In the past decade, there has been a real push and understanding towards the importance of eco-friendly homes. It’s a way of allowing everyday homeowners to make a difference, lessen their carbon footprint, and feel good about the choices they have made. Of course, there is much more to it than just feeling good, as eco-friendly homes offer all kinds of benefits. The problem is finding a home that matches all your needs and wants, which is why some choose to build an eco-friendly home from scratch.
So let’s examine the key benefits and how to get started when building an eco-friendly home from scratch, so you can make your dream a reality.
You Need to Find the Perfect Piece of Land
To build your dream eco-friendly house, you need the perfect piece of land. Finding a plot of land can be a very arduous process, which ends up taking more time than you may have thought. But here’s the thing, by buying land, it means you don’t have to deal with existing problems such as plumbing, electricals, foundation, or an already existing structure/building that doesn’t meet your needs. This guide from Arbtech on how to find land to buy does a great job of walking you through the process of buying land, discussing all the steps and what to expect, including how to find cheap land. Suddenly that task that seemed daunting will now be straightforward.
The most important things to remember when buying land are:
- Type of land
- Classification
- Size
- Potential
- Location
- Price
It’s a good idea to have a strong sense of what you’re looking for before you start the search, as this will help narrow down your options quickly.
How Stringent are Your Eco-Friendly Standards?
The term “eco-friendly home” is a broad one that can encompass different standards. For some, an eco-friendly home means a very stringent design that equates to zero carbon. For others, it may mean a more flexible approach with sustainable features but not necessarily zero-carbon. You’ll need to decide very early on so that the plans and budget can reflect your choices.
Did you also know that the government has a voluntary code that it uses for sustainable homes? Homes will receive a rating from Level 1 to Level 6, with Level 6 being a zero-carbon home. To receive the level rating, the code looks at the surface water run-off, water, pollution, carbon and energy emissions, health and wellbeing, materials, ecology, and management.
Familiarise Yourself with the Common Eco Features
As you enter into the design portion of the build, it’s important to know what the common eco features are. Some of the elements you may want to include are a ventilation system with heat recovery, rainwater harvesting, triple glazing, geothermal heat pump, energy-efficient lighting, high-quality efficient insulation, and one of the coolest trends – a green roof that has wildflowers and grass.
You can mix and match and choose as many of these features as you want knowing that each time you add something to the design, it will help with the overall eco-friendly rating.
Don’t Let the Fear of Costs Scare You
Homeowners often think that the costs associated with building an eco-friendly home from scratch are far greater than a typical house. This isn’t always the case because it comes down to your design choices, the size of the house, the materials you use, and so forth. There are ways to build your dream eco-friendly house while sticking within a budget. To do so, make sure you are tracking all expenses and that you are prepared to make decisions on the fly that help keep the costs down.
Use an Architect to Make Sure the Design is Flawless
It’s also wise to hire an architect who has experience designing eco-friendly homes. They can create a plan that makes sense, fits your needs, is perfect for the plot of land you have purchased, and will help the project move along smoothly. Because they have the experience they can offer insight, tips, and design advice. If you want a customised home, an architect will ensure that is the result.
What’s the Benefit of Building an Eco-Friendly Home?
It’s not a matter of one main benefit rather there are many benefits in building an eco-friendly home from scratch including cost-savings, improved well-being, and feeling as though you’re making a positive difference.
Some of the main ways you can benefit from building an eco-friendly home include:
- Improve indoor air quality when you choose sustainable materials that don’t contain pollutants. These can include specific finishes, chemicals, and more. You make the air much safer for all by not including these items in the build.
- Many find that eco-friendly homes tend to require less maintenance overall, which means you can cut down on those costs. Many of the building materials that are classified as “green” tend to be durable and last a long time. This means repairs and replacements won’t be so common.
- Energy efficiency is often one of the drivers behind building an eco-friendly home. By using less energy you will spend significantly less on your bills.
- Water efficiency will be another benefit and again, cut down on costs.
There are many other benefits too, these are just some of the most impactful ones.
What Does It Mean for Property Value?
If you’re curious about what an eco-friendly build means in terms of property value, it can end up helping you. Because there is an interest in eco-friendly homes and materials, home buyers are starting to seek out these features. Should you decide to list your house, later on, you’ll be able to capture attention with all the eco-friendly details you have installed.
Plenty of Reasons to Go Ahead with the Build
As you can see, there are plenty of reasons to go ahead and build an eco-friendly home from scratch. It will take proper planning, research, and patience but in the end, you’ll get the dream home you wanted.
