by Jack Sterling

Created on: November 25, 2009   Last Updated: November 26, 2009

A green home demonstrates a dedication to environmental sustainability and a concern for the health of the individual and the world. Many things can make a home green. Since the technology that achieves these goals is evolving everyday, the most effective products are often the newest.

A green home can be defined as a home that maximizes its use of sustainable resources and recyclable products in its construction. Over the life of the home, you can expect it to use less energy and produce less waste. Many organizations rate the effectiveness of green home designs but in general, to be considered at a minimum green, the home should use 30% less energy and resources than a typical home.

These days the cost of green construction has never been cheaper since many local and national governments offer very healthy tax credits for new constructions that meet green standards.

Reducing Energy and Waste

Minimize Green homes are often times much smaller than your typical custom home in order to minimize their energy use. In contrast, in the last 20 years, the size of the average home has increased dramatically which has increased their energy consumption and placed a larger strain on the environment.

While green homes are generally smaller than contemporary constructions, their square footage is in line with historical standards for single family homes. This typically means you should aim for between 2,000 and 2,500 square feet.

Reduce Energy Loss: In order to reduce the amount of energy required to heat and cool your home, reinforce it at all points in which this energy can escape. This can be most easily achieved by installing windows and doors that are energy rated to reduce waste.

Reduce Toxic Materials: Many paints, varnishes, insulation and other building materials require toxic chemicals and large amounts of energy in their production. When choosing the products that will go into your home, seek out materials that are made using organic processes and using renewable and recycled resources.

Configure Your Energy Sources: Some utility companies offer consumers the opportunity to buy electricity from sustainable and green energy sources such as wind, solar and geothermal power plants. However, if these are not available to you or if you want your home to be off the grid, incorporate your own sustainable electricity sources.

Solar panels, wind turbines and geothermal energy sources have never been cheaper and the amount of money that you will save over the life of your home pays for the equipment over and over again.

Use your Environment

One of the great allies that you have to reduce the impact your home will have on the environment is the environment itself. Orient you home and windows to take full advantage of the daylight and reduce artificial light sources. As a goal, many green homes aim to source 75% of their lighting from the daylight.

Use trees and other vegetation to reduce the amount of sunlight that falls directly on your home in order reduce the amount of energy required to cool your home. If you have abundant wind or sun on your property, use it to power the home.

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