction. For roofing materials, you can go for reused, recycled, or locally sourced stones and shingles. For the walls and flooring, bamboo makes an excellent green building material.
As part of this, you should try to avoid paints or other materials with VOCs or Volatile Organic Compounds. These compounds pollute the air indoors and out, reducing your air quality and increasing your carbon footprint.
Secure Independent, Clean Energy
The next step in designing a green home is to secure clean energy to power it. Whether you opt for wind-based, hydroelectric, geothermal, or home solar systems, you should do what you can to avoid using fossil fuel-based power companies. If you’re not sure what the benefits of solar panels are, or which option is the best for your budget, reach out to your local solar company for more information.
Focus on Energy Efficiency
Energy efficiency doesn’t just apply to your appliances and lighting. If you want to build a green home, you need to have energy-efficient windows, doors, and insulation as well. We waste a truly staggering amount of energy each year trying to keep our homes warm in the winter and cool in the summer. Investing in these tools can minimize those costs.
Plant a Local, Biodiverse Yard
Want to increase your sustainability? Ditch the monoculture of the standard suburban yard and plant gardens full of vegetables and other local plants. Not only will this support the nutrients in your local soil, but it will look better (and more interesting) than your neighbor’s too-bright Astroturf.
Don’t Let Water Go to Waste
Water conservation is a key part of designing a green home. Consider installing motion sensor faucets or low-flow toilets to help avoid water waste. You should also search for a water-saving showerhead. Especially if you or your loved ones happen to enjoy taking long showers to relax at the end of a long day.
Need More Tips for Designing a Green Home?
Designing a green home from the ground up is no small feat. Between securing independent, clean energy, maximizing your energy efficiency, and finding ways to reduce pollution and waste, it can feel overwhelming. If you’ve followed all of these steps and still want more help figuring out how to reduce your environmental impact, why not check out our blog? We update each day with more helpful articles like this one for self-made men.
