Go Green Trends
According to OPUS Homes Go Green Guide, the following trends create healthier, more energy efficient homes:
- EnergySaving Design Elements and Products – Energy savings can be built right into your home through the use of insulated windows, energy-efficient heating and air conditioning systems, EnergyStar appliances and water heaters, and low flow toilets and water fixtures.
- Recycled Materials – Eco-friendly recycled materials include everything from drywall and vinyl siding to broadloom and granular driveway materials.
- Sustainable Materials – Using engineered hardwood rather than solid hardwood offers better natural resources management by using up to 30 percent less lumber.
- Low-emitting Materials – Many building materials such as flooring, broadloom, caulk, sealers, and paint emit volatile compounds. Green builders opt for low-emitting materials.
- Improved Indoor Air Quality – Humidifiers, air cleaners, and heat recovery ventilators are eco-friendly trends that improve indoor air quality.
Go Green Trends in Action
What do these go green trends mean for your new home? An eco-friendly home built on current green building practices will have less of an impact on the environment and lower energy costs than traditional homes.
For example, seemingly minor touches such as sealed air ducts can significantly reduce air loss, resulting in lower heating and air-conditioning bills year round. Low flush and dual flush toilets reduce water consumption while electronic thermostats regulate temperature or even shut off your central heating and air when you’re not at home.
At the same time, eco-friendly building materials are available that rival the look and quality of their traditional counterparts. EcoPerformance showerheads, for example, use up to 30 percent less water yet deliver a variety of contemporary styles and finishes.
Insulated steel rollup garage doors are another go green trend that reduce lumber usage and help to insulate the home. In short, eco-friendly builders take a whole house approach. They address everything: how they source materials, construction waste management, sealing windows and doors, using recycled materials, insulating the home, sealing air ducts, and equipping the home with the most energy-efficient plumbing and appliances.
How Go Green Trends Affect Your Bottom Line
Go green building trends focus on eco-friendly building practices and materials. While a single green building practice delivers benefits, a comprehensive green building strategy can result in an affordable new home that has lower energy costs throughout its life.
Will you pay a premium for an eco-friendly home? Not at all. In fact, your new home will likely pay you a dividend year after year in the form of an eco-friendly lifestyle and low energy costs.
