Taperman articles

A well-designed green home construction requires consideration of several factors, which must be incorporated in the initial structuring stages. Using eco-friendly raw materials is an important management measure in the construction of green homes. This could include using high fly ash content cement instead of normal cement. Salvage of reusable material from landfills, such as using reengineered wood or ancient wooden beams retrieved from old houses are other aspects of using recycled materials. It is best to incorporate the green features during the construction phase. Installation of a drip irrigation system instead of a sprinkler system is one such measure. Investing in a rainwater harvesting system is yet another step toward going Green. To aid absorption of rainwater into the surrounding soil, pathways, and roadways can be made out of permeable paving material.

The use of Forest Stewardship Council (SFC) certified wood for doors, window frames and other places where wood is required also helps the green cause. Green home constructions aim at cleaner indoor environment by making use of no/low formaldehyde interior paints. Installing solar heaters and photovoltaic panels helps conserve electricity and a lower utilities bill. Greater reflectivity of light colored roofs as against dark colored helps in reducing heat buildup in the house. Light colored roofs do not undergo as much thermal expansion as dark colored roofs and hence last longer.

Green Home construction need to also address the inside fittings of the house, both static as well as movable. It is best to use recycled wood furniture for the house interiors. Garden furniture can be made out of recycled plastic, which is easily available in the market. A green initiative gaining popularity is using cork or bamboo flooring instead of the usual hardwood flooring. It is better to use natural linoleum rather than vinyl linoleum. Make sure that the ducting in the house is leak proof. It has been estimated that leaks in ducting cause a loss over 10% of the energy used. Using low volume flush toilets and fitting flow reducers to faucets and shower heads helps cut down 40% of the water volume and nobody will even notice the difference. Formaldehyde free wall and ceiling insulation help reduce sickness. Cellulose insulation made out of recycled paper is one such good material for wall insulation.

In a green home construction, effective use is made of low emissive double paned windows. The advantages of double paned windows are that they help in providing insulation as well as reduction of noise. Insulation can further be enhanced using wooden frames for housing windows. A piping jacket helps reduce heat loss. Use these tips to make your home truly green.

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