a male building contractor

Future-Proofing Homes – Resilient Green Design Features

When building a house as a contractor, you always keep the home occupants’ safety and comfort in mind. This becomes a bigger priority when you’re designing a sustainable home. Despite significant risk assessments, there’s a lot that builders miss out on when trying to future-proof homes with their eco-friendly construction practices.

Most builders recognize this when there’s a climate adversity, a power outage, or a natural disaster that could’ve been prevented if they had focused more on the eco-friendly house’s structural stability. Today, investors and buyers are always looking for highly future-proofed houses with green design elements that offer strength, resistance, and, most of all, resilience.

Here are three things to consider when trying to meet this goal.

Selecting Building Lots More Carefully

One of the most important elements of making a green home design as resilient as possible is selecting the right location for your building. This matters because the location chosen by you as a builder plays a significant role in determining how susceptible a house truly is to disastrous elements.

The location of your building lot will give you a clear idea of all the risks that a house must be able to combat. This includes snow storms, heavy rainfalls, winds, tornadoes, wildfires, hurricanes, floods, and other similar factors.

Keeping Climate Change Survival in Mind

Most green home builders looking for optimal ways to future-proof homes are concerned about the consequences of climate change and how they may affect a house’s integrity. Therefore, it’s always good to focus on a house’s insulation levels and the use of durable construction materials that are resistant to high winds, storms, floods, and more.

Preparing Home for Power Outages and More

Lastly, power outages often result in a house’s failure to keep occupants cool or warm, depending on the season. This increases the need for home builders to work with green construction materials to keep houses warmer in winter and cooler in summer without letting long power outages affect the indoor temperature.

a suburban house

If you’re looking for more future-proofing methods and resources as a green home contractor, feel free to work with our qualified eco-friendly home builders at GH Builders USA. As one of the best green home building companies in the US, we can help you serve as a leading contractor with our construction franchise opportunities and green home designs.

Check out our designs here or contact us at (914) 945-0277 today!

vegetation on a wall

Gabion Walls: An Eco-Friendly Approach to Add Thermal Mass to Homes

Whether you’re working on building a house’s foundation walls or retaining walls, there’s a lot of confusion about the right construction materials, their costs, aesthetic compatibility, environmental impact, and more. While most walls are made with materials like brick and concrete, green home builders are now recognizing the utility and significance of gabions to build highly insulated walls.

Whether you’re worried about the quality of a wall’s engineering or its overall beauty and sustainability, gabion walls are now a significant component of sustainable home trends. In fact, their benefits allow eco-friendly builders to finally achieve the kind of energy efficiency they’re looking for in construction projects.

Read on to learn how gabion walls are an excellent choice for green homes.

Reduction in Carbon Footprint

When you’re building a home with an approach to make its design as sustainable as possible, it’s first crucial to determine all the different ways you might be contributing to a house’s overall carbon footprint. The ultimate goal of any green home construction project should be a significant reduction in carbon footprint.

The use of energy-saving fixtures, solar panels, and sustainable insulation can always expedite this process. Gabion walls are tall and strong retaining walls where you can easily grow vegetation and grass, allowing you to make homes as eco-friendly as possible.

Excellent Way to Add Beauty to an Infrastructure

Apart from their sustainable nature, gabion walls will never force you to compromise on style, beauty, and luxury. These walls can be customized according to your surroundings, with colors and textures representing the house’s design elements best.

Furthermore, your choice to grow vegetation on such walls can instantly add elegance and sophistication to retaining walls in green homes

Budget-Friendly for Green Home Builders

Lastly, green home builders can significantly benefit from gabion walls, especially when building an eco-friendly home on a budget. It’s because these walls are highly cost-effective. Despite their affordability, they add a high amount of value to your house, allowing you to enjoy maximum returns almost instantly.

a gabion wall

You can now connect with our green home contractors at GH Builders to learn more about sustainable construction materials. We’re one of the best ISO-compliant green home building companies. Our environmentally friendly home builders can now help you become a thriving business with our construction franchise opportunities.

Check out our green home designs here or contact us at (914) 945-0277 today!

An illustration of a home built by environmentally friendly builders.

How To Build a Green Home on Budget in Texas?

A green home is a dwelling that has been designed and built with environmentally friendly materials and energy-saving features. Green homes are becoming increasingly popular as people become more conscious of their environmental impact.

A growing body of builders is finding alternatives to create more sustainable and eco-friendlier homes. There are several reasons for this shift, but most importantly, it’s simply the right thing to do for our planet.

However, going green doesn’t have to be expensive. There are many ways you can build a green home on a budget, especially if your construction business is based in Texas. From solar power to drought-resistant landscaping, there are plenty of options for builders looking to save money and the environment.

This guide will explore how to build a green home on a budget in Texas.

1.     Optimize Your Home’s Location and Design

Optimizing a home’s location and green home design is the most important factor.

For example, if you’re building homes in Texas, building them closer to the Gulf of Mexico can help reduce the homeowners’ reliance on air conditioning. Additionally, take advantage of natural resources like sunlight and wind when designing homes. Both can be used to heat and cool a property while also reducing energy costs for your clients.

2.     Use Sustainable Building Materials

When it comes to green home construction, there are some sustainable materials you can use to control your costs. Bamboo is an excellent option for flooring, framing, and other structural elements. It’s durable, beautiful, and environmentally friendly. Hempcrete is another great material that’s becoming increasingly popular in eco-friendly construction.

3.     Use Energy Efficient Appliances

Appliances account for a large share of household energy use, so choosing energy-efficient models can make a big difference in energy consumption in the homes you build.

Energy-efficient variants of various appliances—such as refrigerators, washing machines, and dishwashers—can be used. You don’t have to sacrifice quality or performance for energy efficiency.

4.     Install Low-Flow Plumbing Fixtures

Low-flow plumbing fixtures use less water than traditional fixtures. This can help your clients save money on their water bills, and reduce water usage overall. Low-flow shower heads, faucets, and toilets are all readily available and relatively inexpensive.

A blueprint of a green home created by environmentally friendly builders.

If you want to build a green home on a budget in Texas, GH Builders USA is the company you need. We specialize in green home design and construction and have a team of experienced and certified green home builders.

Interested in a franchising deal with some of the best green design builders in the USA? GH Builders USA is the company you should opt for. Get in touch with us today.

Home interior with paintings and plants

7 Tips to Bring Nature Into Your Interior Design

The COVID-19 pandemic has brought a newfound love for nature, and people have started appreciating it more than ever. Bringing nature into the interiors can turn gloomy days into zestful and instills a sense of tranquility.

Here are some environmentally friendly ways to incorporate nature into interior design and attract more home buyers.

1. Indoor Plants

Plants are the most common source of bringing nature into a home and offer numerous health benefits. Besides enhancing the aesthetic appeal of a space, they purify the indoor air and have a soothing effect on the mind. Even if the owners keep the home clean, certain toxic chemicals are present in the air that they can’t see or feel. Adding indoor plants will ensure that people breathe clean and purified air free from toxins.

You can add multiple elements into your home designs that encourage owners to grow indoor plants. Some great options include aloe vera, palm trees, ficus, or golden pothos. They look stunning and are low-maintenance.

2. Growing Herbs in Kitchen

Homegrown herbs add an exquisite feature to a kitchen and spread their lovely aromas around the home. You can create windows with sills where homeowners can grow herbs in their kitchen and cook delicious meals with them while feeling close to nature.

3. Nature Wall Murals

Murals are striking and transform any ordinary into a stunning and eye-catching space. Adding a nature-themed wall mural will help people gaze into a life-like painting of their favorite view.

4. Increase Natural Lighting

Natural light is one of the easiest ways to uplift any space. It not only helps people decrease their electricity consumption but also helps a home look bigger and brighter. Add large windows across the home while ensuring that the direct sunlight won’t pass through to prevent increased temperature.

5. Add Natural Furniture

Natural furniture perfectly complements a home’s plants and greenery and looks stunning.Bamboo furniture is quite popular among homeowners due to its sturdiness and gives the space a resort-like vibe. Bamboo releases more oxygen  into the atmosphere while decreasing carbon dioxide compared to other natural woods. It’s also sustainable and lasts long, reducing the environmental impact.

A home filled with plants and natural furniture

6. Build a Green Home

Green homes are made with sustainable and natural materials, keeping homeowners close to nature. Building such homes offer peace of mind because you’re not harming the environment or your health. Besides that, these homes are also energy-efficient, increasing your chances of attracting many home buyers.

At GH Builders, we are looking for experienced and passionate builders and developers who want to tap into the green home construction industry. We offer resources, practical guidance, and advanced technology to help you build Eco-friendly homes in your region. Our team of eco-friendly home builders is ISO-compliant and will help you achieve the highest standards of performance.

A green home

5 Surefire Benefits of a Green Home

With the current state of the climate, rising utility costs, and environmental protection regulations, a green home is no longer a choice but a necessity. These homes are carefully designed and engineered using environmentally friendly techniques.

From long-term savings to reduced carbon footprint, the advantages of living in a green home are endless. Most importantly, it allows homeowners to enjoy healthy and comfortable living conditions compared to traditional homes. Below are some of the significant benefits of a green home:

Reduction of Greenhouse Gas Emissions

Greenhouse gas emissions are the major cause of environmental degradation and global warming. The building sector accounts for 40% of global carbon emissions, and the only way to fight is through building green homes. Green homes minimize GHG emissions and can lead to the rebuilding of the ozone layer.

Reduced Utility Costs

Each year the costs of utilities increase, and they will keep increasing in the future. Green homes are a hedge against the rising costs due to their sustainable nature. This benefit is vital more than ever because of the inflation and scarcity of resources.

The efficient structures in green home design promote reducedconsumption of resources such as energy and water and preserve them for future generations, not to forget the drastic increase in savings due to thelower electricity and water bills. All these savings encourage homebuyers to buy such buildings and help increase your business’s bottom line.

Better Indoor Environment Quality

Traditional homes don’t focus on the indoor environment quality of the space as green homes do. These days, eco-friendly home builders have created sustainable designs that significantly improve the indoor air quality in buildings. Green homes are free from toxic materials that release harmful fumes into the air and use organic and recycled materials. For example, typical paints and solvent-based polyurethanes are quite harmful to your health, but green homes use organic paints and water-based polyurethanes.

Moreover, the enhanced ventilation in green homes eliminates contaminated air and provides a clean and healthy space.

Reduced Maintenance Cost

Maintenance costs can sometimes take a toll on homeowner’s finances, even more so if they are frequent. The carefully engineered design elements of green homes focus on sustainability and durability. They don’t need to spend hundreds of dollars each month on fixes because these homes are resistant to moisture damage, harsh weather conditions, impact damage, and other factors causing decay and degradation.

Health Benefits

Buildinga green home keeps workers healthy, comfortable, and productive. Natural lighting offers adequate energy to people and fights off the stress and fatigue that usual fluorescent light causes. Moreover, the natural materials used in the construction are free from allergens, chemicals, or toxic fumes, leading to fewer allergies, breathing problems, and diseases.

A modern home

Reading all these benefits must’ve tempted you to build a green home; good thingwe are offering a wide range of franchise opportunities for builders in the US. Build custom green homes with the help of our ISO-compliant and experienced home contractors who will accommodate all your requirements. Reach out to us to get started.

A person working from home.

How Working From Home Has Influenced the Demand for Green Housing

Due to the pandemic corporate offices shut down in lock downs, but people continued to work from their homes. Even after the world opened back up, a lot of companies and people have adopted the trend of being completely remote. The ability to work remotely has opened up a whole new world for people who want to stay in their homes while still earning money. As more people stay in their homes longer, the demand for green housing is rapidly increasing. Learn about them in this blog.

The Transition from Green Office

Green buildings have always been popular with people who want to feel happy and healthy while they’re at work. Previously, many companies had green features in their office spaces as a way of attracting top talent who prioritize environmental sustainability, for example, the amazing Apple headquarters. With the transition from the office to a person’s home, people are carrying this trend forward and taking steps to have greener homes.

Helps Reduce Costs

The trend is likely to continue as long as people continue to adopt remote work models, while at the same time, they want their homes to be comfortable and conducive to productivity. The appeal of green buildings goes beyond aesthetics — they also save money on energy costs and help reduce pollution. That’s why many homeowners are investing in energy-efficient appliances and technologies that will help them save money on utility bills while giving them the peace of mind that they are making a difference in the fight against climate change. In addition to looking at how green housing affects productivity, people who live in them are likely to be healthier than those who don’t

Small Steps to Make a Home Greener

Green housing refers to homes that use energy-efficient appliances, materials, and technologies to reduce their carbon footprint. They are also built with recycled materials and use sustainable building practices that promote long-term environmental health. People can also take small steps like replacing old appliances with energy-efficient ones and installing solar panels on their roofs. They can also use LED bulbs instead of incandescent bulbs and install low-flow faucets and shower heads.

A person working from home.

Build Green Homes in Texas Today

Moving to a green home is not just about being environmentally conscious. It’s also about being healthier and more productive. As more people work remotely, there will be greater demand for these types of homes. We help you service this highly profitable demand through our construction opportunities.

At GH Builders, we help builders ace Eco-friendly home construction and go beyond their client’s expectations. We are a certified green home builder in the US that helps you design stunning green homes. Check out our Eco-friendly home designs in our virtual display village here.

Get in touch with us today to become a GH Builders Master Partner.

A trendy kitchen.

Trendy Kitchen Designs Constructors Need to Be Aware Of

Kitchen designs are always changing and evolving, as people want their homes to be more functional and beautiful. They need to have a kitchen that reflects their personality and style, as a kitchen is truly the heart of a person’s home. It’s where people prepare food, share meals, and bond with family and friends. Because of this, kitchen remodeling can be a big undertaking for builders, as their clients are counting on their investment with you to help add value to their homes. Here are some trends to consider if you work in the construction industry and are planning a kitchen renovation.

Open Space Kitchen Design

An open plan is a popular trend among homeowners who want to create an inviting space where they can spend time with their family while enjoying meals together or just relaxing after work. This type of design makes use of an open space concept and allows you to be able to see your entire kitchen from anywhere within it. This means that you will not need separate areas for different purposes such as dining and cooking anymore since everything can be done together here in one big area.

Open shelving is another popular trend among homeowners because it allows them to show off their cookbooks, collectibles, or other decorative items without taking up too much space on their counters or walls.

Rustic Kitchen Design

If you want your kitchen to look like something out of an old Western movie, then this is the kind of design that you should go with. This style is all about getting back to nature by using natural materials such as wood and stone. The idea is to create an elegant look with a rustic touch. It has a very rustic feeling with its rugged wooden countertops, cabinets, walls, and many other things, which give off this vibe well.

Trendy Countertop

If you want your kitchen to stand out from other kitchens around town, then you should install an island with a countertop made from granite or marble. These types of countertops are very durable, so you won’t have any problems with them breaking down after only a few years of use.

A trendy kitchen.

Build Green Homes in Texas Today

The kitchen is the heart of the home, and a lot of people spend time there. Over time there has been a growing demand for sustainable kitchen remodeling and Eco-friendly home construction. However, not every home developer is prepared. At GH Builders, we help builders improve their practices and exceed their client’s expectations in both design and sustainability. We are a certified green home builder in the US that helps design stunning green homes, including exquisite kitchens in America. Check out our Eco-friendly home designs in our virtual display village here.

Get in touch with us today to learn about our construction franchise opportunities. Become a GH Builders Master Partner.

A brown house near trees

What’s An Energy Efficient Home? A Brief Guide

While “go green” may have been a growing trend, it has become a necessity of late. People are becoming aware of the growing menace of pollution in the name of infrastructural development. The purpose of eco-friendly green homes is to reduce carbon footprint.

We have curated a simple guide explaining energy-efficient homes if you’re new to this whole trend. Read to find out how these are different from traditional homes.

Energy Efficiency

By the definition of energy efficiency, any home can be energy efficient regardless of whether it’s modern or old. With modern construction, however, new homes are more energy-efficient. Older homes can be upgraded to boost their energy performance.

Here are the features of an energy-efficient home:

1. Comfortable and Harmless

An energy-efficient home is comfy and free of hazards. The insulation fills gaps, which means that it’s cooler in the warm season and warmer in the cold season. Modern eco-friendly homes have great air quality and ventilation systems, which creates a perfect atmosphere inside the home. Not too dry or too humid. Additionally, a programmable thermostat makes managing temperature easier even when residents are not home.

2. Less Costly

Energy-efficient homes have a high EnerGuide rating. These homes are airtight to prevent air infiltration. They use renewable energy such as solar power to produce electricity and heat. High-efficiency cooling and heating equipment keep the utility costs low.

A good builder will guide you to fit low-flow accessories to manage water consumption. All in all, while energy-efficient homes are equipped with environment-friendly amenities, what makes houses energy efficient is their residents.

3. Eco-Friendly

All the energy-efficient homes are environment-friendly. These homes are built to reduce energy consumption and carbon footprint. Any material used in construction and maintenance is responsibly acquired and used to shrink carbon emissions.

4. Value Adding

The upgrades and fixtures of an energy-efficient home are aimed to add value. The resale value of an energy-efficient home is also considerably high because of the sustainable amenities. Energy-efficient lighting, equipment, and appliances save cost and enhance property value. In essence, an energy-efficient home is a green home that renders a high return on investment in the long run.

5. Energy Star

Energy Star is a program introduced by the U.S. Department of Energy and Environmental Protection Agency to determine the energy efficiency of material, equipment, products, and appliances. An energy-efficient home utilizes material that is Energy Star-rated, such as water heaters, cooling systems, building material, lighting fixtures, fans, and heating systems.

6. Home Plan

The planning of eco-friendly, energy-efficient homes undergoes multiple planning and construction phases to optimize results. The passive solar system is part of the plan to ensure that energy is produced without mechanical devices. Alternatively, these house systems have cool roofing material, glazed windows, and overhangs to reduce the need for air conditioning further.

A white eco-friendly home

You can build your own green home using green home design and energy-efficient materials. At GH Builders, we offer environmental-friendly construction services from planning to finish. We also offer inspections, honest advice, and fixed-price contracts so enjoy the experience of building a green home from start to end. Get in touch with us today!

An innovative home design

5 Innovative Designs for Your Next New Home

Innovative home designs gained momentum in 2016 to support sustainability and minimalism without compromising extravaganza. From tiny pods that can be moved with the owner to large duplex houses, there’s no shortage of ideas.

Architects and custom home builders press on the need for minimalist aestheticism, multifunctional spaces, renewable power usage, and increased mobility in the new homes. We have enlisted our favorite picks here:

1. Tiny Portable House

First designed in 2016 by an Estonian-based company, these tiny houses are only 269 square feet. The goal of these houses is to ensure increased mobility of owners to make their homes anywhere they want.

Although tiny, this home has everything you need, from a lofted bed, living space, a bathroom, and a kitchen. The kitchen can be well-furnished with cabinets, stovetop, oven, and drawers to meet your needs.

2. Wind-And-Solar-Powered Pods

Wind-and-solar-powered pods are called Ecocapsules that feature a mini wind turbine and a roof with solar cells. These pods come with a rechargeable battery with four days’ worth of energy if grid sources fail. These pods are customizable to meet any owners’ needs and requirements. With rising demand, the price of these pods has also dropped since 2017.

3. Three-Story House

Named “Kokoon,” this three-story wooden house is easy to construct in a day. Initially a student project, this home design is inspired by modern construction methods. This house is built through an offsite construction method in that most of its components and structures are built on the other location and then assembled on the site.

Offsite construction is greener, sustainable, cheaper, safer, and faster, promoting eco-friendly home building to reduce cost, increase productivity, and ensure labor safety. In essence, this home design checks all the three boxes of sustainability: 1) environmental, 2) economic, and 3) social.

4. Ninja House

The Ninja House has limited floor space, no interior walls, and residents use ladders to connect to different portions. Although this house was custom-built for a Tokyo couple, this trend is likely to take up pace.

The purpose of this house is to promote flexibility and easy mobility. It also empowers residents to change the layout as it fits their lifestyle. The influx of natural light reduces energy costs while meeting lighting needs.

5. Stackable Apartments

Homelessness is one of the pressing issues in the US, and stackable apartments are there to resolve it. This house design is suitable for students and high-density areas to help people off the streets. These 160 square foot micro-apartments are containers that can be stacked on top of each other to create a larger building.

Eco-friendly home design

Build Your Own Green Home in the US with GH Builders

You can make a sustainable home with us. At GH Builders, we offer 70+ green home designs and build houses keeping in mind clients’ needs. Make sustainable and responsible citizens by building a greener and eco-friendly home. We don’t build a home; we build dreams by assisting you from planning to final finish. Contact us today!