The Main Components of Green Construction
Many businesses and industries are doing their part to go green these days by doing things to help the Earth and eliminate their carbon footprints. This is especially true in the construction industry, where eco-friendly house construction has really taken off.
Eco-conscious building methods can take many forms, and it can be applied in nearly every aspect of a new home. This post will cover some of the many components of green construction.
Construction materials
Construction companies can start their building process off on the right foot by using sustainable building materials. These materials are obtained from natural, renewable sources and have been harvested in a sustainable way. Companies that are trying to go green will also use recycled materials when possible and try to source materials locally to reduce pollution caused by transportation.
Materials are assessed using a Life Cycle Analysis (LCA) that accounts for their embodied energy, durability, recycled content and waste minimization. The higher a material’s LCA score, the greener the building will be.
Energy systems
After using sustainable building materials for building a house, a green construction company needs to look into how the home will be powered and how it can stay as energy efficient as possible. Installing solar panels is one of the top ways to go green. Solar panels reduce a homeowner’s reliance on the power grid, which helps save the planet while slashing energy bills.
Solar panels can be an expensive initial investment, so a homeowner might not want to go that route—but that doesn’t mean their home can’t be green and energy efficient! Be sure to choose high-quality insulation materials and buy energy-efficient appliances to further reduce energy bills and limit your carbon footprint.
Water management
Minimizing water usage is the next aspect of eco-friendly house construction. This can be accomplished by catching and storing rainwater to use for irrigation and toilet flushing. Using rainwater to water your lawn and flush toilets is another way to reduce your monthly bills by lowering your reliance on the city water system.
If you don’t want to go as far as catching rainwater, be sure to install low-flow toilets and showerheads in your home. Additionally, be mindful of your daily water usage, particularly when it comes to doing laundry.
Waste reduction
It sounds too good to be true, but builders can recycle up to 70 percent of the materials used at a construction site. When builders use recycled materials and then recycle their materials instead of tossing them in the trash, they’re further reducing their carbon footprint.
Upon moving into your new home, you can lessen your carbon footprint by recycling whenever possible. You might even want to consider composting if you’re into gardening.
Go green with Coyote Hollow Construction
If you’re looking for a builder committed to eco-friendly house construction, look no further than Coyote Hollow Construction. Get in touch with us today to learn more about our green building practices or to get a quote for your next project. We look forward to meeting with you!
Categorised in: Home Tips