Sustainable green architecture refers to the construction of buildings in a way that friendly to the environment and saves energy. Building a green home is not only a benefit to the environment but to your pocket as well. The greener your home is, the more money you will save and the better the environment will be as a result.

Sustainable green architecture has been seen to be complicate and expensive but there are very simple things one can do to green up their home. The green aspects that seem expensive are also the most cost saving and environmental friendly, leading to great savings in the long term.

Sustainable Green Architecture  – What to Incorporate

1.   Solar EnSustainable Green Architectureergy

Green architecture and solar energy are inseparable. It is becoming a requirement by law to incorporate solar energy into all buildings. While the initial investment can be high, solar energy will help you cut your power bills by up to 70%.

It is possible for you to produce enough solar for your home use and sell any extra to your local power company. You can also enjoy other government incentives such as tax breaks when you incorporated solar in your home.

2.   Build Smaller

One of the easiest ways to go green is to simply construct a smaller house. A smaller house will cost you less to light, heat, clean and maintain. When building your own home, the temptation to go big is huge. Call it keeping up with society or simply building for needs that are not that important.

After building a huge home, many people quickly discover that they did not need all that space. Children grow up in a few short years and begin leaving the nest. When considering how much space you need, think long term and think space efficiency.

3.   Lighting

Here in Kenya, a lot of power is use for lighting up the home. Take advantage of natural light by using big windows that allow maximum light to enter each room.

Ensure that you use energy efficient light bulbs. Light Emitting Diode (LED) bulbs and Compact Fluorescent Lights (CFL) are the way to go to save on power. These bulbs may cost more to buy but they last way longer and save a lot of power.

4.   Location

When embarking on a home building project, consider keenly the location of your home. Avoid areas that are prone to any kind of natural disaster like floods, earth quakes and so on. This way, you will spend much less try to proof your home against expected disasters.

You should also orient your home in such a way as to maximize on light and heat.

5.   Water Harvesting and Recycling

Water harvesting and recycling is another major aspect of green homes. Ensure that you harvest as much rain water as possible to use in your home. Water used in toilets, bathrooms, laundry areas can be cleaned and reused. This requires installing a grey water treatment system that brings great savings in terms of cash and environmental impact despite the initial investment.

6.   Sanitary Water Fittings

Most people are not aware of how much water they use carrying out simple daily activities such as cleaning, bathing and so on. One way to arrest this situation in to install the right fittings that reduce water wastage.

Low and ultra-low flash toilets, low flow taps and shower heads help a lot in saving water, not to mention a conscious decision to use water sparingly.

7.   Electric Devices

It important to select electric devices that are energy efficient. It is now possible to identify such devices because they have a sticker indicating the power rating on different devices.

It is also important to turn off and unplug devices when they are not in use. Plugged devices still continue to consume power even when they are switched off.

Sustainable Green Architecture

Sustainable green architecture does not have to be complicated. With a little thought and planning, every home can embrace some aspects of green architecture and contribute to the betterment of the environment.