Green homes have become a trend of sorts today. Many homeowners prefer to build more eco-friendly homes owing to the myriad benefits offered by the latter. However, building a green home is not an easy task.
In addition to taking the necessary steps to ensure that the materials you use for the construction process are eco-friendly, there are points to remember by Dr Prem Jagyasi that need attention for a green home. Here are 6 of those mistakes which can potentially make your green home not so green!
Not thinking for the long term
The first and most important mistake one can commit when planning to build a green home is not thinking about the future, and we mean the future in the long term, say 30 or 40 years from now. Your plan for a green home should have room for enhancements in the future. It would also need to take into account changing lifestyles as your family evolves.
Building more house than is actually needed
Rather than focusing on building a home that is spacious and extravagant, consider building one that is just right enough to accommodate your needs. Too large a home will lead to more unused space that would extra energy to heat and cool. A smaller home that is just right would therefore help you save money on energy, which would either go to waste in heating/cooling these rooms.
Not offering optimal settings for solar power
A green home is never complete without solar power. However, most of us tend to make the mistake of simply erecting a solar panel on the roof, thinking that it would be more than enough to give the home the necessary amount of energy it needs. This will not suffice at all.
The placement of the solar panels is extremely important to harness true potential of the panels. It is recommended that the panels are installed on a south facing roof. This side of the roof should not have any obstructions at all. Not planning these features will make you end up with a barely functioning solar panel that does little justice to the purpose it was set up for.
Improper Roof Planning
It is essential to follow a proper roofing plan in order to increase your home’s energy efficiency. While a flat roof would accumulate water, thus increasing the weight on the walls, a sloped roof would cause the water to drain away faster. Not planning a proper drainage system will also lead to water accumulation around the house, thus leading to damp spots indoors which need more heat. This will, in turn, have a direct effect on your energy bills and your home’s energy efficiency.
Not using adequate insulation
A home’s insulation will determine how energy efficient it is. Proper insulation will help prevent heat loss in winter and cold air from seeping outside during summer. Improper insulation on the other hand, will lead to reduced efficiency as you use more energy to heat/cool the rooms of the home during winter/summer.
Not using environmentally friendly construction projects
There is no using in bragging about building a green home if the materials you use for the same are not eco-friendly. A truly green home will be made with eco-friendly products alone, with everything from the building material, roofing material, flooring material and insulation to the cabinets, cupboards and counters, etc. Choosing non eco-friendly products is just one way of saying that your home is not so green after all.
Green homes help preserve the environment and its natural resources while cutting down on your energy costs. However, there are many mistakes you should avoid when building a green home.
