How to Build a Sustainable Low Cost Home - By: John Tarantino

Sustainability helps address the environmental issues we face today such as degradation of natural habitats; extinction of animal and plant species and depletion of energy resources. Because of the positive feedbacks of sustainable living to the environment a lot of policies, methods and systems of today are being geared towards this advocacy especially on the design and construction of buildings. Newly developed materials and construction techniques are now being introduced.

But being green doesn’t mean spending thousands of dollars to achieve a sustainable home. Like any other types of construction money is a great concern which can limit or dictate on the final plans. The following are some steps to minimize cost without compromising quality and efficiency of a sustainable low cost home.

1. Understanding Sustainable Building. A homeowner should be able to research, understand and process information on the sustainable building strategies available. Knowing for example that environmental issues such as energy consumption are major concerns for sustainability will help to set priorities on what types of systems or design to be used. Know what types of building materials to be used that has a low impact to the environment but at the same should be able to be durable and efficient once installed.

2. Seek for Advice from Professionals. Another great thing to minimize unnecessary costs is to meet up with professionals who are knowledgeable on green architecture and construction. Most of these professionals will provide a quote on the possible expenses for the construction and advice on the design of the building as well as the sustainable systems to be installed as well. Some may see this unnecessary and having consultation fees can be expensive but in fact having a good planning strategy and expert advice could actually cut costs and prevent wasted materials, time and effort.

3. Opt for Local Materials. Specifying local materials always helps cut costs such as transportation and labor. Depletion of resources is a major environmental issue, so be mindful when choosing materials that are abundant and have no harmful processes or chemicals involved. Laminated bamboo is a good material for floors, kitchen counters and even for finishes. There is a lot of woven furniture made from seaweed grass, abaca or bamboo that is actually cheaper and more versatile than the everyday upholstery on furniture, plus they are lighter to move around and are equally durable.

4. Integrate Energy Conservation Systems. Many may protest that installing energy renewal devices can be expensive. Although this is generally true there are a lot of ways to cut the costs. Purchasing solar panels for example will have a very expensive initial cost. There are a lot of do-it-yourself shops that will offer these for a cheaper price. The only requirement is to know some basic technical knowhow on assembling the solar panels. Another way to get cheaper solar panels is to look for quality used solar panels. There are a lot of online shops, companies or individuals who do sell second hand equipment. Integrating an energy conservation system is a wise investment since the benefits are long term, which can minimize total energy costs.

About the Author

John Tarantino is an environmental advocate in Portland, Oregon and enjoys sharing his perspective with the world. He also writes for The Environmental Blog to help share his green expertise on the Internet. You can read his blog here: environmental issues and sustainability

Article Directory Source: http://www.articlerich.com/profile/John-Tarantino/215087

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