The definition of “green” homes differs greatly depending who you ask. Mainly, building green is about having a house that conserves energy, uses natural and/or recycled materials, and generally helps the environment for the future. This can be done in a variety of ways, with a range resources.

The materials used to build your house must lend themselves to durability and temperature stability. For this reason, good, green materials used in your house may include stone, glass, lime, cork, wood, bamboo, straw, natural fibers (cotton, linen, wool) lightweight concrete, earth, and/or recycled materials. The right design and materials will help air quality in your house, which will ultimately better your health and therefore mood.

Conserving water is another essential aspect of going green. It is most often done with low water capacity toilets, faucet aerators, and flow restrictors on shower heads. Receiving electricity via sun, wind, or water is always a concept worth looking into as well. However, whether you are getting power off a grid, an alternate source, or a mixture of the two, energy efficient appliances are important.

Solar power is a concept tossed around often in today’s world. The most important thing to remember when talking about solar heated homes is that maintaining a steady temperature is necessary. This is often done by building part of the house underground, where temperatures are much more stable. Also, strategically placed windows, which allow the sun to shine on insulated walls, are key. The insulation will release the heat into the house once the sun goes down, achieving a comfortable temperature al day. In the summer, when heat is abundant, the concept of evaporative cooling could help you maintain the temperature of your house.

The houses built a Greentree Builders are built to last. Houses only made to last a few decades waste resources and the time spent rebuilding. Therefore, durability is achieved with simple concepts in mind. Have you ever looked at the buildings that have lasted hundreds, even thousands of years? The building techniques and materials used in those structures are what should be embodied by modern eco-friendly homes.

When dealing with green homes, it is a good idea to keep in mind how most homes help you tread lightly on the earth. Natural materials, conservation, solar power, and durability are all key concepts to keep in mind, and here at Greentree Builders, we want to help you build a home that embodies all of them.