According to a survey done by the National Association of Homebuilders in 2011, around 60% home builders consider green and sustainable houses to be expensive. While 30% have the opinion that green-homes would not fit the budget of middle class people. It is true that you cannot have your own home without spending at least some amount of money but you can definitely make a green, sustainable house within your moderate to small budget. The first obstacle on your path can be the scarcity of good quality lands at affordable prices.
The unavailability of lands within budget leads to homelessness. Protesting against this a movement called Bhoodan was started in the 1950s in India. Vinoba Bhabe gave leadership to this movement. The landowners came together and donated 5m acres of land each to create sufficient space for the farmers who had no home to live.
Hugh Fearnley has also started a project named the Landshare that connects people who have land and skilled people who have no land. Such movements and projects show that there is still hope for people who would like to build their own home from scratch without spending all their life-savings.
Both learned architects and common people are trying to build sustainable houses using discarded objects like glass bottles and plastic. Once you get a piece of land, you can build a livable structure using recycled objects. Michel Reynolds has come up with brilliant design of sustainable homes that are also affordable called the Earthship. It is often described as passive solar homes that are independent about water, energy and food.
People don’t consider straw bell homes old fashioned anymore, rather they are considered a sustainable options for people who cannot afford expensive homes. Subterranean or underground homes are also inexpensive and sustainable. These homes are naturally energy sufficient. These houses are protected from fire, wind and earthquakes.
You can also use the excavated material for building the new home. Circular homes built with wooden poles and cordwood panels look good, and they are inexpensive as well. Having your own home without any money may seem to be a difficult task but it is not impossible.
