Energy Efficient Green Home

You’re finally going to do it! You’re going to build your Dream Green Home.

You already know, that making it as energy efficient as possible will save you loads of money down the road.

Use proper insulation to minimize heat loss through the walls and the roof.

Obtain recycled glass and plastics from the recycling industry. Glass can be melted and reused in the manufacturing of windows. Use recycled plastic as part of the core structural materials or for insulation.

Builders and homeowners are increasingly becoming more aware of the environmental costs of building along with the costs of labor and materials. While it might seem that initial investments have the tendency to be a little higher for building green homes, you will quickly see returns on your investment with lower energy costs and a better quality of life. Luckily, there are also plenty of ways to build green even if you are on a strict budget.

There are several ways to make your green home more energy efficient when building. For example, choose a roof for your home that is light in color. This will absorb less heat during the sunniest hours of the day, keeping your cooling costs down. Consider installing solar panels to collect energy from the sun and further cut down on your energy costs. Similarly, purchase energy-efficient appliances for your home. To keep within your budget, consider purchasing used items. While these appliances might require a slightly larger initial investment, they will save you money in the long run with reduced energy costs.

Wherever possible, limit your reliance on new materials in the home’s construction. This is cost and energy efficient. Reclaimed wood, cement and even screws are useful materials that you can use for your home. Search salvage yards, thrift stores, flea markets and even your community garbage dump for materials that you can repurpose for your green home.

People often shy away from the idea of building green because of the general misconception that sustainable building is more expensive. In a way this is true, and in a way it isn’t. The initial upfront costs associated with green building are more expensive than traditional building practices. The reason for this is due, in part, to the fact that the masses have yet to jump on board with green building. As more and more people begin to consider sustainability in home design and construction, prices for green building materials and energy efficient appliances will begin to decrease. However, even presently, the long-haul money saving opportunities associated with green building far surpass the upfront price tag. Building a cost efficient green home means appreciating and understanding the money that will be saved each year from having bought eco-friendly materials.

Consider your building materials. Understand that exotic woods generally have to be shipped via both water and land. This process emits fossil fuels and greenhouse gasses into the oceans and air through boat and truck travel. To bypass this problem, purchase wood and other building material locally. Find a nearby company that is committed to regenerating the forested land they cut down. When purchasing wood products, look for the Forest Stewardship Council logo. The FSC is a committee dedicated to sustainability in forest management.

If you’re in the planning stages of building a home, chances are you’ve already set a budget. The trick now is to stay inside that budget while still building the green.

Within the home, using renewable resources or recycled materials provides resource-efficiency. Quick-growing and highly renewable flooring and building materials such as bamboo, for example, create less stress on the environment and ecosystems. Purchasing carpets and other indoor materials made from recycled content also lessens the stress provided, as raw materials often use much more energy and deplete resources quicker than recycled materials. Certain items-carpet, building materials and rubber-are also made of unconventional materials like corn, according to the Nebraska Corn Board. Read also about Green Home in Florida.

Why You Should Consider Florida Green Homes

Building Green Homes is one responsible way to combat global environmental issues. It is also a sensible and economical approach to lowering cost-of-living expenses for everyone. The construction of Florida green homes is a positive trend that has great potential.

A green building is a building that utilizes energy-efficient technology. It has little impact on the environment, and supports practices that are ecologically sustainable and conservative. This kind of building is constructed to save water, last longer and require low maintenance. It is generally a healthier and safer place to live, work and play in.

Investing in the building of an environmentally friendly building serves everyone who is affected by its construction. Inhabitants of the home benefit, home owners benefit, and even the neighbors, area businesses and the government benefit.

Green-building in the state of Florida is especially noteworthy for a number of reasons. In the United States, Florida’s electricity usage ranks one of the highest. This is mostly because the state has a hot and humid climate; the amount of air condition used in buildings to combat the heat is exorbitant. Secondly, Florida has one of the highest populations in the country which simply means that there are a greater amount of people consuming a large quantity of energy. When you combine these statistics with the fact that over 100,000 new homes are built in the state every year, it is easy to see that the choice of energy smart construction would automatically decrease energy consumption not just for the state but for the country.

On a purely economic level, eco-homes are beneficial to the local economy. People are looking for less expensive alternatives in their daily lives; eco-houses lower short and long term home costs and expenses significantly. The community also benefits economically because eco-homes in the area drop the demand for utilities, thus reducing utility rates.

Inhabitants of an eco-smart home save on the cost of energy and operation. They also benefit from reduced insurance rates. The home does not require as much maintenance and is generally healthier and safer to live in. It can be resistant to dust and allergens, mold and termites, and wind and fire. It is a healthy and safe choice for children whose developmental needs are more easily affected by their environment.

For those concerned about their personal impact upon the environment, an eco-home provides the greatest reward by having a positive impact on environmental trends. The Floridian ecosystem is naturally protected by your home’s Florida native landscaping. The construction of your home will reduce waste by using recycling methods and other sustainable approaches. It will also contribute towards natural resource conservation and cleaner air and water. Your home will additionally help cut global warming emissions.

The list of benefits for building Florida green homes is long, but for the reasons listed above alone, choosing to build this kind of home is not only smart and healthy, but socially and environmentally responsible. Read more about: Green Home in Florida

Building Florida Green Homes

The construction of Florida green homes is a trend that seems to be gaining momentum. More people are gaining an appreciation for eco-friendly home-building practices. It is not hard to see why, as green-building produces less harmful effects on the environment than traditional building, and supports a lifestyle that is less expensive.

A green building is a building that utilizes energy-efficient technology. It has little impact on the environment, and supports practices that are ecologically sustainable and conservative. This kind of building is constructed to save water, last longer and require low maintenance. It is generally a healthier and safer place to live, work and play in.

Eco-friendly building makes everyone happier. It produces positive advantages from the bottom up. Home residents, home owners, neighbors, local businesses and the government all benefit from the construction of eco-friendly homes.

Florida green-building is important for several reasons. Florida ranks as one of the most populated states in the United States. It also has one of the highest electricity usage rates in the States. Because the state’s climate is so hot and humid, the air condition is used exorbitantly. The combination of high population plus high energy usage needs contributes significantly to national energy usage rates. When you consider that over 100,000 new houses are constructed in the state every year, energy smart choices in home construction only makes sense.

On a purely economic level, eco-homes are beneficial to the local economy. People are looking for less expensive alternatives in their daily lives; eco-houses lower short and long term home costs and expenses significantly. The community also benefits economically because eco-homes in the area drop the demand for utilities, thus reducing utility rates.

Residents of an eco-home enjoy savings on energy, operation and home insurance costs. The home can be constructed to be resistant against allergens and dust, termites and mold, and wind and fire. It creates a safer, healthier space for families and especially children and is also lower maintenance than regular dwellings.

For those concerned about their personal impact upon the environment, an eco-home provides the greatest reward by having a positive impact on environmental trends. The Floridian ecosystem is naturally protected by your home’s Florida native landscaping. The construction of your home will reduce waste by using recycling methods and other sustainable approaches. It will also contribute towards natural resource conservation and cleaner air and water. Your home will additionally help cut global warming emissions.

The list of benefits for building Florida green homes is long, but for the reasons listed above alone, choosing to build this kind of home is not only smart and healthy, but socially and environmentally responsible. Read more about: green home in Florida.

Not Mine Green Homes

by Susan DeFreitas

Just how green is the average home? Not so green, at least according to homeowner perceptions, as a new study on behalf of Whirlpool and Habitat for Humanity International by the NAHB Research Center reveals that  74 percent of consumers would categorize less than a quarter of their home as “green.”

The complete study took a look at opinions from consumers and builders on various topics related to green building, including green homes, green certification programs (such as LEED), and Energy Star qualified appliances. It found that — across the board — 34 percent of consumers defined a green home as one that reduces energy and/or water consumption by a significant percentage, and that a majority recognized that their homes could use some improvement in these areas.

Tom Halford, general manager, contract sales and marketing, Whirlpool Corporation, highlighted the company’s commitment to helping consumers close that gap in a recent statement.

The survey also found that 60 percent of consumers got their info on green from the Internet — and, to a lesser degree, from TV/radio (54%) and magazines/periodicals (42%).  All of which is of interest to Whirlpool, of course, as it gauges the market for green and smart appliances — but also Habitat for Humanity, which recently set a goal for all of its houses to be built to minimum Energy Star standards by 2013. Here’s some more about Green Home in Florida.

NAHB Green Homes

by Kwadmin

In a recent article by the NAHB (National Association of Home Builders) Research Center, Knight West Homes is listed as a leading builder of Certified Green Homes.  We top the list with the most certified projects.  The NAHB has a nationally recognizable standard definition of green building.  This requires builders to adhere to stringent program requirements which is of great benefit to home owners who build a Certified Green Home.

One of the many benefits of building a Certified Green Home is the significant energy savings you will have because of the energy efficiency of a Green Home.

Knight West Homes is proud to offer this service to our clients.  Green Homes are of great benefit to their owners as well as the environment.

Click on the link below to read the article and find out more about NAHB Certified Green Homes.  For more go to My Green Home in Florida.