Environmentaly friendly houses that are kinder to the earth. They use less power, produce less waste, and are a healthier situation for the people inside. Green houses come out of a viewpoint of being more eco-friendly to

the environment. They save on power, find ways to cut down on carbon-pollution and general energy consumption. Green homes can put money in your bank, and give you the assurance you are doing your bit to help support our world.

Energy

Most of us would to make the world a little "greener" by reducing our home energy use. There has been improvement in building methods and materials over the last couple of decades, which means that houses are becoming more energy cost-effective. Do you dream of a domicile with no carbon

emissions and zero-net-energy use? This can be attained with a plan that includes complementary power sources, and conscientious construction methods and principles. We can channel in green energy into our domiciles

without breaking the bank. There are DIY home energy schemes that cost thousands of dollars but there are also solar DIY and wind turbine schemes that will only cost a few hundred dollars, and that can be implemented without great technical skills.

You can reach your goal of a Zero Energy Home, and it maybe just a couple of steps away...

Design: Eco-Friendly Stylish Homes

When we think of green homes, or sustainable houses, we probably have an image of an ugly building? Too many solar panels and windmills all over it, maybe half buried on a hill, or too expensive for our budget? That may have been how it was once but it's now possible to devise a home that is pleasing, and will give you a degree of independence from both present and future water and energy cost hikes and shortages.

There is evidence of a growing unease about environmental and design interests. There is information available from the government authorities from which you can learn about design of green housing for energy conservation. Good up to date design standards readily integrate

sustainable features such as rainwater collection, alternative power sources, grey water recycling, solar powered water heating and water conserving landscaping.

Sustainable Housing

In December 2006, The Code for Sustainable Homes was introduced as an optional code in the UK and by May 2008 has become a national standard.

It rates the fundamental elements of design and building which impact upon sustainability and efficiency. It is used by architects, builders and home buyers alike in helping them plan and design new homes. The code

awards new homes a star rating from 1 to 6, based on their compliance with 9 sustainability criteria that assess the overall environmental impact.

These are model green home building guidelines!

Building regulations require at least One Star. Six Stars reflects exemplary sustainability.

The long term viability criteria by which new houses are assessed are:

Energy and CO2 Emissions

Water H20 & Surface Water Run-off

Materials

Waste

Pollution

Health and Well-Being

Management of the environmental impacts of the

building and operation

Ecology

The key is to achieve long term viability without compromising either

design or quality. The Code introduces baseline standards for energy and environmental factors affecting the sustainability of a house, and the scale takes into account different aspects of sustainability. These include power,

transport, effluence, materials, land use and ecology and health and well-being.

The UK Government has set the industry a target of delivering zero-carbon homes by 2016. The aim of sustainable homes is to deliver real

improvements in fundamental areas such as carbon dioxide emissions and water use.

Carbon

Carbon reduction is high on the political agenda of all nations, yet there is a clear battle for governments to come to terms with the measures that must be taken to reach the reduction goals that our best science tells us is considered necessary.

Much can be achieved by action at the domestic level that can radically reduce the enormity of the task that faces governments looking at the problems on a worldwide scale.

Incentive for the changes that are considered necessary is key, as it is in anything great but difficult that we strive for. One 'carrot' in the plan for domestic users is the direct benefit of reduced energy bills achieved by making an effort to reduce their own carbon pollution. In the UK, London Green Homes service uniquely offers a free telephone advice service, a website and a paid-for green service to provide a free tailor-made package of carbon-saving lifestyle improvements. The service has great flexibility,

providing Londoners advice on a broad range of measures to bring down carbon emissions from lifestyle changes; and explains how best to save money on energy bills. It is the UK's first one-stop-shop for information on how to make homes more carbon efficient.

Ecological

A US survey has shown that 87% of house buyers want to know how their homes rate in terms of ecological rating in order to make an educated choice when moving house. Further, 84% would pay an average 2% more for an eco-friendly home.

Environmentally friendly homes are no longer a luxury reserved only for the richest Americans. Green concerns, reliance on foreign oil, water shortages, vanishing species, are all factors in an increasing the awareness of the call for us to be better guardians of the earth and its resources.

In this environmentally aware world, we are hearing more about green homes, eco friendly living and sustainable homes. Green homes that are planned to be power efficient, use environmentally friendly and healthy materials and conserve water are becoming the norm. In addition to new building regulations, there are simple environmentally friendly, Do It Yourself projects that will help curb energy costs, and improve your homes value.

Space is still the most important consideration for home buyers, but green considerations and use of eco-friendly materials are very high on the list of

priorities. Architectural firms today are often committed to developing imaginative yet green=credible components of space for the betterment of lifestyle and family in a way that supports responsible guardianship of the natural world and natural resources. Green living and building, with an

emphasis on wellbeing, power efficiency and environmental conservation, has never been more significant than it is today.

As time goes on, there will be more consideration given to advocating for socially just and environmentally-minded rebuilding solutions. Home-building

imposes very significant environmental and social costs at all levels. Impacts of new home building include:

quarrying to

provide essential raw building materials like aggregates,

water consumption, and the extensive use of poisonous

chemicals in construction materials.

Conclusion

Green homes can put money in your pocket, they don't need to be thought of as an expensive way to do what's demanded of us for the environment.

Long-term viable homes give you peace of mind from knowing that you are doing all you can to help maintain the planet. Sustainable homes don't have to be unattractive anymore, and unsuitable for residential architecture. Green homes are better for the environment because they use less

energy, less water, and have a lower impact on the environment.