How to Make Your New Home Eco-Friendly

Posted on: 17 August 2018

If you're working with new home builders to create your dream home, you may want to identify some eco-friendly building strategies that you can use in your home. For inspiration, take a look at these ideas:

Use Locally Sourced Materials

The longer materials have to travel to get to your building site, the greater toll they take on the environment. If possible, try to use materials that are available locally. In addition to being environmentally sound, this practice can also help to create a home that complements the surrounding area. For instance, think about log cabins in the middle of the forest or clay/stucco homes in desert climates.

Minimise Artificial Lighting

Take advantage of the stunning sunlight throughout the country and consider working with your new home builder to create a home that has lots of windows and skylights. To further minimise your reliance on artificial lighting, you may want to put in solar panels and LED light bulbs, which use less energy than the traditional options.

Skip the Turf

Your eco-friendly design doesn't just have to apply to your home itself. If your builder is also organising the landscaping, you may want to explore ways to make that eco-friendly. First and foremost, consider skipping the turf or only putting in turf in select areas where you want your children to be able to play. In other cases, opt for landscaping that involves a lot of drought-resistant native plants. Alternatively, if you want a more lush look, consider raised gardening beds and orchards full of fruit trees.

Consider a Green Roof

Plants don't just have to be on the ground. For a truly eco-friendly home, you may want to put in a green roof. You can put all kinds of plants on the roof, but you need to plan this early in the building stage. The water and soil can be heavy, so you need to ensure your roof can handle the weight. Then, the plants can absorb toxins from the area and boost the oxygen levels around your home.

Wire In Smart Elements

You should also wire in smart elements. When you put in a smart thermostat, you can control the thermostat remotely so that you never run the air conditioner or the heater when you don't need it. You can also control your irrigation tools so you don't waste water, close the shades to prevent excess heat from getting in and handle all kinds of other tasks with the right smart hardware and software.

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