Thursday, October 25, 2012

How To Use Home Designs On This Green Planet

By Joanna Crank


Today's world is paying closer attention to home design that include some form of green elements to help protect our planet. That might mean that house plans are prepared to make the home totally constructed from renewable or recycled resources, or partially so. Also much attention is being paid to making homes more energy efficient. In addition to that there are some homes that are being designed to be fully self-sufficient.

Whether it is a home being built with eco-friendly materials or not, energy efficiency is in demand. When drawing up house plans, they typically includes plans for including the most beneficial amounts of insulation. Even the appliances placed in these homes are selected for their energy efficiency.

Recycled materials are often the favorite choice for builders to use on new homes. Eco-friendly materials can be used throughout the home and that does not have to stop with those members that hold the house together. Even the counter tops used in kitchen and bath can be made of paper stone and other materials that have been repurposed to mimic the look of granite.

Most home designs incorporate energy saving appliances like refrigerators, freezers, ovens, washers and dryers, and small electrical appliances as they refit older homes or install in new homes. The Energy Star label should be something that you look for when searching for new appliances. Be sure to recycle your old ones if they are still working by giving them away or selling them at garage sales.

Furniture should not be forgotten when designing a home. The typical thing to do when redesigning a home is to go out and buy new furniture. Older furniture is often hauled to the landfill. It can get expensive when you are buying a room or houseful of furniture, and after all we are going green.

When furniture is outdated or worn, it can actually be reworked to bring it back to like new quality. New upholstery and paint can go a long way. Most furniture pieces, if they are made well can be reconstructed to look just like new.

Home designs have to include flooring which is the most critical element of the home. Here is where you can really go green with all the new materials that have been created for this purpose. Bamboo and cork are some of the most incredibly green products and they are just as durable as traditional flooring.

Generally speaking, going green does not cost more, and it does save money over time. Isn't it time to go green?




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