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 If you are considering having a custom home constructed, you are likely thinking about the costs associated with this endeavor. Home construction costs can become very large, very quickly. However, the long-term costs of the house and its continual use and upkeep are also considerations. By building a green house, you will reduce the overall costs of the home in the long run; reduce the carbon footprint of the residents; and help reduce waste and environmental damage. Remember that green technology creates energy savings over time. There are several areas of home construction that should be evaluated when you build a green house.
Insulated Walls and Windows
The key to maintaining a constant inside temperature in a home is proper insulation. By ensuring that all the walls and windows are insulated properly and that windows are double paned or better, you can save a lot of energy and cost by keeping the heat in and forcing the cold air outside. Proper insulation is sometimes the law with new homes in many countries as it is a simple way to save money and preserve wasteful energy use. By preserving the heat in your home, you will save money on your heating bills.
Passive Air-Conditioning & Heating
A passively heated home needs no energy to maintain a constant temperature. Passive homes have long been a rage in Europe, but the idea has yet to catch on in mainstream home construction around the world. The idea is to situate doors and windows strategically so as to bring in the daylight and move air through the house in a way that keeps it cool in the hot summer months. Usually, passive homes have a backup heating unit for those extremely cold days.
Solar Panels
Solar panels can be installed on the side of the roof that gets the most sun. Solar panels can either charge a battery to be used as a backup energy source, or they can be used to reverse the energy grid to attenuate the electricity bill (or conversely earn money). Solar panels are expensive at first, but they pay for themselves with the free energy they capture from the sun. Photovoltaic technology has become very efficient in recent years and should be employed with your green house.
Instant-On Water Heating & Water Shutoff
A lot of water can be wasted while waiting for warm water to enter the shower, sink or dishwater; it is critical to avoid this to save water and create savings. Instant-on water heating also saves energy by not having to keep a large reservoir of water hot at all times. You get to 'instantly' heat a certain amount of water at the time of its consumption, which saves money and frustration.
Your green house can also have water shutoff valves in areas like sinks and shower heads to prevent water wastage.
Drip Irrigated Lawn
If your green house needs to have a lawn, make sure that the lawn is drop irrigated as opposed to watered by sprinklers. Sprinklers waste a lot of water by causing it to drain off onto sidewalks and into areas that do not need water. Less water will usually suffice for your lawn, so instead of wasting excess water, save money and energy by using drip irrigation.
Sources:
http://www1.eere.energy.gov/consumer/tips/windows.html
http://www.ase.org/content/article/detail/999
http://www.builditsolar.com/SiteSurvey/why_solar.htm
http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/421964/tankless_hot_water_heaters_versus_hot.html?cat=6
http://www.urbanfarmerstore.com/library/pdf/drip/subsurfc.pdf
Content by EAA, Associated Content for MercaTrade.com
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