Contributed by Mike Moore

Adobe bricks near a construction site in Kyrgyzstan

Your wish to embrace the nature indoor and outdoor can become true with an eco-friendly home.

These homes have the ability to sustain the environment by reducing the carbon footprint and using only natural resources for building a house.

The first step towards an eco-friendly home is to make good plans for different aspects of construction of a house. Be it amidst the green fields or the undulation countryside, with the help of advancement in the engineering of the construction system, you have an eco-friendly house within a short time.

Green construction aims at evading the negative impacts that construction has on the environment.

Opt for green construction methods

Around the world, architects, builders and engineers use these green techniques to build  homes that are conducive to health. Through the history of human civilization, you can find evidences of eco-friendly techniques of building home in response to the need of the time and the environmental factors.

These techniques along with the advancement of the technology can help you to build a green adobe for yourself. A host of methodologies is involved that can help you to build homes that are suitable for various climates. Clay, straw, recycled materials all are used in constructing these houses.

Positive effect on health

Leonis Adobe (1844), the oldest extant private residence in Los Angeles County.

The structure of the eco-friendly houses is in sync with the various elements of the environment. The trend of residential and commercial structures adopting green structure aims at conserving energy and sustainability.

These buildings are clean, and made of natural materials that use renewable energy. These are easy in maintaining and are also available at affordable cost. The green buildings have a positive impact on the human health and environment by reducing pollution and waste.

The ambiance of the homes helps to increase the productivity of the residents, and also ensures effective use of energy and other resources.

Use of natural resources

Sustainable materials or renewable resources are used in eco-friendly houses to create healthy interiors. It is made sure that the planning us such that the minimum water is utilized in the process of construction.

Two important aspects of green construction are first, that the architecture of your home should be in accordance to the site available and second, that it use natural and local materials. These materials include the renewable items that can be found locally and adhere to the traditional methods of home building.

Topological data has a great influence on the construction of these buildings.

Appropriate glazing and lighting are needed

Southwestern adobe style, Santa Fe, New Mexico

Generally energy of a home is lost through the windows, so construction of windows ought to use glass that improves the energy efficiency of your adobe. That means glass with a coating that prevents the UV radiation and the transmission of heat. Double glazing can prove even more efficient in this regard.

Lighting is another factor that you need to take care during construction of the home. LED or fluorescent reduces the consumption of energy. The LED can be installed in corners of your house, which are difficult to reach.

Security is another important factor that you need to take care of. [Editor’s note: For example, you can install solar motion sensor lights.]

Paints and flooring

Flooring is another aspect of construction. Use of cork and bamboo is in vogue now for the flooring purpose. These are easy to maintain, comfortable to walk and insulates the house against temperature and noise.

The cork flooring is made of colors and patterns and gives a natural look. Bamboo flooring is durable for a minimum of five years. While insulation the house, make sure that there are no gaps so that the warm air escapes the room.

Use paints that are free of harmful chemicals as yet another step to make your home environment friendly.

Author Bio: Mike Moore is planning to build an eco-friendly home. He has emphasized more on the construction of the same. For the security of his home, he has opted for adt Michigan that is known for its efficiency. 

Photo credits: Public domain from Wikimedia Commons:
Adobe bricks
Leonis adobe
Santa Fe adobe