Eco-Friendly Home----->The Next Choice

Eco-Friendly Home The Next Choice For All

Eco-friendly homes are homes that have nature-friendly green materials. In the environmental terms, the synonym for green is sustainable. For materials to be described as eco-friendly or green, they should be energy efficient, resource efficient and affordable. These materials also relates to consumer waste reduction. With the increased emphasis on the environmental impact of building materials, your new home could be green.

Green materials are now becoming very popular. The suppliers for these materials are working hard to have their name associated with the green trend. It is now common to see advertisements on eco-friendly features in new homes. Developers may soon be making advertisements on the sustainability of the construction of the building as well as the final, outward visible result.

When looking for eco-friendly options for your new home, below are some guidelines to help you.

FLOORS: Avoid synthetic rugs and fitted carpets for your floorings. Try using grasses and canes like Sisal, Jute, sea grass, hemp or rattan. You can also try using cotton, silk and wool colored with vegetable dyes. Just make sure to use a natural fiber under them. Other options involved a natural cork, which insulates and warms the underfoot and bamboo which is renewable and sustainable and beautiful to look at. Linoleums are considered durable and 100 percent recyclable. If you prefer the hardwood look, try using smart wood, reclaimed lumber or FSC approved hardwood. Non-toxic sealants are becoming more common for use on floorings.

COUNTERTOPS: You can choose among several gorgeous options for eco friendly countertops. Maples, Marmoleum are durable. You can use concrete with a thirty-percent fly ash content, which helps lower production energy. Stainless steel from recycled material can also be used. If you are planning to use natural or quarried stone like granite, slate or marble, make sure to avoid sealants and varnishes containing PVC. Consider refacing your present countertop, if possible. Make use of water based VOC spray refinisher instead of your arborite. Laminate or use wood on your counters to make your countertops look good and new.

CABINETS: Avoid the traditional MDF and try using solid wood from sustainably managed forests, plywood that has flour based glues or even particleboard from sustainable and recycled raw materials that contain low VOC adhesives.

PAINT: Look for the green seal label on paints or those with low VOC options. Oil paints become zero VOC after three days than the standard latex paints. If you are really considering zero emissions, try to look for recycled paint or use milk paints and add the pigment of your choice. Low odor paint is becoming more popular in eco-friendly homes.

UPHOLSTERY AND FABRICS: Use natural fabrics such as cotton, linen, silk, wool, and bamboo fibers. Since many linen and cotton growers' uses pesticides organic is the best choice. It is excellent to find products that have been naturally sun bleached.

Energy efficient materials are familiar to most consumers nowadays. Efficient heating and air systems, proper insulation and storm windows are popular methods to keep the utility bills low. Sustainable building materials are non-toxic or low toxic and have minimal chemical emissions. The use of eco-friendly materials is believed to increase the health quality of the home environment and a means of conserving energy.

Obviously, everyone wants to be more environmentally responsible. However, going green all the way can be quite overwhelming. You do not have to save the world immediately; just a little bit can go a long way in creating a healthier environment. Start the good cause in your very own home. Going green in your home does not mean you have to break your bank. With a little study, you can have a gorgeous home and at the same time feel good on doing your part to save the planet.