Tips For Buying an Eco-Friendly Home
Eco-Friendly Home |
Buying an eco-friendly home is not as
difficult as you might think, and in the long run it can save you a lot
of money, as well as having less of an impact on the environment. An
eco-friendly home is one that is energy efficient and saves you money,
but it also can mean it is a home made from recycled materials and one
that makes much better use of space. When buying an eco-friendly home
you will still need to consider the same things that you do when buying a
normal home, such as going through the right channels to borrow money
and paying additional fees like stamp duty and conveyancing fees.
Building methods
You
can start thinking eco-friendly even before you start building the
home. Choose an architect that is familiar with eco-friendly homes and
have them design a home that is suitable for your block. Think about
creating a home that takes up less land space, leaving as much room for
trees and plants as possible. Leave room around the home for water tanks
and a vegetable garden. Think about where on your block you build the
home too. Make sure it is in a position so you can make use of natural
light, and it is facing a direction so you get the warmth of the sun to
increase the energy efficiency.
Building materials
You
can even be eco-friendly with your choice of building materials. Any
timber in your home should be recycled from other sources. You will find
that you can buy bricks from homes that are being torn down. You could
also choose to build with eco-friendly materials like mud or stones, or
even build a straw bale home.
Energy efficient
One
of the main purposes of your home is for it to be energy efficient.
Make sure that it is well insulated so it stays warm in winter and
cooler in summer. You can also put in double glazed windows and have
solar panels installed so you rely on the sun to power your home. Solar
power can also heat your water so you can save on gas as well as
electricity. Solar panels are not as expensive as they used to be and
many new homes that aren't eco-friendly are being built with solar
panels to heat their water.
Appliances
Within
your home you can be more eco-friendly by choosing the right
appliances. When you buy a dishwasher, washing machine, fridge or even a
clothes dryer you will see the energy rating listed on the item through
a star rating system. The more stars an item has the more energy
efficient it is. You can also buy dishwashers and washing machines that
use less water. You can also be more energy efficient when lighting your
home by choosing to use power saving light bulbs. Another way to be
eco-friendly is to watch your energy consumption, so turn off lights in
rooms that are not in use, switch appliances off at the wall and don't
heat or cool rooms you are not using. Having blinds or curtains on your
windows will help keep your house warm in winter and block out the heat
in summer.
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