| A home that is built and operated using sound | | | | There is a trend now days towards the use of |
| environmental practices is considered a "green home" | | | | manufactured building materials. Individuals who are |
| We are hearing more and more on the topic of | | | | concerned about the environment, but are not quite |
| climate change on a daily basis and it is becoming | | | | ready for an earthen home are choosing this option. |
| obvious that each one of us should do our part to | | | | The use of manufactured materials results in a home |
| reduce the impact that we have on our planet. | | | | that is more in harmony with the environment. |
| "Going green" is the simplest way to accomplish this, | | | | Wood remains an particularly versatile building material |
| and your home is the obvious place to start . When | | | | and is readily available. However, Environmentally |
| you make the decision to build a new home, you are | | | | speaking though, wood was once considered a |
| given a great opportunity to think 'green. | | | | sustainable resource for construction, but over |
| The Internet is a wonderful source of information. It | | | | harvesting of our forests throughout the world, has |
| will give you a vast array of items that you can use | | | | grow to be a serious environmental concern. Our |
| for your kitchen and bath that will help the | | | | greed for lumber has far outpaced our ability to |
| construction of your home from an environmentally | | | | regrow our forests. If you are considering wood to |
| friendly perspective. In fact, you will find | | | | build your home, choosing woods that are from |
| environmentally friendly products that cover the | | | | environmentally friendly sources should be considered.. |
| entire building process. Green products from carpets | | | | Green Home Styles |
| to paints and plumbing fixtures are obtainable to add | | | | When choosing a design for your green home, there |
| to the decor of your home, | | | | are many styles you can decide on. Obviously, you |
| The choice of building a "green home" is not made | | | | can choose a traditional design or even consider |
| just because it is the environmentally friendly way to | | | | rounded styles, earthen homes or even organic |
| go. In actuality you will have a much healthier home | | | | designs. The possibilities are endless. |
| for you and your family and the cost to operate the | | | | Traditional homes are the designs we are, for the |
| home will be considerably less than traditional homes. | | | | most part, familiar with, and usually fit into our |
| Building Materials | | | | impression of what a home should look like. There |
| If you are considering building a new home, you | | | | are many traditional designs to pick from such as |
| should think environmental and the use of renewable | | | | contemporary, Victorian, bungalow, ranch homes and |
| resources should be a high priority in your mind. The | | | | more. |
| use of materials such as lightweight concrete, straw, | | | | A rounded home helps the owner be more in |
| timber or readily available earth to build the home | | | | harmony with the environment and in many parts of |
| should all be investigated. Each one of these building | | | | the country this type of construction is being |
| resources has distinct advantages and disadvantages, | | | | seriously considered for it's hurricane resistant design. |
| but none should be ruled out without thorough | | | | Rounded homes are considered to be very |
| research. | | | | environmentally friendly. |
| If you are fortunate to be in a climate that would | | | | Earthen homes are built either entirely underground, |
| make an earthen building practical, what better choice | | | | or only partially into the earth. When these homes |
| do you have than to build a home from the very dirt | | | | are built at least six feet under the surface, the |
| below your feet? This proved practical for millions of | | | | home will have a stabilized temperature, and will only |
| years for a very good reason. | | | | fluctuate about six degrees. This bit of information is |
| Another viable option for a green building material | | | | significant because it takes much less energy to heat |
| that has been used in the United States for more | | | | and cool this type of home. That not only saves the |
| than fifty years is lightweight concrete. Although this | | | | homeowner money, but saves our precious |
| type of concrete is not as strong, it will hold up to | | | | resources as well. |
| the weather and will perform as well as traditional | | | | Conclusion |
| concrete. This type of lightweight concrete is often | | | | Green buildings are a wave of the future. We should |
| used as insulation for the home, and has outstanding | | | | be considering our environment as a natural resource, |
| fire retardant properties. In addition, lightweight | | | | and if we plan on passing a healthy environment on |
| concrete has an additional benefit that it doesn't need | | | | to our children and grandchildren, we need to "think |
| as large a foundation and less reinforced structural | | | | green" right now. |
| steel is needed. | | | | |