Does your summer home depict an environmentally conscious owner? More and more people are becoming intentional about environmental conservation and reducing their carbon footprint. You may notice a few houses made from non-toxic building materials and powered by renewable energy sources around your neighborhood. Green homes keep sprouting as the demand for environmentally friendly homes increases.
I assume you’re part of the gushing demand for an environmentally friendly home. You can build or convert your existing summer home to a green structure. It’s simple. Let me give you a few tips on how to create an environmentally friendly summer home.
Smaller is Eco-Friendly
A smaller home uses less amount of energy. Less energy equates to less energy waste. If you plan on building a new summer home, think smaller. It will use less amount of energy to cool, warm, or power the house. A smaller summer house will also use fewer building materials. Therefore, conserving the earth’s natural resources.
However, ensure the small summer home allows enough natural airflow and daylight. Another tip to consider is removing appliances that use energy if you don’t really need them that much. For example, you can get rid of a spinning bike and use a regular bike for everyday activities, you can also get jumping ropes, a set of dumbbells, and a yoga mat to create a small exercise area in your home that won’t waste energy at all.
Natural Surface Finishes Are Spectacular
Always choose natural surface finishes over synthetic finishes. Plant-based paints, stains, or sealers are environmentally friendly and harmless to our bodies.
Synthetic surface finishes often emit Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs). VOCs are bad for the environment and your general health. Once exposed to sunlight, VOCs blend with nitrogen oxide and carbon monoxide to form a ground-level ozone layer. The gaseous amalgamation causes the lodgement of fine particles on the ground-level ozone layer resulting in smog. And as we know it, smog negatively impacts the environment.
Apart from emitting VOCs, synthetic sealers, stains and paints are not sustainable. Hence, contributing to the continuous depletion of the earth’s natural resources.
Use plant-based wood finishes such as linseed or hemp oil on wooden surfaces. Natural wax sealers also work great on your wooden floors, counters, and other wood surfaces. Also, refresh the walls with a can of natural paints. The home construction market is full of unscrupulous dealers. Therefore, consider consulting eco-friendly home builders in Sacramento before buying any sealer, stain, or paint for your home. They know the market and where to source eco-friendly surface finishes.
Take Advantage of the Long Summer Sunny Days
The sun is a good energy source. It’s endless, clean, and free of charge. Therefore, it helps you reduce your carbon footprint. You’ll only have to install a sunlight-to-energy conversion point and include power storage. The power storage will help you harvest and store enough energy you can use in your summer home, perhaps while working from your eco-friendly home office.
The installation cost should not discourage you. The end value matters. You’ll get to illuminate, secure, heat, and cool it in a less costly manner compared to using grid power. Thankfully, it’s affordable to install solar panels and storage systems compared to 10 to 20 years back. The installation cost has gradually dropped. Let your home builder help you shift to off-grid sun-powered energy.
Minimize Waste
We should all strive to achieve a zero-waste lifestyle. But you can start with little changes as you work towards making your summer home a zero-waste zone. As you transform your summer home into an environmentally conscious building, do it while minimizing waste. Apart from using sustainable building materials, let the home builder recycle everything on the construction site to reduce waste.
Also, consider installing systems that help you recycle and repurpose your waste. Think of consulting a professional to help create a home compost system. It will help you minimize kitchen waste while creating food for the vegetables, flowers, and trees you planted in and out of your home.
Reduce the Water Flow
Also, focus on how your summer home helps you prevent water wastage. Install plumbing fixtures with flow restrictors. It will prevent excessive water wastage and also preserve your home appliances. While at it, use appliances that allow maximum water conservation. Swap your showers to a low-flow or low-pressure shower head. Use low-pressure faucets all around the house and install high-efficiency toilets.
A Wind-Up
Being eco-friendly is not a mere word but a lifestyle. It’s about being conscious of the surrounding environment and making changes that preserve it. Being eco-friendly has taken great significance over the past years, and the environmental consciousness shows no sign of slowing down. Small steps such as reducing water wastage, installing solar panels, or using natural building products will help you and your family live a sustainable lifestyle. The tips above will set you ready for an eco-friendly summer.