Sustainable home building is the practice of constructing and renovating homes using strategies that are environmentally responsible and resource-efficient. One of the reasons why there is a rising demand for sustainable buildings is due to consumers’ call for action to help reduce carbon footprints. Building green can save homeowners money on energy bills, reduce their environmental impact, and make their homes more comfortable and healthy.
Suppose you’re also planning to build a new home or renovate an existing one. In that case, there are many ways to make your project more sustainable. Here are four tips to consider:
Use Energy-efficient Materials in Your Construction
When constructing your sustainable home, the materials you use will play a big role. As much as possible, use energy-efficient materials in your construction to help reduce your carbon footprint. This will also help you save on energy costs in the long run.
For example, consider using recycled steel in your framing instead of virgin steel. Embodied energy is the total energy required to produce a building material from start to finish. When you use recycled steel, you reduce the embodied energy because the material has already been produced and does not require as much energy to process.
You can also use insulation made from sustainable materials like mineral wool, which have a lower environmental impact than traditional fiberglass insulation. Installing mineral wool insulation is easy and effective in keeping your home warm in winter and cool in summer. In return, it can help you save on energy costs.
By being more mindful of your choices in materials, you get to build a more sustainable home. You get to reduce your carbon footprint and be able to save money in the future since energy-efficient materials tend to last longer.
Hire Qualified Professionals for Installations and Repairs
When making your home more sustainable, hiring qualified professionals for installations and repairs is essential. This will ensure that you build a house using correctly installed energy-efficient materials. Doing so will also give you peace of mind knowing you already have a reliable team who can handle the much-needed future repairs.
For example, your plan is to also build an attached garage with a roller door. While allowing professionals to handle the installation makes sense, many homeowners would handle garage door repairs independently. This often leads to many mistakes, including poor weather sealing, inadequate tune-ups, and insufficient cleaning and lubrication.
Allowing experts to handle the repairs will ensure that your garage stays well-insulated for many years to come. The trick is to find a reliable company that specializes in servicing garage roller doors. Find one that offers round-the-clock services so you won’t have to wait until regular business hours just to get your garage door fixed.
Consider Solar Panels Installations
Solar panels are an excellent way to make your home more sustainable. Not only do they help you save on energy costs, but they also reduce your environmental impact.
Solar panels work by converting sunlight into electricity. This electricity can power your home’s lights, appliances, and other electronic devices. With solar panels, you can reduce your reliance on fossil fuels and move towards renewable energy.
Installing solar panels allows you to enjoy government rebates and tax credits. For systems installed between 2020 and 2022, you can deduct 26% of the costs of that installation from your federal taxes. If you install solar panels in your house by 2023, you get to enjoy up to 22% tax credits.
Aside from solar panels, you can also install solar water heaters to help reduce your energy consumption. Solar water heaters use the sun’s energy to heat up water. You can then use this for your home’s hot water needs.
Make Use of Natural Light and Ventilation
Reducing your reliance on artificial lighting and air conditioning will also help make your home more sustainable. Instead of using these energy-intensive systems, take advantage of natural light and ventilation.
During the day, open up your curtains and blinds to let sunlight in. This can help brighten up your home and also help reduce your reliance on artificial lighting. In the summer, open your windows to let in a breeze and reduce your need for air conditioning.
In the winter, take advantage of the sun’s heat by opening up south-facing windows. This will help warm up your home naturally. Using these methods, you won’t have to use as much artificial lighting and air conditioning just to maintain a well-lit and comfortable home. You’ll also enjoy the benefits of fresh air and sunlight, which can improve your overall health and well-being.
These are four ways you can make your dream home sustainable. By hiring qualified professionals for installations and repairs, using energy-efficient materials in your construction, installing solar panels, and using natural light and ventilation, you can ensure that your home is beautiful and environmentally friendly.
