Image via WikipediaEven though I think many people have caught on to the idea that we need to switch over to green solutions, there is still some hesitation when it comes to actually doing it. Even though everyone knows that it's the right thing to do for the environment and it's more advantageous all around, people still have reservations.
I think where most people hesitate is when they think they will lose in the quality of life they have come to appreciate. Most people imagine housing without lights, without running water and without air conditioning. But, that couldn't be further from the truth.
There are some beautifully built environmentally friendly houses that have everything you need to be comfortable. But, the solutions are so unique they make it easy for us to keep our comfortable features while saving resources and money. A drafting solution for air conditioning that keeps the room cool without the use of a kilowatt burning window unit. Windows placed and angled advantageously to allow more light, refract all heat and provide great scenery. A heating unit that uses warm water running through pipes in the floor. The littlest changes can make the most difference.
Many green building solutions have to be put in place when the blue prints are being drawn. It's hard to make major structural changes on an old house. But, there are changes you can make today no matter how old your house is.
Running pipes through the floor would probably take the most amount of effort. But the reason it works so well to heat the house is because the heat starts where the body makes the most contact. Walking around the house, your feet stay warm. When your feet are warm, your body feels warm. The closer you get to the floor, the more warmth you feel. It radiates throughout the room as warm air rises. A ceiling fan can keep the heat from escaping through the ceiling. Insulation keeps the heat in as well.
The water cycles through the pipes in much the same manner that it works in the radiator of a car. It's not water that is wasted, running up your water bill. Plus, it takes very little energy to heat the water. Less energy than it takes a huge heating unit to heat a home with a duct system.
As far as the windows around your old home, you might want to think about that before restoring them. Of course, angled windows that are made to reflect radiation will be the best type of window to install in a home if you need to install new windows. But depending on how old the windows are, they may be made out of the scarce resources contractors who have adopted green building solutions would kill to have. If your old windows are leaky, you may just want to do a simple restoration rather than a completely new installation.
There are so many green solutions. You have to do your research to see what's right for you. If you are building a home, it's great to adopt ideas before you ever break ground. But if you own an older home, there a little things you can do over the course of a year or several years that will eventually add up to completely green living.
Jessica Brylan has been a student of construction all her life, under her father who retired in 2004. Her passion turned to interior design and strangely evolved into becoming a fireplace expert. She has written such great reports as DIY Outdoor Fireplaces, Fireplace Ideas Report, and DIY Fireplace. Read further details about the Ventless Gel Fireplace reports at The Ventless Gel Fireplace Reports and sign up for the newsletter so you can be updated whenever Jessica Brylan puts out a new one.
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ReplyDeletegood luck