There are many ways you can invest in the home in order to improve its value. From single-room renovations to an entire home makeover, many home-owners are interested in preserving and enhancing their home’s appeal for the future. An increasing number of people have found that investing in a green home from the start can be a great way to improve long-term value of the home and enjoy lower annual costs associated with ownership. Unfortunately, some people end up making critical mistakes when building a green home from scratch. Today, we’ll review the five biggest mistakes you should avoid when building a green home of your own.
Keep Things Simple
The purpose of building a green home is to be sustainable. This extends to the size and scope of the house itself. One of the biggest mistakes you can make when building a green home is to build more than you actually need. Remember that each square foot of your new green home still consumes precious resources. If you need help in maximising the utility of your home while conserving space, then be sure to consult with a professional architecture firm like Mark Lawler Architects.
Consider Your Long-Term Needs
While you may not remain in your new green home for the rest of your life, it is important to consider what the future may hold. Building your new home now – but not considering where you might be in a few years’ time – can result in stressful, crowded or difficult situations later. Do you plan on having any children in the future? Are the stairs designed to be easy to scale in old age? These are the kinds of questions you’ll need to ask in order to ensure your home is liveable for the long-term.
Skimping on Green Energy
While you can certainly build a home that is more energy efficient and better for the environment without going the solar route, it just doesn’t make sense in this day and age to do so. When you combine potential credits with the long-term projected price of energy, it would be foolish to not build your new green home with solar panels included. You’ll save as much as 50% on your energy bill over the next 20 years by doing so, as your energy costs will be locked in while others’ rise.
Minimal Insulation
Those who want to have a green home may feel a bit bad for using traditional insulation – after all, it is made from petroleum products. However, insulation is by far one of the best ways to produce a green home for the long-term. Use as much insulation as humanly possible in the walls, windows, roof and anywhere else. This will ensure your home’s heating and cooling is as efficient as possible.
Energy Inefficient Appliances
Even if you build the green home of your dreams with solar panels, great insulation, minimal footprint and sustainable building materials, opting for inefficient appliances could upset it all. Consuming as little energy as possible will truly make a home green and will save you money. Think about the cost of those solar panels: spending a few hundred extra dollars for more energy efficient equipment will save you potentially thousands in your solar investment.
Building the green home of your dreams can be a rewarding and awesome experience! As long as you avoid some of the most common pit-falls associated with building a new green home, you’ll have a wonderful, sustainable home to love for decades.