green buildingBuilding and remodeling a home needs a lot of prior planning and thought, especially if you are thinking of going green. This is a healthy and a worthy initiative as it ultimately benefits not only the environment, but also your health and well-being. Lower utility and energy bills also add to the advantages of going green.

Here are a few green design strategies and approaches you could use for building your dream home.

Choose the Right Materials

Selecting the right materials for incorporating “green” in your home is an interesting task. There are a number of natural materials you could use; straw, bamboo, natural timbers, recycled materials, mud brick and local hardwood are a few reliable options. Research the ways these materials have been used in other homes and you might find the inspiration you need for your home!

Collaborating with a Contractor

Once you have decided on a tentative plan for your home, it is wise to take a second opinion from a contractor. You may prefer to use the do-it-yourself approach if you’re remodeling, but discussing your plan with a contractor may show a few things that you might have overlooked. Depending on your final plan, the materials you want to use and the finishes you want to add in your home will help you decide whether you need to collaborate with a reliable contractor or not.

Stay in Touch with the Local Authorities

Maintaining a good relationship with the local building and planning authorities from the start of your home building project is highly advisable. These authorities have a great deal of experience regarding a number of building issues and can offer you valuable advice depending on construction within the local area.

Network

While building your green home, you will see a number of people who have already embarked on this path or are planning to do so. Networking with these people and maintaining contact with them will give you great tips and information on building this style of home successfully.

Trading and Bartering

It is very likely that some of the people in your community are under the process of building green homes as well or maybe they already have successfully completed this endeavor. If you find people like these, then you not only get a chance to exchange advice and ideas, but the opportunity to share and barter materials, services and goods.

As you can clearly see, building any home requires a lot of hard work and planning. Having the right sources, plan and materials will help you achieve this dream and this endeavor will also give you the confidence to try new things in the future!

Source: www.alternativelifestylesite.com

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