From Guest Blogger Rohit: Six Essential Qualities of Smart Green Homes
Focusing on the proficient consumption and conservation of water, heat, electricity and building materials, The Green Homes are a part of the Affordable Green Housing that has minimal impact on the surroundings. Also known as Smart Homes, Smart Green Homes or simply, Green Homes are made up with non-conventional building materials.
The consumption of energy is regulated through the use of modern architectural and house building technology. Less production of waste and improved indoor air and light quality is also focused on while designing these homes. Let us discuss the six essential qualities every smart home should have.
1. Natural Ventilation
The allowance of fresh natural air in the living areas and minimizing the need for air conditioning is an essential feature of Green Homes. The term Natural Ventilation is also known as passive cooling and is the best way to conserve the use of electricity in the Smart Green Homes. For example, covering the ground with grass makes the ground retain less heat, fountains and pools act as a natural coolant and facilitate the inflow of fresh cool breeze in the Smart homes without releasing any greenhouse gases and impacting the surrounding environment.
2. Insulation
Proper insulation is one of the key features of a Smart Green Home and is essential for the conservation of resources like water and electricity. Insulation not just offers protection from the heat of the sun but also helps thwart accidents like electrical fire and lower the emission of greenhouse gases into the environment. The insulation not only protects from the heat but also keeps the house warm in colder climates and damage from water.
3. Orientation
Orientation while designing a building refers to the direction the building faces. The Orientation of a house or a building can be chosen according to the visual and the thermal comfort. Choosing the direction of where a building faces can make a huge difference to the amount of light and air a house receives. With the use of the most accurate and modern architectural techniques, Green Homes incorporate the best house orientations according to the user’s needs and the climate of a particular region.
4. Energy Saving Appliances and Low-flow Plumbing
The use of newer and more energy efficient appliances like solar water heaters and LED lights will ensure a highly controlled conservation of electricity. Since green homes incorporate the use of natural ventilation, the consumption of energy is already controlled to a great extent. However, the major issue of the conservation of water was solved through the use of low-flow plumbing. Low flow saves thousands of gallons of water each year. Low flow plumbing as per the standard is not allowed to use more than 1.3 gallons of water per flush, and uses only the amount of water that is actually needed. Energy saving showers and faucets can save even more water.
5. Building Automation
With the use of the most modern of controls, building automation is now a reality. The system allows the homeowners of the Green house to monitor and control the lights, security system and any other fire or electrical hazard within the house or its vicinity. Building automation is also known by the acronym BAS and it is used to typically control the building’s heating, cooling and ventilation through the use of high performance digital, electric and pneumatic control systems. Additionally, Lighting, Air handling units, water cooling and heating systems and security systems are also controlled through BAS.
6. Transportation
One major feature that makes a home truly smart and green is its location. A green home not only ensures the conservation of energy and resources when you’re indoors but also ensures the conservation of resources when you’re away. Minimal impact on the environment also includes the use of public transport to save the average fuel consumption. The Green Homes are often located at a fairly convenient distance from the nearest Public Transport centers like bus stops and metro stations to facilitate easier and more energy efficient travel.
With the human race becoming more technologically advanced, our need for conservation of the environment and the minimal impact on the surroundings is becoming more and more important. The Green Homes or Smart Homes that are the most cost effective use the most technologically advanced housing solutions today. For more information on Green Housing, check it here at Homestart. The above-mentioned features are essential and instrumental in the conservation of natural resources and ensuring minimum impact on the surroundings while providing affordable and lavish housing solutions called Smart Green Homes.