Choosing to build a family home from scratch is a big investment of your time and money but the results can be utterly incredible. If you have decided to build an eco-friendly home, you will find a plethora of material online from other families who have chosen to do exactly this before you. Here are some of the things you need to think about.
Start with the Walls
The walls of your new home are obviously incredibly important. They will provide you with shelter while also providing the structure and strength to the home as a whole. There are lots of amazing eco-friendly materials you can choose that will help you out here.
One of the best choices that you can make is actually earth. It is time to make yourself a hobbit hole! Digging down into the ground or creating an artificial hill over the top of your property will help monitor heat levels naturally. The property should be warm when it is cooler and an escape from the heat when it is hot outside.
Another eco-friendly choice you can make is straw. If you are planning on setting yourself up as a full homesteader, using straw can be a great cost-effective option that gives you a wonderful space to work with.
Vary Power Sources
Many people who want to generate their own power rather than take energy from the grid make the mistake of only having the one source of doing so. They choose to have just a wind turbine, or just solar panels.
While these are both fantastic options, they might not be able to generate enough electricity for a busy family home 24/7. Of course, you might be fine with this and are planning to raise your children with an appreciation of the outdoors that does not rely on electricity. However, it is important that you look into some of the resources that could also provide you with electricity from multiple sources.
Wind turbines are great but they can be noisy and inefficient. Plus, they obviously need time to wind to start gathering electricity. Solar panels are a better option, but you need a good few to begin to power your home completely. Contrary to popular belief, it does not need to be sunny for them to collect electricity, but you do need to find a company that specialises in solar panel cleaning to help keep them working as efficiently as possible.
Use Recycled and Reclaimed Materials Inside
When it comes to decorating your home, you will find a plethora of goods that will help you create a stunning place to live. Choosing to use reclaimed or recycled wood throughout your home will give you a wonderful place selection of pieces. They can be used on both the floor and for furniture, and they can make for instantly striking features that draw your eye in the room.
If you have areas of your home that can’t have wooden floors, such as your bathrooms, look into a material like recycled rubber. This can give you the eco-friendly floor you need without having to use a material that would not be as good as others, as wood is not suitable for a wetter environment.
The amazing thing about eco-friendly homes today is that they can take any shape or form. If you are not a fan of the kitschy country aesthetic and prefer something more modern, there are plenty of modern and sleek solutions and furniture that can give you that contemporary aesthetic that you crave.
Plot a Garden
If you are trying to be as sustainable as possible plotting your own garden can be a great move. You could try to raise chickens and maybe a cow depending on your diet and lifestyle, but everyone eats fruit and vegetables, and growing your own is a fantastic move.
It is much easier than you might first think to start growing fruit and vegetables. Once you have worked out what type of soil is on your property, you can begin to work at either planting species that thrive in it or building planters and other solutions that might correct it.
Try to make it a family activity. It can be really satisfying to sit down for an evening meal and know that you all had a hand in preparing the food that is on the table!
These are just some of the ways you can work towards building your own eco-friendly family home. Whether you want to live completely off the grid or you just want to incorporate some greener techniques into your home as a whole, there are lots of ways for you to do so. Even if you are not planning a new build, think about some of the eco-friendly things you could introduce to your home now!
More Tips
What To Do With That Super Sunny Window Spot in Your Home
lisa says
Solar panels are a better option, but you need a good few to begin to power your home completely. It is time to make yourself a hobbit hole! Digging down into the ground or creating an artificial hill over the top of your property will help monitor heat levels naturally. They choose to have just a wind turbine or just solar panels.ecostore online
lisa says
These are just some of the ways you can work towards building your own eco-friendly family home. Whether you want to live completely off the grid or you just want to incorporate some greener techniques into your home as a whole, there are lots of ways for you to do so. Even if you are not planning a new build, think about some of the eco-friendly things you could introduce to your home now!
lisa says
It is much easier than you might first think to start growing fruit and vegetables. Once you have worked out what type of soil is on your property, you can begin to work at either planting species that thrive in it or building planters and other solutions that might correct it.Monster Trucks