June 29, 2011

Little Green Homes

Filed under: Green Living — Tags: , , — Puput @ 12:08 pm

A small house can grab a super-sized punch when it comes to reducing the environmental footprint of a house. Energy efficient tendency sustainable properties to smaller homes, which are inherently less square meters inside and outside less acreage. The interior will cost less to heat, cool and light, resulting in less power consumption and minimum size would be grass-like. Any-needs minimal maintenance, reducing emissions and a much healthier environment, but there is more to a “green house” than meets the eye.

A green home does not look like it was built for the year 2100. In fact, see many green houses from outside, as well as to other homes in new subdivisions. But on the inside and a hidden locations on the exterior of these houses are rare. Features such as rainwater collection systems, a roof for the solar system are designed carpets from recycled materials and wind of only a few ways that a house is built with the environment in mind.

The greenest of green homes are built to the highest standards of Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) rating system certified. In accordance with the standards of the U. S. Department of Energy’s Building America program is provided, LEED has long been used in commercial and public buildings, but home-certification is a relatively new phenomenon. One possibility is that a green home is defined as the rating of at least 40 percent more energy efficient than standard housing code.

For the pure sake of construction costs, are smaller than most homes are built green houses. Many of the systems are built to environmentally friendly, are not cheap, and fewer panels and smaller self-contained heating and cooling systems similar to a smaller build-out budget. The elements that need a home a green house, fallen in cost in recent years, but a basic LEED-certified building to be built is still running about $ 3,500 more than it would cost for a normal home building. The highest level LEED-certified home costs about $ 29,000 more. The smaller the house, the less expensive process. The same concept applies to existing-home renovations, or “greening” of an older home.

An example of a company that successfully combines the concepts of “green” and “small” was founded by Tumbleweed Tiny House Company saw Jay Shafer. Shafer began to build small houses out of concern about the impact of a larger house on the environment. More than 10 years later, these “small” portable houses to minimize not only the square meters, but the green houses are fully equipped with double glazing and insulated enough heat.

More and more builders are the greening of the American Dream. Suggests that a builder by checking credentials ANSI for approval ICC-700-2008 National Green Building Standard certification (see http://www.nahbgreen.org for more information). View this builders online:

Atlas Home Contractors atlashomecontractorsinc.com
BPC Green Builders, bpcgreenbuilders.com
Castalia Homes, castaliahomes.com
Dominion Homes, dominionhomes.com
Grady O Grady, gradyogrady.com
Integrity Builders, homesbyintegrity.com
Jurenka custom homes, jurenka.com
Ondra houses, ondrahomebuilding.com
RC Green Builders, rcgreenbuildersaz.com
Top custom homes, summitcustomhomeskc.com
Zero Energy, zeroenergyllc.com

April 18, 2011

Three Important Steps in Planning Your Spring Eco-garden

Filed under: Green Living — Tags: , , — Puput @ 3:51 am

Now is the time of year for some people to think about spring to prepare your organic garden. Mother Nature is kind enough to provide us with the sun and rain, but it is up to us to ensure that the correct steps in our gardens to participate in an environmentally sound manner. There are tips that are easy to follow, and it’s a big step in the greening of the world through our garden

Water conservation is the key to protecting our natural resources

There are pressing questions when it comes to water, in particular the quality and quantity. To be used in an eco-garden, to always be sure the drip line irrigation system. to collect, even with a run in the top of the rainy season, rainwater is another way to save and reuse. ensure the planning and installation of an irrigation system that plans have adequate drainage channels. If irrigation forget deep into the ground. This reduction is limited to the frequency of irrigation. It is also important to remember to water at night or in the morning, especially at times of high temperatures. Another way to water your garden to save your plants is to categorize and transplanted as needed. Some plants require more water than others, so it is advisable, depending on the irrigation design specifications. This is the best bed in raised beds. More on this in the next section.

Raised beds for the best green garden

The use of raised beds was generally produced in poor soil areas. These days there is an environmental impact assessment is essential for the growth of your plants. This plant beds, instead of warm, spring planting was more realistic, especially in colder climates. There may also be more control over the nutrients and texture of the soil deeding to the specific needs of the flora Raised beds offer the most environmentally friendly irrigation systems. Too much water and saturation can be devastating to the crop to play during the first part of the lifecycle. The installation of a custom infusion into an existing or planned raised bed reduces the need for additional irrigation.

Go Organic

One of the main features in an eco-garden is the right mix of compost. The use of compost are universal and highly recommended. It is not only environmentally friendly, with a flush on the bottom and erosion. The recoverable amounts of carbon, nitrogen, oxygen and water, there are many terms used in our daily lives that composted, and can human urine. Manure, food and much more with lawn and plant debris will increase from the compost mixed soil water retention capacity. Compost is also important for good root development and stabilization. Humus mulching compost all organic products and discourage weeds. There are many resources available to start and maintain your organic garden. For more information, visit your local store detectenergy.com and home and garden.

“Together we can ensure the planet. Going green a better future.” Earth Day is 22 April 2011. Let Earth Day every day