According to the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB), the Certified Green Professional™ designation recognizes builders, remodelers, and other industry professionals who incorporate green and sustainable building principles into homes — without driving up the cost of construction.
Do you want to save the planet, live in a home that is fully sustainable, and work with a certified professional in doing so?
In order to do this, you’ll need to hire not just any professional, you’ll need a certified GREEN professional. Their proficiency and education will allow them to assist you in all of your building endeavors. The “going green” award will go to you after hiring a sustainable home builder. Look at you, saving the planet board by board.
Sustainability is an interesting term. Although its definitive meaning is one of longevity and maintenance, societally, we use it to describe or imply ecological balance. There is truth in using the term sustainability when it comes to home building in both aspects of the word. Our goal is to grow and change with society, and one of the main focuses in today’s climate, economically and ecologically, is the health of the planet.
Sustainable building is using materials and processes that are efficient in causing less material waste, whether it is using recycled materials for home insulation, or using recycled wood for crown molding in a home. Everything from the process to the materials, to the overall integrity of the build, can be done so sustainably. It also means, a home that is built sustainably is likely to promote longevity, materials used will weather gracefully and remain functional for future generations.
Let the Light in
One way in which a sustainable home builder can reduce your carbon footprint and use their certified green education is to make a home that is spacious, airy, and utilizes natural lighting. This can be accomplished by installing energy-efficient windows in areas of the home that would otherwise be fabricated with walls. This will not only make your home look progressively sustainable, but it will also allow you to take advantage of the day’s natural light. Increasing the amount of natural light in your home will supplement your vitamin D levels and improve mental health. The amount of natural light pouring into your home will also prevent the early usage of electrical lights. It benefits not only your health, but it also decreases your lighting bill, therefore, reducing your carbon footprint!
Re-used is the New “New”
Materials can be sustainably resourced from homebuilders that keep materials safely stored from previous builds, ensuring their quality and integrity are intact before reuse. Incorporating recycled wood into a green home can merge the natural textures of the earth with your desired interior design. The earthly textures are complex and alluring, incorporating more natural themes into your home will be welcoming to guests and is sure to become a conversation piece.
Bringing the Outdoors in
Do you enjoy the atmosphere live lush greenery adds to restaurants and other establishments you patronize? Plants are heavily used in buildings and interior design for a reason. It creates an inviting atmosphere, can psychologically boost serotonin levels, and pump out fresh oxygen into the surrounding area. If you are planning to live sustainably, you’ll want to incorporate some live plants into your home build. Not only will it improve the air quality, it may also benefit your health and act as another way to please your guests. A sustainable home builder can allocate space to build custom planters or shelves in your home to showcase your greenery with functionality and style.
Don’t Turn Your Back on HVAC
As reported by MyFloridaGreen, Florida’s consumption of electricity per household is among the highest in the United States. The weather in Florida is hot and humid, which drives up the demand for air-conditioning, in turn, using an impressively substantial amount of electricity.
When it comes to building a home in Florida, we have to account for the all-important HVAC systems that allow us to stay cool amid the heatwave that is summer. Sustainable home builders have been experimenting with the idea of using ventless or ductless HVAC units for each room. The ductless HVAC systems allow for custom temperature and humidity control for each selected room. Using Ductless HVAC systems prevents the air conditioning leaks you’d see in a traditional air conditioning unit. By reducing air leakage throughout the home, you will use less energy in the long run, keeping your Florida home cool and efficient.
If only there was a certified green professional in my area that could check off all of these boxes and bring more longevity and value to my home!
You’re in luck! Varian Construction is owned and operated by Bill Varian, a certified green professional who has over 30 years of experience in remodeling homes and using the most sustainable methods to keep your home on the cutting edge. Contact Varian Construction at (239) 514-0103 or visit our website at VarianConstruction.com for more information on home remodeling.