Sustainable Housing Makes An Important Difference
It's natural for people in today's day and age to want to save the planet and save money
. One way to do this is from creating
Sustainable Housing. This means building green from the ground up, but that can be hard when not everyone is clear on what sustainability is.
When houses are built, they have in the past been built by materials not purchased near the location the house is to be built. Sustainability means purchasing products near the build site. The ways in which this lessens environmental impact are numerous.
One of the more important reasons for buying locally has to do with human rights. When we buy from the local builders store, we should know that the product was manufactured locally as well as that it was bought from the original producers fairly. In third world countries that first world companies are operating, many of the people who produce a resource are not treated fairly. Unless we can be sure that the human rights of the employees involved in a product are being respected and paid fairly, we should not buy that product.
The farther that products have to travel, the more of a cost they take from the environment as well as on the home builder's wallet. Many products have to go through extra processes in order to travel farther. Local products, however, can be in a more raw state and work just as well if not better than product from distant places. Local resources for building a home also mean that the future house will be designed with the landscape in mind, rather than stick out and impact the environment visually.
Sustainable housing also means lessening the types of toxins that are found within a home. People can do different things to contribute to sustainable housing, even after their house has been built and even if they are not the home owners but tenants. Turning the heat down even one or two degrees and choosing to put a sweater on can make a difference. Having updated insulation as well as updated energy efficient windows and doors can help cut down heating bills. Fixing a leak in a sink and other things that many people consider regular maintenance but often put off can help as well.
When a new house is built, there are a set of codes it can be matched to that will ensure it is part of green building. These codes exist to help contractors not only build the most cost efficient and highest quality for the dollar type of house, but also one that does not ask a lot of its environment. Costs don't only include how much money goes into a house, but the type of impact it makes on the environment both locally and globally. Building green from the ground up can cut down on energy and water costs later, while also making a home healthier to begin with.
Sustainable housing is considered a holistic approach. It takes into consideration the bigger picture of building a house. Materials are considered from beginning to end for their usage. A house that is built with 'green' in mind will recycle unused materials or use only what it needs, rather than buying in excess. Unused products can be recycled for building other houses or other projects.
Green building, sustainable building, green construction or sustainable housing, it's all about making less of an impact on the planet both ecologically and socially. It's very important to be actively involved in the building of a new house, from design to living within it in a planet friendly manner. Proactive measures taken from the earliest stages will make a difference on a home owner's bills later as well as on the environment as a whole.
by: Giles Sweetwater
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