Self builders are an innovative, creative and adventurous bunch of people, so it’s no surprise that they have been taking all kinds of measures towards adopting green technologies in their homes.

Building your home from scratch gives you the perfect opportunity to reduce the costs of rising energy bills. In return, you’ll enjoy a comfortable, tailor-made home with low operating costs. So, what does building a green home involve?

Well Sealed - Ensuring your home is airtight will reduce the amount of heat lost to the outside world. Prefabricated systems, such as closed panel timber frames and structural insulated panels, usually offer good off-the-shelf options.

Insulation - The more insulation you can implement into the structural elements of your home such as the walls, roof and floor, the more heat your home will retain and the more efficient it will be.

Materials - Sourcing locally and considering natural materials are two potential ways to ensure you use green products that are available. For instance, if you are looking for wood, always ensure that the product has been sustainably sourced through FSC or PEFC certification.

Thermal gas - Materials such as brick and concrete can help reduce energy consumption by absorbing the warmth from the sun’s rays during the day and releasing it into the home as the external temperature drops.

Natural light - Increasing the amount of natural light in your home through the use of windows, roof lights and sun pipes will reduce the need for artificial lighting. However, your home designer will need to achieve the right balance between glazing and conventional walling.

Renewable technology - Among the most popular technologies are solar photovoltaic panels, solar thermal panels, biomass boilers and stoves, and ground-source or air-source heat pumps. Other options include rainwater harvesting systems and boilers that generate electricity as a by-product of their heating cycles. Why not consider one of these options for your sustainable home?

If you need any help in planning and building your eco-friendly property, contact Arc Design Services today.