Eco-friendly housing is the concept of having homes that take energy efficiency and environmental sustainability into great consideration in their construction and operation. The construction of eco-friendly housing, which also is known as “green building,” is based on the belief that every effort should be made to help the environment. Since the green industry boomed in the early 21st century, the demand for eco-friendly housing has increased. A lot of homes have been built to take advantage of wind turbines, efficient lighting and insulation, water conservation methods, recycling and waste management and other eco-friendly technological innovations. Even the building materials and techniques are environmentally friendly.
Real estate developers and contractors have invested in architects and engineers who are certified “green builders.” A green builder is someone who plans eco-friendly housing construction designs. The entire house plan aims to save energy and use mostly eco-friendly materials. Many professionals spend time and effort researching the most innovative eco-friendly housing solutions because of the increased awareness of individuals and corporations to preserve the ecology of the planet.
Expert organizations such as the United States Green Building Coalition conduct assessments of eco-friendly housing construction. The U.S. Green Building Coalition awards Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certifications to architects, engineers and other construction professionals and firms. Some eco-friendly housing that was built by professionals and construction firms that have passed the LEED exams are the Athena Marie Plantation of North Hutchinson Island, Florida, in the United States and the Orchid House of the Lower Mill Estate in Cotswold, England.
To begin converting a house to an eco-friendly one, one first must assess the house’s current energy consumption. An online energy calculator that is applicable in the country where the house is located can be helpful for this. Many electric companies offer energy calculators on their website, and those are more accurate tools to use. There also are websites that generate a graph or tally of how the house can reduce energy consumption to a sustainable level. These tools can be used to determine how much energy is enough.
For construction of new eco-friendly homes, green builders usually think about designing the house in a way that the occupants can achieve the utmost comforts and at the same time achieve sustainable energy consumption and eco-friendly living. Eco-friendly housing construction should cover all aspects, such as floor planning, exterior elevations, foundation planning, framing and wall sections, among others. The materials and technologies to be utilized also should be considered in the planning process.