The more we find out about all the ways that our existence affects the environment, there are more and more people who are deciding to make conscious actions that will preserve their surroundings. A lot of people start with the so-called three R-s – reducing, reusing, and recycling. Other people decide that it’s a good idea to make their own clothes. Installing green technology into your home is certainly a good way to go, but in this article, we are going to discuss building yourself an eco-friendly home from the get-go, while being on a budget.
The costs
Most people believe that the costs of buying an eco-friendly house are huge, and the truth is that they are generally right. Purchasing such a house is usually extremely expensive. Eco-friendly tech and building have the tendency to cost more than the cheaper material that isn’t so friendly to the environment. This leaves the impression that living in a green-friendly house is something for people who make a lot of money.
However, the fact is that a lot of people have found ways to build cheap eco-friendly homes. In many cases they cost them less than $20,000. While the entire process does take some time and sweat, what you get as a result is a sustainable, eco-friendly home that serves its purpose well.
The various kinds of eco-friendly homes
So, you have decided that you want to build a home that is friendly to your environment. What you need to determine in the beginning is what you want it to look like. Think about how much space you are going to need, and whether you want to make it a one-floor house or use the stairs. You can find inspiration in many places. Tiny homes are a great example. It goes without saying that you need to think about what your local environment is like and make decisions accordingly. For example, if you’re living in Maryland, you will have to think about how to insulate your home to protect yourself from the cold winters. On the other hand, if you’re living in Florida, you will focus much more on keeping the air flowing and the home cool.
In some cases, eco-friendly homes are built from a starting point. This can be a boat or an Airstream traveling van. For a reasonable price, you can get yourself an Airstream van and turn it into a small eco-friendly home that you can live in. You can also decide to build yourself a cabin, with the investment of less than $2,000, and have enough space to invite guests. All that you need are things such as a water harvesting system, a power system that is off the grid, and a shower heated by propane. During the “moving in” process, you can find some help here with storing your items before you move them into your new home.
How to stay green and spend little money
Green living most often means that you are going to live off the power grid. Therefore, you need to find yourself a source of electricity, a water supply, and determine how you are going to control the temperature. You can save money here, by coming up with your own systems, and making use of recyclable materials when you can.
When looking for the materials that you are going to use, you need the kind that will last. Some people make homes out of salvaged metals, but the fact is that these aren’t that good for the environment. Therefore, you should go for durable wood types, which are both energy-efficient and cost-effective.
In order to protect your home from heat, build smart under trees that provide enough shade. Install energy-efficient windows which will control the light and the airflow. Keep in mind that big windows mean big changes in temperature, so go for smart and green architecture to keep the cooling and heating costs at the minimum. If you can, make use of natural water sources.
In summation
Eco-friendly living is a thing of the future, and it’s good for you to know that you can do it without spending tons of money. There is a variety of eco-friendly home types that you can choose from. When building your home, there are certain materials and strategies that you need to take into consideration.
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