Step by step Green Home Solution: Are you trying to live a more sustainable lifestyle? Perhaps you’ve been reading up on environmental issues, and now, you want to minimize your own impact on your local ecosystems. Maybe you’re even interested in living in a “green” home.

By Patrick Young

for Assorted Ideas, Large & Small

Building a custom, sustainable property is a big undertaking, but the end results make the effort worth it. David Stone takes a look at how to kick off a new construction project, choose environmentally-friendly materials, and select smart devices to keep your energy usage low!

Custom Building a Home, the Green Home Solution

It can be difficult to find a truly green home on the market — while models like tiny houses are becoming trendy, they’re not right for everyone. Sometimes, the best way to get the home you want is by starting from scratch! 

Buying a new construction home is exciting, but it can also be a long, complicated process. You’ll need to meet stricter requirements for a loan, find a plot of land, and find a qualified contractor for the job. Make sure to ask them about their experience working on custom homes, their credit history, their commercial liability insurance, and their contractor license. Try to find a contractor who has built green homes before; they’ll be able to bring their expertise to the table!

Of course, there’s a ton of paperwork involved in building a new home. Keep your paperwork organized by creating one large file with all your documents. A merge PDF tool allows you to organize all your documents into one file so they’re easier to keep track of. 

Finding the Right Materials

Some building materials are more eco-friendly than others! If you want to construct a green home, SmartCitiesDive recommends using materials like bamboo, cork, and reclaimed or recycled wood and metal. In fact, you can even use precast concrete slabs; while they might not seem like an obvious choice, this sturdy, reliable material doesn’t require much energy to process or assemble. Spend some time talking to the contractor you’ve chosen about your options. They can tell you which materials will work best for different purposes and help you make the right choices for your needs and your budget.

Creating an Eco-friendly Yard

You can help the environment by designing and maintaining an eco-friendly outdoor space. Minimize fertilizer use and use native plants whenever possible as they won’t require as much water. Plant more ground cover instead of grass. When mowing your lawn, keep the grass higher as taller grass will retain less water. It may be a good idea to work with qualified local landscapers who understand the process of creating an eco-friendly garden and yard. Before hiring landscapers, search “landscaper near me” and read reviews and feedback from past customers. 

Green Home Solution for Sustainable Energy Usage

Have you ever looked over your energy bills and wished that you didn’t use so many resources in a typical month? Depending on where you live, you may be able to construct your new home so that it relies on more sustainable energy sources, such as solar power. ElectricChoice states that homes oriented towards the sun in areas with little risk of severe weather events are prime candidates for solar power. Naturally, you’ll also need to be located in an area that gets plenty of sunny days every year!

You’ll also want to pay close attention to the heating and cooling system in your new home. Constructing a highly efficient HVAC system is the key to lowering your output and saving on your energy bills. Finally, don’t overlook the benefits of installing eco-friendly home appliances that have earned an Energy Star rating! In the future, your home may even be eligible for Energy Star Certification.