Tips for Building a Green Home – Without Breaking the Bank



People are becoming more and more aware of their impact on the environment, from the transport they use and the food they eat to lifestyle choices that they make – and building a home is no different. For many people, building a home that has a minimal impact on the environment is a dream come true – but it can cost a whole lot more to achieve. Here are some tips from a leading residential architect on how to keep your Green home on budget.

  • Look at your landscape: The land you buy is more than simply a place to put your home. Its individual features can be used to help make your home more affordable and reduce the need for less environmentally friendly materials. For example, laying your foundation on a level is cheaper than a slope. Building a second story is also cheaper than building on a single level, as you need less foundation and a smaller roof.
  • Orientate your home: Positioning your home correctly ensures that you maximize your use of the environment while reducing your energy costs. To get the most energy-efficient heating and cooling, position your house with the longest side facing south, allowing it to catch the most sunlight. An overhang on your roof will keep the higher angle summer sun out while still allowing natural light in. A South-facing roof also allows for the best positioning of solar panels for heating, cooling and electricity.
  • Low cost renewable materials: While there are some incredible eco-friendly materials on the market, there are low-cost ones that are just as effective. Recycled steel is beautiful and robust, even in the face of strong winds. Using this material saves space in landfills and reduces the energy produced in making steel by 75%. Insulating concrete forms provide great energy savings, 20% more than wood-frame buildings in cold climates. If you want to avoid concrete, structural insulated panels could be your answer, offering a fire-resistant foam insulation that can save you over 50% in energy costs.
  • Go local: If you’re prepared to put in the work, you can also find local sources of building materials that not only meet your Green requirements, but also offer a lower carbon footprint as they don’t have to travel far to get to your site. Local stone, wood, and manufacturing companies will also appreciate your support!
  • Set your sights on incentives, tax breaks and certifications: Going Green is supported by the state government, and there are programs in place that can help make your home more affordable. Get to know your area’s rebates and incentive programs, and work with your architect to ensure that you qualify.


Custom Home Plans from your New Jersey Residential Architect 


With 20 years of experience, the architecture firm of Seth A. Leeb knows that the secret to creating outstanding homes is building a great client relationship. As a full-service architectural firm, we are able to assist our clients all the way from site analysis and design conception through the construction of their home itself. For more information on our residential architecture design services in New Jersey and to start planning your Green home, please contact us today or visit our website at http://sethleeb.wpengine.com/

Original content posted on https://leeb-architecture.com/tips-for-building-a-green-home-without-breaking-the-bank/

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Ideas for Building a Flood-Proof Home

Image
During the rainy season, New Jersey homeowners are faced with the risk of their home flooding, causing structural damage and the loss of their belongings. According to National Flood Insurance program statistics for 2016, New Jersey homeowners accounted for over 232,000 policies worth $56 billion in flood insurance and received over $6.1 billion in claims payments between 1978 and 2015. With this in mind, it makes sense to incorporate strategies for flood prevention into your home’s architecture. Here are some tips from a  leading architect in NJ . Know if you’re in a high-risk zone:  A great source for information about flooding in your area are the FEMA Flood Zone Maps, which you can access online. These maps use aqua markers to indicate if an area is below the flood marker. Ask your architect to determine your BFE (base flood elevation) and DFE (design flood elevation) to ensure that your house is set at the correct height and according to building codes. Ask for a topo
Read more

How Biophilic Design Can Increase Workplace Productivity

Image
Biophilic design has changed how we think about creating workspaces. By bringing natural elements into the built environment, biophilic design creates a peaceful and productive atmosphere that significantly affects how people are in the workplace. In this article, our team of  commercial architects in NJ  discuss the biophilic design concept and how it can change the way people work for the better.  What is “Biophilic Design” and How Does it Affect Work Environments? Biophilic design is a new way of building that tries to bring people closer to nature by using natural elements, materials, and shapes in buildings. It considers the fact that people innately have the need to be in touch with nature, and utilizes that connection to make us healthier and more productive. Research  has shown that the way a workplace is designed can have a significant effect on how employees feel and how well they do their jobs. Biophilic office design uses natural light, plants, and organic materials to lowe
Read more

Essential Restaurant Design Tips from a Commercial Architect

Image
A successful restaurant brings many different elements together to deliver a comprehensively enjoyable experience to diners – and one of the most critical of these elements is the design of the space itself. Here are some insights from a  commercial architect  in NJ on how to make the most of your restaurant design. Prioritize your spending:  Restaurant design and fitment costs can escalate rapidly and the sky’s the limit. It’s best to first focus your spending on the most critical areas – creating a functional layout for the kitchen and dining space, installing effective task and dining lighting, and investing in robust and comfortable seating that fits the space. Settle on your brand and image:  After the budget is set for those areas, look for a few striking elements to add personality to your space and advertise your brand. It’s important that these elements are well thought-out and directly align with the restaurant’s overall theme. Here, customization is a great idea – h
Read more