Green Building Techniques

We must not be forced to explore the universe in search of a new home because we have made the Earth inhospitable, even uninhabitable.

...For if we do not solve the environmental and related social problems that beset us on Earth - pollution, toxic contamination, resource depletion, prejudice, poverty, hunger - those problems will surely accompany us to other worlds.
~ Donald G. Kaufman and Cecilia M. Franz (from Biosphere 2000: Protecting Our Global Environment published in 1996)

Crying over spilled milk is something that we humans are experts at! Look at all the ecological mess we made since our cave dwelling ancestors learned how to make fire by striking flint stones together and here we, who are doing more damage to the environment and putting up a face of resenting our anti-Nature actions at the same time.

Oh, the two-faced hypocrites that we are! Well, don't get wrong. It doesn't include the entire scope of humanity within the purview of the term hypocrites. We know a lot of people who genuinely feel Mother Nature's agony and pro actively lend a helping hand every now and then to at least keep this world from getting any worse than it already has.

It is people like these that make conscious efforts to make economic use of the available natural resources and avoid artificial technology as much as possible in order to save ecology from any more damage.

In keeping with this beneficent and holistic principle of having as environment friendly a life as possible, the concept of green building came into being and is, nowadays, a very popular trend in housing and construction. This takes you on a brief tour of eco-friendly building techniques that are available these days.

Green building, also referred to as sustainable building, is all about realizing and showing a sense of compassion and responsibility towards the environment even while you set up a residential structure. The objective of green construction can be traced to the birds' nesting philosophy.

You see, while birds build their nests in the very play field of Nature (trees and forests, that is), they leave Nature looking and feeling, more or less, the way it did before the nests were built.

Right from the choice of dense foliage to the building materials, none of it causes either an obstruction to the scenery, or has any negative impact upon the environment. Here are a few green building tips and techniques that you will definitely find useful in case you're planning to construct your own residential space for you and your loved ones.

Ecology friendly building materials are those that have been recycled or have been reclaimed from various other construction sites. By choosing this materials over newly manufactured ones, you would fulfill your share of responsibility towards preserving the environment by discouraging unnecessary exploitation of natural resources.

That will lead to a reduction in the volume of industrial waste. Why get new materials when a lot of usable finished stuff is strewn all around? Refraining from encouraging wastage is the first step towards building a conscientious society that believes in economic utility of resources and lives by the principle of elimination of wasteful consumption.

The building envelop is the skeleton of an architectural structure. It includes the walls, roof, doors, windows, ventilators, insulation, etc. This is nothing but the unfurnished, basic framework of a functional building.

When this skeletal structure is tightly packed at the joints of attachments and fixtures are properly secured, loss of air from either sides from these cracks and crevices is avoided, giving the interiors a more stable environment. That would, in the long run, save a lot of artificial heating and cooling costs, both economically as well as ecologically.

Opt for renewable energy sources to generate electricity for your house and to power household appliances. Solar power can be economically and very effectively used for generating electricity and heating purposes. Wind generators can be installed for generating power as well.

Nowadays, various kits are available which you can easily assemble and install yourself to generate fuel and power for your individual property. Even small communities can be formed in the same locality to set up a small, localized solar power plant. It's easy and can be done even if you're not a techie yourself!

Nowadays, eco-friendly paints are available that are a healthier option for the residents as well. You see, these paints are made by using natural pigments from organic sources and do not contain harmful volatile compounds that conventional paints are made of.

As a result, they neither give off unhealthy gas fumes nor does the chemical smell take ages to go away! As far as furniture polishes are concerned, instead of going for the traditional chemical varnishes and veneers, opt for natural oils such as an olive-oil-and-lemon-juice mixture.

You can add in a few drops of your favorite essential oil to aromatize your household and skip those artificial air freshening sprays and chemical vapors.

Also, keeping the plumbing of your home well maintained is a good way in eliminating water wastage. Last but not the least, make sure to install proper ventilation facilities so that you can regulate the thermal temperature of your house to suit your preferences without having to resort to artificial heating or cooling devices.

Also, generous air circulation throughout the house keeps the air inside from getting stale and unhealthy. All that carbon dioxide laden air (a result of the residents' respiration) gets expelled, and your lungs get a chance to breathe in fresh, oxygen rich air more often.

For even better results at keeping the air fresh and healthy, keeping potted plants in most-frequented and well ventilated areas of your house is an excellent way to welcome Nature and make Her a part of your daily life!