Design Your Green Dream Home
Building your dream home from the ground up is a blank slate of green design opportunities. Not only does an eco-friendly home use fewer resources, it improves the quality of life for your family and can cut home-operating costs. Energy-efficient installations and eco-friendly design solutions will reduce fossil fuel consumption, lower carbon footprints and increase home energy savings. In 2008, American homeowners saved more than $19 billion by building energy-efficient homes, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Also, the amount of greenhouse gas emissions avoided equalled the emissions of 29 million cars. Environmental friendliness, indeed.
Investment Savings
Even if you make only a 20 percent investment in eco-friendly housing technology, you'll experience a savings return that's at least 10 times higher, emphasizes a study by the Californian Sustainable Building Task Force. Paul King, chief executive of UK Green Building Council, also says that "green buildings greatly enhance the lives of their occupants," reports Blue & Green Tomorrow. Since you and your family will be the primary occupants of your Texas dream home, make it a happy, healthy green living space with the following eco-friendly guide.
Home Audit
The EPA recommends starting with an energy evaluation and home assessment before going green using these tools:
Home Energy Yardstick for home energy comparisons
Home Energy Adviser for recommended home improvements
ENERGY STAR @ Home Tool for practical pointers and energy saving tips
Heating & Cooling
About 29 percent of your home energy use goes to heating and cooling, explains EnergyStar.gov. Properly using a programmable thermostat can provide an annual savings of $180. Sealing and insulating your ducts also improves your heating and cooling system's efficiency. To maximize the comfort of your home, install a properly sized high-performance, energy-efficient HVAC system. Installing ceiling fans can also keep you cool and reduce AC usage.
Lighting
LED lighting is favored as an efficient light source for the following reasons:
Consumes minimal energy
Uses low amounts of voltage and current
Emits little heat
Avoids UV radiation
Lasts for up to 50,000 hours
Lower the electricity bill of your future home with energy-efficient wall fixtures, wall lights, wall sconces, and lamps. Use LED candles and cabinet lights to outfit your environmentally-friendly home.
Solar
You can green your home with a solar electric system (photovoltaic, PV, systems) and/or solar hot water systems (solar thermal systems). A solar electric system powers your home with electricity converted from the sun's energy, and a solar hot water system captures heat for hot water. Also, solar panels will protect your home's roof from ultraviolet rays and harsh weather conditions. Solar panels can extend the lifespan of your roof, and a solar energy system can increase the value of your home.
Windows & Doors
Conserve energy and commit to the environment with eco-friendly windows and doors designed for sustainability. Vinyl windows and doors have insulating properties that lower energy costs by blocking heat in the summer and retaining heat in the winter. Marvin specializes in sustainable windows and doors crafted with recycled glass and aluminum and engineered to minimize wood scrap. Marvin also offers FSC and SFI-certified products and sources wood material from responsibly managed forests, describes its website.