Sustainability: Building a GREEN home

Building a green home is more than just installing bamboo floors and low-VOC paint. A green space contains a collection of design elements, materials, and equipment assembled with careful attention to detail.

We are gradually approaching something called “zero energy” which means that residential buildings will eventually evolve to a point where they generate as much energy as they consume over the course of a typical year.

Saving Energy comes first

Since it is generally less expensive to conserve energy than it is to generate energy, this “net-zero” energy approach starts with the outside shell: floors, walls, and ceilings. Air leakage must be restricted as much as possible by sealing every opening, crack, and penetration with caulk, gaskets, or expanding foam sealant. A big factor here are windows because they lose 7 to 10 times more heat than walls, so the windows must be oriented to maximize or minimize heat loss and solar gain as appropriate to the local climate and building design.

High efficiency equipment for heating and cooling is essential.

Ductless heat pumps are highly efficient while offering the comfort of summer cooling that occupants enjoy. Space heating and cooling, lighting and water heating are the four main culprits of energy consumption, and where green building focuses on to create reduced consumption, leading to lower carbon emissions.

Proper ventilation for health

In modern society, people spend as much as 90 percent of their time indoors. Sharing the day with dust, mold, and toxic chemicals, increases the risk of health problems. Green homes strive to eliminate assaults on health by minimizing exposure to volatile organic compounds (VOC’s), formaldehyde, mold, and other harmful elements. All combustion devices, such as water heaters, must be properly vented to the outside. Indoor pollutants that can’t be avoided must be flushed out through an automatic fresh air ventilation system.

And these are just a few of the important considerations. Many other important factors should be considered in building a green home. For the full article please visit this link.

Intelligent Interiors encourages sustainable, eco-friendly design. Many of the companies we represent value sustainability – and keep it in mind when considering materials and manufacturing processes.