It is good to think of looking for an eco-friendly home when you begin your home buying process. Apart from being environmentally friendly, an eco-friendly house saves you from spending a lot of money by eliminating the need for certain resources. Here are some factors to consider when buying an eco-friendly home:
Building materials
The building material is one of the essential things to consider when purchasing a home because the house is as good as its material of construction. An excellent green-building material is salvaged lumber. Reclaimed lumber is usually obtained from older homes. It is ideal because of its density. Older lumber's hardiness is much better when compared with that of new lumber.
Solar energy
Another factor that should influence your buying decision is the availability of solar energy. You should not purchase any home that is unsuitable for using solar energy. The advantages of having solar power at home are numerous. Apart from conserving the environment, it also minimizes your energy costs and saves you a lot of money in the long run.
Energy-efficient appliances
For those that are considering buying a house that is already furnished, you should make sure that all the electronic devices are energy-efficient. This is essential because it reduces your power consumption significantly. You should ensure that home appliances like dryers, microwaves, washers, irons, and any other devices in the home are all energy efficient. You should not buy the house if these appliances are not energy efficient.
Flooring
The flooring material is something else to consider when purchasing a green home. The flooring material of an ideal eco-friendly home should be made of recycled or sustainable products like cork or bamboo. The essence of this idea is that these products are environmentally friendly, and they are also hypoallergenic, durable, easy to install and maintain. These flooring materials can also be installed in an environmentally safe and friendly manner. You should consider some of these flooring materials:
- Cork: Cork comes from tree bark. Its production does not affect the tree. The benefit of this flooring material is that it is warm and inviting. It is incredibly durable when kept away from moisture.
- Bamboo: bamboo is grass and not wood. The benefit of using bamboo as a flooring material is that it is easy to staple, nail, and glue. Apart from that, it can be used to form different patterns and is very durable.
- Linoleum: This type of flooring material comes from natural raw material like pine trees, ground limestone, and wood products. They are resistant to stain, biodegradable, and impermeable to water.
Check with your real estate agent to help you identify green homes in your area, or homes you can remodel in an environmentally friendly way.
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