| Sustainability has become a key consideration of | | | | abundant and cost free energy source we have is |
| manufacturing in recent times - with the intended | | | | sunlight and a good passive solar design will ensure |
| effect being that anything we make or build, not | | | | that our house is capturing enough sunlight to be |
| have a deleterious effect on the health of the | | | | absorbed by the surrounding thermal mass, which |
| planet. Indeed, sustainability is about using | | | | will then release heat back into the room when |
| resources our in a healthy and environmentally | | | | the sun goes down. The utility of this design is |
| friendly manner and in such a way that provide | | | | dependent on also having good insulation. The sun |
| for the long term needs of our community. | | | | can also be used to generate a large portion (if |
| Sustainable home building pursues two broad | | | | not all) of our heating and electricity needs. By |
| themes: construction using environmentally friendly | | | | placing solar panels on the roof we can convert |
| materials and the most efficient use of energy | | | | sunlight into electricity to heat water and power |
| that is possible. | | | | domestic appliances. Advances in solar technology |
| It should first be pointed out that there is much | | | | are rapidly seeing solar power become a more |
| greater scope for sustainability when building new | | | | cost effective way of generating power. These |
| houses than there is when simply doing a green | | | | measures will all be complemented by making |
| remodel of an existing dwelling - but that is not to | | | | sure that all your electrical appliances are energy |
| say that there aren't things that any of us can | | | | efficient. |
| do, irrespective of where we live. Buying more | | | | Consideration should also be given to how water |
| energy efficient appliances, using water conserving | | | | will be used in your home. Using low water |
| showerheads, using aerators in sink faucets and | | | | capacity toilets and flow restricted shower heads |
| revamping insulation are all within the reach of any | | | | are practices that are now actually quite common. |
| home owner. All of these measures save money | | | | This theme can be extended by diverting gray |
| in the long run by cutting down on our energy and | | | | water from clothes washing and bathing facilities |
| water bills, and because they're utilizing less | | | | to watering plants, and by catching rain water |
| energy, they're also measures that will see that | | | | from roofs for use inside the house. |
| we're not unduly adding to the planet's stock of | | | | Concentrating your landscaping on indigenous |
| greenhouse gases. | | | | drought tolerant plants can also save you an |
| Of course, if we're building a house from scratch | | | | enormous amount of water. |
| then we have much greater scope to ensure its | | | | A green builder will also ensure that he is only |
| sustainability. The two areas that a prospective | | | | building with sustainable materials - ideally ones |
| builder needs to concentrate on when building a | | | | that have been certified as sustainable by the |
| sustainable home is energy efficiency and using | | | | Forest Stewardship Council (FSC)- an independent |
| sustainable harvested eco-friendly materials. | | | | 3rd party non-biased ratings agency that certifies |
| There are a few key areas that we can focus on | | | | materials as being sustainable or not; as well using |
| when building an energy efficient house. The most | | | | non-toxic paint and finishing products. |