Eco-Friendly Homes
Posted by Yoofi Gerard Hagan on Wednesday, January 20th, 2010 at 10:44am.Eco-friendly homes offer many benefits, including cheaper living costs and a smaller footprint on the earth. An eco-friendly home can create less pollution and better energy efficiency by preserving natural resources, such as water and gas. Many times, eco-friendly homes are appraised at 15% greater value that conventional homes of the comparable size.
Energy efficiency is a major variable in determining how eco-friendly a home may be. There are many ways that a home can become eco-friendly, including double-paned windows, Energy Star appliances, and reasonably sized heating and cooling systems. Insulation in the walls and attic can play a major role in saving energy inside a home. The allowance of natural light and sealed windows and doors are two key factors that will contribute to energy conservation of a home. Obviously, trees around the home to block out too much sun light are a great factor for a home's energy conservation. Solar power connections are a huge bonus when it comes to any home; they can off-set the cost of electricity.
Another major variable in determining if a home is eco-friendly is the air quality inside the home. Obviously, one should avoid any home that smells of mold or has visible signs of mold. Testing the home for levels of electromagnetic fields and radon exposure can give you an idea about the quality of the air inside the home.
Also, water sustainability is another huge factor to consider when determining if a home is eco-friendly. Be sure to consider the amount of water the landscaping will need. Also, check for low-flow toilets and an on-demand hot water system. Water-saving shower heads and low-low faucet aerators are also a plus, but they can be purchased and easily installed by anyone with common knowledge of home improvement.
One last factor to consider is the size of the home. Obviously, the smaller the home, the less of a carbon-footprint the home will leave and the fewer materials will be needed to operate and maintain the home. No reason to buy a bigger home when a smaller one will accommodate your quality of life just fine.
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