Suggestions for a Green Home

What is a “green home or an eco home?”

"Green building" is the industry buzz word for eco friendly, responsible or sustainable home construction. Eco homes are springing up all over the country and it looks like this type of eco friendly home construction is here to stay.

It is possible to produce high quality, high performance green homes without sacrificing our desire to be good stewards of the earth and our natural resources. Utilizing many eco-friendly home building practices, Green Homes allow homeowners to not only feel a kinship with the earth, but to tread lightly upon it as well. This philosophy pervades from the types of materials throughout the entire manufacturing process.

Suggestions for designing a Green Home:

• Design for standard unit size to reduce off-cuts and minimize cost
  If standard sizes of wallboards and timber are considered during the design phase, waste of expensive materials can be minimised. Many suppliers can also pre-cut to the desired length. Using advanced production techniques, a builder efficiently uses materials during the manufacturing process. This philosophy drastically reduces the amount of waste that goes into our landfills commonly associated with homebuilding.
  

• Builders should also recycle much of the scrap that is produced.
  Other usable remnants of the manufacturing process could be donated to support various home relief programs in different parts of the world.
  

• Minimize the amount of materials needed through careful design
  Detailed design can often reduce the amount of materials used (such as the number of wall studs), reducing material costs. Design for durability and flexibility. Choosing durable materials help prevent the need for costly renovations later. Also considering possible future needs (such as a home office) in the design can help avoid the need for expensive alterations at a later date. This can also add to the resale value of your property.
  

• Consider: A circular home has a smaller footprint to enclose the same amount of space as compared to rectangular or square home designs. That means a smaller foundation, less excavation and site disturbance and fewer trees cut. A circular home design is inherently more energy efficient than a square or rectangular design. Starting your green house project with a circular home design will put you way ahead of the curve. With a few on-site touches you can create a “super-energy efficient” house.
  

• Consider: A panelized building system allows homeowners to place their new green home in close proximity to existing trees without a lot of clearing. Many new green homes look as if they have been there for years because of the vast amount of trees and foliage left undisturbed by the construction process.
  

• Low emission plywood, when available, can used for the roof and floor sheathing. Pressure treated wood should only be used where building codes demand it. There are "green” substitute for pressure treated wood.
  

• Eco-friendly Sansin stains and paints for sidings and decking.
  Sansin is the industry leader for producing the safest and environmentally friendly products of their kind.
  

• Install water saving devices
  Install 3/6 Litre dual flush toilets. Install low flow shower heads and aerated / low flow taps. Buy water devices and appliances with the highest water efficiency rating you can afford. Do not install in-sink waste disposal units! Compost instead (this helps our wastewater system too!)
  

• Reuse water
  Install a rain water tank to supply your toilet, laundry and water your garden, or a rain barrel to supply your garden. Install a 'grey water' system to recycle the water from your laundry to water your garden with. Check with your local Council first!
  

• Design your house for maximum solar access and heat storage
  Install large windows on the northern side of the house. Use heat sinks, such as brick or concrete to store warmth. Consider access to the sun for passive solar water heating. Increase the level of ceiling, wall and underfloor insulation. Install double-glaze windows, especially in colder areas.
  
  
• Create water saving gardens
  Use native plants, which grow naturally in your local area (eco-sourced plants). Create mini eco-systems in your back yard or even on your balcony to help preserve bio-diversity and provide a link in the ecological corridor for native birds and insects to travel along. Select native plants that grow naturally in your area to avoid non-local native plants dominating and changing your local landscape. Use native plants to shade waterways and stream edges (riparian margins) – there will be wildlife, including fish living in there!