Green Building for the Masses
Going Green Doesn’t Have to Mean Spending a Fortune
These days, it’s hip to be green! Going green has become a household concept which is slowly spreading into almost every area of life on the planet. One of these areas is the way in which we build our homes. While homeowners are interested in green building, they are still wary of this seemingly new building concept.
A common misconception amongst homeowners is that green building will cost them more money than traditional home improvement techniques. Nationwide, over eighty percent of homeowners believe that going green with their home remodeling projects will cause their budget to increase anywhere from five to seventy-five percent.
This misconception, stemming from a lack of knowledge about green building as opposed to the economic realities, has made homeowners shy away from the possibilities that green techniques have to offer.
Homeowners tend to view green building as a new phenomena catering to a niche market, which leads them to automatically assume one thing: expensive! While some of the newest and most complex sustainable architecture and design can cost more, many green techniques are more commonplace, and less expensive, than most homeowners would assume. Here are a few ways to go green without breaking the bank:
Reduce Energy!
One way to make a home more green is to increase energy efficiency. Decreasing a home’s energy use doesn’t mean converting to a self sustaining energy system equipped with solar panels. Instead, it’s possible to increase energy by simply replacing all the windows in the home. This common home improvement project makes a big difference in any home. New windows reduce energy use, alleviating both energy costs and environmental impact.
Reuse Materials!
When looking for building materials homeowners have many options. One great option for materials is to use salvaged building materials for home improvement projects. Many cities have rebuilding centers in which used, but still usable, building materials are collected. It’s possible to buy these materials at a discounted rate, which would actually help to reduce not only the total budget for a remodeling project, but also the amount of refuse in landfills.
Save Water!
Another great way to make a greener mark on the world is to reduce water consumption. Creating a landscape design with regional climate in mind can make a big impact. One landscaping option called Xeriscaping, a specialized landscaping design process which focuses on water conservation, reduces the use of supplemental watering without sacrificing beauty. In wet climates it may be possible to use plants which use more water, however in more arid climates, a landscaping plan that does not use as much water would not only be a great global impact, but would also reduce water bills.
Homeowners have more green options that they even realize. It’s possible for them to make an environmental impact without sacrificing their entire life savings. Local contractors will know many of these remodeling options already and will be able to help any homeowner choose an environmentally friendly remodeling option that will work for them.
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