Image by thingermejig via Flickr
Sustainable Housing - Attractive, Affordable, Earth-Friendly by Robert J. Hartl
Sustainable design is a buzzword concept of the modern age. Environmentally conscious construction and development have become the bread and butter of architects and urban planners across the industrialized world. Sustainable housing is advancing with each year as builders seek to implement new methods of reducing the environmental, social, and economic impact of new construction.
While fully sustainable construction is not yet common in home design, increasing aspects of environmentally sound development have begun to enter our communities. Some of these advances include eco-material use, energy efficiency, water conservation, and climate-conscious landscaping.
New homebuyers may hesitate when faced with the badge of sustainability. Less informed purchasers may envision a home without customary conveniences and amenities. This misconception is easily put to rest upon touring modern sustainable homes. When done well, the home buyer will benefit not only from the ethical methods employed, but also financially and aesthetically.
From the ground up, use of natural or recyclable building materials is the foundation of most sustainable design. Locally available materials are often used, reducing fuel for product transportation. Recycled materials have also begun to play a lead role in building design, utilizing steel, stone, and other non-toxic demolition debris that would otherwise become landfill. Timber house construction has even evolved toward ethically harvested supplies of quick-growth woods from cyclically seeded plantations.
Ecology leads to luxury with current trends in green interiors. Stylish bamboo and cork flooring are two attractive and affordable options in eco-design. Bamboo, a grass, grows to full maturity within five to seven years. Most hardwoods require twenty to thirty years before harvesting. Bamboo flooring equals or exceeds popular varieties of hardwood in stability and durability standards with a price on par with premium wood floors. Cork, a lesser known option, is produced from the harvested bark of cork oak trees. Only the bark is harvested while the tree remains and produces a new layer of cork over time.
At first glance, a sustainably designed home exterior seems no different than any other neighborhood home. There are trees, flowering plants, garden walks, and water features. The thing that separates an eco-friendly design from the crowd is its harmony with the local climate and a careful attention paid to how landscaping affects the house itself. Shade trees aid insulation when placed on the sunny side of a house. Solar garden lights save on energy costs. Native plants and grey water irrigation lower water use. All totalled, environmentally-minded landscaping gives low-maintenance, cost-conscious beauty to any property.
Perhaps the most appealing aspect of sustainable construction is the financial savings granted homeowners. Increased efficiency of appliances and fixtures save on power bills, while solar options can actually profit occupants as excess reserves can be sold back to utility companies. Advances in insulation, ventilation, and climate-minded landscaping reduce the need for mechanical heating and cooling, saving hundreds of dollars, annually. Government incentives are another benefit of environmental design, with thousands of dollars available to homeowners in the form of rebates and tax exemptions.
So many innovations make earth-friendly housing the most popular and exciting development in modern development. Whether you're building your dream house or retrofitting a priceless piece of history, sustainable architecture and green design will save you money, help the planet, and give you a beautiful space to call home.
Sustainable design is a big deal in the world of commercial building as well. Jessup Manufacturing produces environmentally friendly glow in the dark exits signs for commercial and industrial installations. To learn more about how photoluminescent exit signs can help your company become more eco-friendly and save energy dollars in the process, visit us today at: http://www.GloBriteSystem.com
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Robert_J._Hartl
http://EzineArticles.com/?Sustainable-Housing---Attractive,-Affordable,-Earth-Friendly&id=2056747
http://psychedelichippiemusic.blogspot.com/
http://psychedelichippiefashion.blogspot.com/
http://thezeitgeistischanging.blogspot.com/
http://www.soul-flower.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=SFNT&Store_Code=SOS&AFFIL=Robert_Muller
No comments:
Post a Comment