Environmentally Friendly Building

Margaret Bean
by Margaret Bean
Nowadays, we are witnesses and active contributors to the the pollution of our planet and the reckless consumption of its resources. Thankfully, more and more people are becoming conscious of that and are trying to live in an eco-friendly manner. Green building is one of the ways to do this. Generally speaking, it makes your premises more water- and energy-efficient, less harmless to your health, and reduces unnecessary waste and pollution. If, however, you want to construct your new home or renovate your current one in an environmentally friendly manner, you need to know that this takes time. Careful and thorough research and planning are necessary. The purpose of this article is to provide you with some basic ideas that you might find relevant and useful.
If you intend to build a new home, the first thing that you need to take into consideration is buying the best possible lot. Its location should allow you to take advantage of all those natural gifts, such as sun, water, soil, wind, etc., without actually having to affect nature in a negative way. Once this is set, you need to choose the right building team. Mind you, all the workers need to be well-trained and experienced in applying environmentally friendly techniques.


The use of green building materials for your construction is required! For example, you can opt for structural insulating panels for your walls, roofs, and floors. SIPs most often consist of a foam core squeezed between OSB or oriented strand board panels. Another good idea is to install metal or tile roof. Not only this will be energy-saving, but you might also effectively collect rainwater. Thus, you will have an absolutely efficient home. Straw is another particularly suitable green material. It is a great insulator and it is able to filter air. Not to mention that it is extremely cheap and easy to find in almost all areas of the world. The use of recycled materials is also an excellent option.


Proper ventilation is another important aspect of every home. Design your windows and place them in such manner that they provide your house with good cross ventilation. Speaking of windows, it is a good idea to invest in energy-efficient models. A green window is one that has a lower U-factor. This means that it is insulated in such manner that it can successfully separate the air inside from that outside. With such windows, your energy costs will significantly drop according to HandyMan Builders London.


The design of your garden can also affect the environment in positive as well as negative ways. For instance, you can opt for a smaller lawn. You can also use native plants and flowers, rather than purchased seeds. Moreover, if you reduce the amount of your grass and greenery, as a whole, you will have to use less chemical fertilisers that tend to pollute the soil. You can also use electric or manual lawn mower, instead of gas-powered one. Another landscaping idea is to plant shady trees in front of your windows. This, however, is more suitable for areas with warmer climate. They will surely protect your home from the heat, not to mention that you will have natural air-purifiers.


And finally, I would like to shortly dwell upon the thorough cleaning that you will have to perform once your new green home is ready. We all know that construction work can be a bit messy and it will surely take you a lot of time and effort to clean your premises. However, it would be really good for you and for the environment, as well, to opt for eco-friendly, non-toxic, and biodegradable products and water- and energy-saving machinery.


Check more: http://handymanserviceslondon.org.uk/
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