subject: Tips for designing your green hill country home [print this page] Tips for designing your green hill country home
In today's current home building and designing trends, sustainable and economic living are on the forefront of future homes. Home builders and interior designers are finding ways to make your home more economically efficient, renewable, and sustainable. Some of the trends you will find are solar panels, energy star rated appliances, sustainable flooring such as bamboo, rain water collection, and better efficient floor plans which allow for natural heating and cooling. When designing your hill country home, consider these tips and ideas to make your home a greener home.
You have found the most ideal site for your home and are ready to begin designing. Building a home in the hill country allows you the ability to take advantage to the hills countries best resources: nature, fresh air, the warm sun, and rain. Imagine how you would position your home on your property and ask yourself, how can I increase ventilation and air flow through my home and turn down the air conditioner? According to Rick Burleson, facing the front of your home north and the back south this will minimize solar exposure during the summer and protect your windows from direct sunlight. In the winter time, ideal window and door placement will allow the southern sun to warm the house. Additionally, if you consider wind direction, windows can be placed in locations which allow for natural ventilation allowing your home to stay cooler in the summer and warmer in the winter.
Do you ever feel like less is more? In home building, this can apply too with a creative and thoughtful floor plan. In designing a smaller, more economical floor plan you can easily eliminate a lot of heating and cooling costs. Should you decide to design a smaller floor plan consider bringing the outdoors in to maximize your living space. One idea would be to design a living room which opens up into an outdoor patio or courtyard helping to make a room feel larger.
Another way to bring the outdoors in is to have a back up rainwater collection system. Rainwater collection in areas where rain falls abundantly is a feasible alternative to city water and wells. Rain water is clean and free and can function as a backup water source for your home and a water resource for your landscaping. Homes designed with tin roofs make collecting rain water a breeze as well as serving as an additional way to keep your house cool. Did you know that metal roofs will reflect the sun and help to minimize heat collecting in the attic? Another way to use sustainable resources in the construction and design of your home is to use limestone. Limestone is a natural resource and Texas has plenty of it. Limestone is a strong and durable resource and makes for a great looking exterior and interior fireplace. For the insulation of your home, consider spray foam insulation. Spray foam insulation for houses are becoming increasingly popular; the spray foam is made from recycled newspaper making it a renewable resource, easy to insulate with, and an excellent insulator for your home.
Building a green home requires an efficient design, sustainable building materials, and the right construction techniques. With a few simple changes your home can easily become an energy efficient, sustainable home saving you hundreds of dollars in energy costs. Go green and do something good for the earth
