Affordable Sustainable Building Options For New Homeowners

Tuesday, February 9, 2010 12:30

Posted in category Articles

Using sustainable building methods is simple to incorporate into a home you plan to build, or even to modify an existing home. There are numerous options, and many are very affordable and easy to do.

Building your home from dirt may not seem like the best idea initially. Many homes in the Southwestern United States are built from adobe or dirt bags. Both are extremely sustainable, and most adobe houses are stronger than traditionally built homes. They are temperature controlled naturally, and very cheap to build. They also look clean and elegant. There are endless options when it comes to choosing an adobe house design.

Another method for creating a more sustainable building is by incorporating geothermal energy into the home. If you plan to live in a geothermal hot spot, take advantage of what the earth has to offer. Setting this up is cost efficient and easy, and very low cost from the moment you start using it. Geothermal supported buildings are a brilliant way to incorporate a little more green into your home.

If you are building your home from scratch you can begin by purchasing recycled materials or sprucing up ‘junk’ from a junk yard. Windows and doors can often be found in these places for next to nothing. With a little bit of effort you can transform a cracked or dirty window into a glistening window perfect for your new sustainable home.

Of course, if you live in the city or have very little room for growing things, consider a garden on your roof. This popular method for growing flowers and plants in the city is catching on around the world. More places encourage this type of sustainable development, and they make your home look much prettier to outsiders.

One of the most important things to consider for any sustainable building is choosing sustainable materials and goods. Bamboo, birch, and other fast growing materials are useful for flooring and other decorations. Choose these things and you will be supporting the sustainable building practices, as well as choosing an eco-friendly method for building your home.

Closing Comments

Sustainable homes are very economically priced and are even easier to build yourself. When it comes to buying or building a sustainable and nature-friendly home, consider the above for your overall design.

Learn more on sustainable building and Asheville.