Eco Home Plans
From LoveToKnow GreenLiving
Whether you’ve just bought a house and want to do some environmentally friendly retrofitting or are hiring an architect to build a house from scratch, you want to use eco home plans. This is still a niche market in architecture, but is growing apace.
The Basics in Eco Home Plans
Attention to nature and environment in home construction is actually nothing new. The ancient Greeks and Romans planned buildings so that they might get the most natural light and best breezes in hot weather. In fact, both civilizations used solar power techniques for heating public baths. Building materials were not only local, they were designed for maximum efficiency.
The essentials of these ideas continued in architecture for centuries. Celebrated architects in the early 19th century like Greene and Greene and Julia Morgan made a point of designing homes that were beautiful but also built solely of local materials and could make the best use of natural light and air. But as architecture became more streamlined, the look and size of a home became more important than its efficiency, leading to houses that are energy and resource vampires.
So the ideals to start with are homes built at a reasonable size using renewable resources that maximize heat in winter and coolness in summer. Wherever you live, it’s possible to have home powered almost exclusively by solar power. You can also have your own wind turbine. Add low-flow water fixtures and Energy Star appliances and you will pay much less in monthly utility bills.
Size Matters
A large house can be energy efficient, but there is no question that smaller is always better. You don’t have to live in a hut, but if you’re designing a home, consider what’s really needed. American houses have been trending ever larger the last few decades and this is clearly having an environmental impact. One aspect of this is simple: the more land your home takes up, the more nature is impeded in your area. Not only local wildlife but flora and fauna have to struggle. Additionally, the more ground that is paved over, the less rain can be absorbed, thus leading to drought. While smaller homes built more closely together does not fit the current American ideal, it’s actually the more eco-friendly way to go. When drawing up eco home plans, think carefully about what kind of space is really necessary. A good architect can help maximize indoor space, so that most homes can be smaller and more comfortable.
Finally, you want to think about size in terms of the environmentally practical. Smaller rooms need less heating, cooling and light, as well as furniture. And rather than being cramped, a small home that is well-designed can be cozy. Plus, it’s easier to clean.
The Cost of Green
Green building tends to be expensive, although it doesn’t have to be. The costs are continually coming down and environmental activists are working with architects to develop cheaper eco home plans so that they can be more widely implemented. Recent developments in cities like Portland, Oregon have shown that low-income housing can be built green, attractive and affordable. Choosing local resources and working with an architect with a budget in mind help maintain a sensible cost.
Finishing Details
When developing eco home plans, landscaping is almost as important as the house itself. The green lawn is not what nature intended and can work against local flora, fauna and insects. You want to landscape as close to nature as possible so as to be less intrusive. In Southern California, for example, more people are turning to a desert-style front lawn, which requires nearly no watering. You may also want to factor in local edible plants and a garden.
A green home should be completed in green details like eco friendly paint, window treatments, furniture and lighting. It’s worth the while to make the investment so that your home is as pollutant-free, and thus pleasant, as possible.
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