Posted on: October 10, 2024

Green Homes: Sustainable Construction Ideas

Green Homes: Sustainable Construction Ideas

Building homes that are good for the environment and the homeowner's wallet is a growing trend. Energy efficiency is a key factor, with studies showing homebuyers are willing to pay a premium for lower energy bills.  But creating a sustainable home goes beyond just saving energy. It's about using eco-friendly materials and promoting healthy indoor air quality.

But creating a sustainable home goes beyond just saving energy. It's about using eco-friendly materials and promoting healthy indoor air quality.

Let's explore the top six features you can offer to create a more energy-efficient and environmentally friendly home for your clients.

Insulation

One of the primary costs of house upkeep is energy consumption. Heating and cooling account for half of the average energy consumption in a home, making it a significant drain if not properly managed. High-quality insulation, such as proper sealing on doors, ducts, and windows, reduces how much energy it takes for the home to maintain a comfortable temperature. Environmentally friendly materials, like recycled and sustainable materials, can contribute more to making the home more environmentally friendly.

Energy-Smart Roofing

There are recent innovations in roof design for both aesthetic and efficiency-focused solutions. On summer days, standard roofs can reach a temperature of 150° F or greater, which significantly affects both the heat of the home and the life of the roof. When building or redoing a roof, you can look at both materials and coatings that hold less heat.

One material that is gaining more popularity for roofing is metal. The reflective property of metal reduces much of the incoming heat and can reduce energy costs by as much as 40%! Metal roofs cost more initially, but depending on the average temperature of an area, they can be a very worthwhile investment. Metal roofs are not as practical in colder areas, as it makes it harder to heat the home in colder months.

Another option for areas that get lots of sun is installing solar panels. Many roofs, such as metal roofs, are designed to make solar panel installation easy. Along with assisting in cooling, solar panels produce energy that can be used for the home or even sold back to the energy company. Like metal, solar panels are only as practical as the environment allows, as rainy or overcast days produce little to no energy for the homeowner.

For colder climates, slate is a good option, as it helps to retain heat in the home. Your roofing options depend on the climate, but finding the right solution can help to make homes more energy-efficient and environmentally friendly.

Energy Star Windows

Windows can cause big efficiency issues if lower quality materials are used. Energy Star windows are certified by the National Fenestration Rating Council (NFRC) in various metrics that contribute to efficiency. By using multiple panes, better framing materials, and outer coatings, certified windows not only reduce heat during summer and cold in the winter, but they also reduce noise penetration from outdoors and are UV-resistant, which is harmful to the skin as well as cause fading in your belongings. Like other products, they are more expensive initially but can give savings in the hundreds per year, depending on region.

High-Efficiency or Multi-Zone HVAC Systems

HVAC systems are a critical part of the energy use in a home. There are more expensive options, but there are plenty of ways to use traditional high-efficiency HVAC systems in a more efficient way. For example, efficiency is reduced when ducts are not straight, when they’re long, and when they’re not air-tight. Another factor is leakage, which should stay under 10%.

HVAC systems are more efficient when paired with programmable or smart thermostats, which allows for better long-term maintenance of indoor temperatures without constant fluctuations that increase energy costs. Along with traditional systems, multi-zone systems allow for control of individual rooms in a house, which gives greater control for both efficiency and comfort.

Recycled and Sustainable Materials

Non-renewable resources are becoming more available and affordable in construction but often come with additional costs. However, many consumers are willing to pay more for sustainable options.  In case you're unfamiliar with the term, sustainable products are those made in an environmentally responsible way, minimizing the use of and depletion of non-renewable resources. A great example of a renewable resource is glass; it can be produced practically infinitely without using up any finite resources.

Low VOC Materials

One worry for consumers that has been highly addressed is the use of materials with many Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC). Materials with a lot of VOCs emit harmful gasses, like benzene, which cause both acute and chronic effects. As well as short-term symptoms like headaches, high VOC levels are also associated with cancer, kidney and liver damage, and nervous system damage.

VOC levels tend to be higher in newer homes, which has led to recommendations for builders to ventilate new homes before new occupants move in. VOCs can be reduced by using low VOC materials, which are subject to various labeling programs that are regulated so that buyers can trust materials marked as low VOC.

Invest in Your Team

As cities grow and become more populated, pollution and the environment are becoming more and more of a concern. Along with focusing on specifics like building greener homes, you can get ahead of market trends by focusing on strong fundamentals. OSHA.com is a great resource for new and experienced teams alike. With our catalog of courses, you and your team can build a strong foundation of safety and reliability. See what we have to offer today