Green Construction

In this day and age, you can hear almost everyone talking about “going green.” The thing is, that trend will not go away, and at some point, every construction company will have to follow in the same direction. This will happen because, quite simply, we have no other choice. We have destroyed our planet, and now we have to do what we can in order to survive. The best way to do that is to start building sustainable housing. Let’s take a look at what sustainable construction has to offer and why that’s something you should take part in.

Solar power

Harnessing the power of the sun was something human race wanted to do for a long time, and now we can do exactly that. Unlike, for example, coal, sunlight is an inexhaustible energy resource, and that’s why every sustainable home should come with a solar electric system.

These systems are not as expensive as they once were, and nearly one-quarter of Australians investing in solar power is saying something, right?

Double-glazed windows

Insulating the house is one of the most important parts of green building, and the easiest way to do that is with double-glazed windows. These windows are able to keep the house cooler during the summer and warmer during the winter by trapping the cold and hot air inside and thus reducing the energy you’d use for heating or air conditioning. In other words, by installing these windows, you can forget about paying enormous electrical or heating bills.

Green insulation

While we’re on the subject of insulation, we should mention green insulation. What most people don’t know is that insulators are just wall fillers and that they don’t have to be expensive. Sure, in most cases, when you don’t know what you should buy, you can rely on that old saying “If you don’t know which product is better – buy the most expensive one,” but not in this case. In other words – make use of old materials such as old magazines, newspapers, even denim. Use recycled material to line the walls and you’ll have a home that’s perfectly insulated.

Cool roofs

Cool roofs are a prime example of green technology because they minimize the dependence on air conditioning by absorbing less heat and reflecting most of the solar radiation. The smartest thing to do, if you have the budget, is to incorporate the previously mentioned solar electric system into your cool roof. This will make your home a healthier and cheaper place to live.

Concrete

Some people don’t like concrete simply because it’s gray and seemingly boring. But, truth be told, concrete is actually one of the most sustainable materials on the planet. Here are some benefits of concrete:

• Durability

• Low maintenance

• Fire-resistance

• Low emissions of carbon dioxide

• Affordability

Concrete is cheap, and even new generation concrete tools are extremely affordable. Because of that, building a home out of concrete is still the cheapest green way to do it. There are those people who feel that going green will just cost them more money, but that’s simply not the case. Sure, getting started might cost just a bit more, but if you consider all the benefits these green technologies will allow you to reap – going green is the only natural choice you can make. Green building will improve the quality of your life and minimize the strain on local infrastructure. And, of course, you’ll feel comfortable because you’ll be saving money at the same time. With all that in mind, do the right thing, and reduce the pollution by using green tools, materials, and technologies when building

About The Author

Article written for WhosGreenOnline.com by, Diana Smith: Full time mom of two beautiful girls, a great animal and nature lover and a passionate traveler