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Make a Green Home

Written by: Michael Duggan

Article Overview: A green home will reduce energy and water consumption. And it will save you money, and help the environment.

Make a Green Home

Making a green home can have a number of advantages for you, your family and the environment. It can save you money on your energy and water bills, as well as the general up keep and maintenance of your home. A green home can also reduce your ecological footprint by reducing your reliance on fossil fuels and minimising the production of waste. Another reason to building green is the improvement on your quality of life and the health of your family. There are a huge amount of options now available to make a green home and this article will concentrate on five main areas for you to improve the sustainability of your home. The goal of making a green home is to reduce energy and water use, save money, minimise waste, and improve the health of its occupants. This can be achieved in many different ways, on a range of budgets and in new and existing dwellings. One of the best ways to achieve a green home is to start at the design stage, before construction begins. However it is also possible to green a home that has already been built.

Reducing your energy consumption can be achieved in a variety of ways. The most cost effective way is also the simplest. When you leave a room, turn the light off and when you're not using an appliance switch it off. You can also purchase products that have a high energy efficiency rating to further reduce your energy use when you are using a particular appliance. Air-conditioning and heating accounts for more than half of the average household's energy consumption. The design and materials used in the construction of your home can significantly reduce the need to use mechanical heating and cooling. This will save you money on energy bills and make your home more comfortable to live in.

In many parts of Australia, water is a precious resource. Minimising our use of water is very important and there are many options available for your household to do this. Fitting water saving devices is the easiest way to achieve water use reductions. The purchasing of water efficient washing machines and dish washers can further reduce your water consumption. The installation of rainwater tanks can supply additional water resources for flushing toilets and watering the garden. It is also possible to reuse grey water by running it through a treatment system. This water can then be used in the laundry and toilet.

Reductions in waste can be made at different stages of a homes life cycle. During the construction phase, you should ask your builder how he disposes of site waste. Encourage the reuse of materials and the recycling of products that don't get used.

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Article Tags: energy efficiency, green home, water efficiency
Referred by: http://www.homepagedevelopment.com.au



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