7 Common Features in New-Construction Green Homes

Green homes benefit everyone, not just the environment. Builders who add green features to buildings boost their image and attract more clients because homeowners get to live in a healthy and comfortable environment.

Traditional homes aren’t fully green; no matter how many changes you make, there’s always something that contributes to environmental degradation. New construction projects offer an excellent opportunity for builders to build a green home from scratch and reduce their carbon footprint. Here are some common features to consider:

1. Geothermal Heating and Cooling

Did you know that a home’s ground can serve as a heat source during winter and heat sink during summer? Geothermeil heat pumps utilize this ability to fulfill a home’s cooling and heating needs without consuming much energy. These systems use an underground secondary water loop to reject or collect heat according to your needs.

2. Cool Roofs

Besides ground, roofs also play an important role in maintaining a home’s temperature to keep everyone comfortable. Cool roofs are designed to reflect more sunlight than usual and efficiently emit any heat absorbed, lowering the overall temperature inside your home.

3. Smart Thermostats

Smart thermostats are Wi-Fi enabled and programmable; they learn homeowner’s usage patterns to adjust the cooling and heating accordingly. It helps them turn on or off their HVAC systems even with their smartphones. Adding a smart thermostat to a building significantly reduces electricity consumption and keeps everyone comfortable.

4. Green Insulation

Green insulation serves the same purpose as traditional insulation but uses Eco-friendly and recycled material to reduce your carbon footprint. These materials are more efficient and sustainable; they prevent mold growth or pests.

Adding proper green insulation to a home’s walls, roofs or floors will reduce the energy needed to maintain a comfortable temperature.

5. Low Emittance Windows

Low emittance (low-E) windows consist of a coated plastic film that blocks the transmission of UV rays. These windows prevent the harsh sunlight from increasing your home’s temperature, reducing the cooling need.

Since these windows stop the general heat transfer, a home will experience less heat loss during winter, reducing the heating need. As a result, homeowners can prevent both heat entry and heat loss throughout the year.

6. Energy Star Appliances

Energy star appliances are the most common feature of a green home because they save electricity and water consumption. Adding these appliances toahome designcan help reduce homeowner’s utility bills and conserve natural resources.

7. Ethically Sourced Sustainable Materials

You can’t consider a building green if made from non-Eco-friendly and toxic materials. Traditional construction practices are responsible for 40% of the world’s carbon emissions that increase global warming. As green home builders, you need to use eco-friendly materials such as bamboo, sheep’s wool, recycled wood and steel, etc.,during construction. Also, make sure these materials are ethically sourced from sustainable forests without contributing to greenhouse gas emissions.

Make the world a better place with our environmentally friendly franchise opportunities for builders in the US. GH Builders is among the leading green contractors in Texas, offering Eco-friendly homes and custom designs. If you’re a talented builder who wants to dominate the growing sustainable building market, we can help you.