Carefully consider the materials you use to build your home
First of all, when building a more sustainable home, you will need to carefully consider the materials that you will use to build it. This can seem a little overwhelming at first because it’s not just about finding the most eco-friendly resources. You need to make sure they are as local as possible to avoid the pollution and energy consumption of shipping.
For example, in an area where straw is abundant, it makes sense to build from straw bales. However, in a location where sand is freely available replacing the straw bale infrastructure with sandbags could make more sense than shipping straw in from another site.
Although your choices also need to be tempered with the considerations of how long term a building solution is as well as the impact it may have by removing it from its current environment. An example of this is removing sand on a riverbank of your property to fill the bags for your building which then changes the width, and depth of the river and so has an impact on the flora and fauna that live there.
Also when it comes to the materials you use to build your home, being mindful of waste is essential. Indeed, instead of throwing away leftover materials, it makes more sense to save them for another project. You may also sell them, or even give them away so they will be used rather than ending up in landfills.
Use solar energy
Next, if you want the home you build to be sustainable, then you will want to harness the power of solar energy. The most obvious way of achieving this is to have solar panels installed on your property (usually the roof) which will generate clean, renewable electricity. Although it’s also crucial that you understand how to properly dispose of such items when they are no longer of use. The good news is there are plenty of solar panel recycling companies that can help you dispose safely of decommissioned panels. Thereby making sure they do not end up in landfills.
However, there are also other ways to harness the power of the sun. These ways can help you create a more sustainable home. For example, building your property in line with the ideas of passive solar design can help save a great deal of energy for both heating and cooling. To do this you will need to include materials in the build of your home that either absorb or reflect the sun’s rays as required.
Plan to use water wisely
When building a home, most people choose to include a garden or outside space in which they can spend time. However, yards can be a huge drain on valuable resources such as clean drinking water.
With that in mind, putting in as much thought and attention to designing a sustainable garden as you would your home is the best approach. This means opting for plants that are suitable for the location in which you live and so require little water, using a drip irrigation system instead of sprinklers and hoses, and setting up a greywater recycling system. Although be sure to check the regulations on using greywater in your location. You need to do this, because it’s not legal in all states, right now.
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