Guest Blogger: 5 Checklist Items for your Eco-Friendly Home Design Project

Guest Blogger #370, Entry #958, February 14, 2012

Whether you’re looking for a few simple ways to green up your home design or you’re totally committed to earning a LEED certification with your building project, you may be wondering how to get started. Unless you’re an expert in eco-friendly building design or you happen to work in green construction, your cookie jar of eco-ideas might be limited to well-known devices like solar panels and compost heaps. While even the most rudimentary efforts on behalf of the environment are a step in the right direction, you might be keen to reduce your carbon footprint a bit more. So if you’re interested in making some eco-friendly upgrades around the house (or starting from scratch with a ground-up building project) here are a few things you’ll definitely want to add to your checklist.

Design checklist for your eco-friendly home

Image via: Stagetecture

1.  Green construction companies

Unless you’re pretty big on DIY home improvements (or you’re actually licensed to engage in green building), you’ll probably want to look for an eco-friendly constructions company or contractor (depending on the size and scope of your project) to help you reach your goals. These people are uniquely qualified to ensure that every stage of the building process meets your expectations where the environment is concerned, from securing green materials and labor to reducing waste and pollution at every turn.

2.     Materials

You probably have a pretty good handle on how to go green when it comes to materials; natural hardwoods and stone are out, composites and concrete are in, right? Actually, you might be surprised to learn that you can still have the gorgeous natural materials you want if you go about procuring them in the right way. For example, purchasing reclaimed hardwood for flooring, cabinets, and even furnishings means that no additional trees are cut down and that items that would otherwise go to the landfill will find a new life in your home. As for natural stone, you can always opt for reclaimed or even local sources that are extracted in an eco-friendly manner.

3.     Alternate energy

When it comes to heating and cooling your home and providing for your family’s energy needs, paying for power on the grid is so last century! Instead, consider looking for alternatives (solar, wind, water, and geothermal) that are prevalent in your area. In some states, you may not even have to pay upfront for these additions, as many power companies are setting up long-term (and transferable) payment plans to convince private citizens to install alternative energy collectors in their homes.

Consider conserving electricity by adding efficient windows

Image via: California Home Design

4.     Conservation

Whether you’re talking about water or power, there are plenty of ways to conserve in your home. You can add insulation and energy-saving electronics options on the electrical front. And when it comes to water, you should think about low-flow toilets, aerated faucets, a tankless water heater (although that’s really more of an energy saver), and even a cistern that collects rainwater for your landscaping. Along those lines, think about creating an outdoor space populated with drought-resistant native plants.

5.     Waste disposal

Although an eco-friendly contractor will see to it that waste is disposed of in an environmentally-conscious manner during construction, you should think about your own waste and how you can reduce it. You could start with the basics (like installing a recycling center and a trash compactor) and get more complex from there with the addition of a compost bin and even your own septic system (although frequent tank testing is a must). Changes small and large all make a difference for the environment.

For more green living ideas on Stagetecture, click here.