The Green House: building an environmentally friendly house

In today's more environmentally responsible approach to building, people are favouring homes that will have as little impact as possible on the environment. Finding builders and designers who have a good understanding of this trend is becoming increasingly more important for those who want to create eco-friendly houses.

The point is clear: with not much trouble, you can now make your house a cost-saving exercise with regard to energy, water, health, and the benefit of the planet. Up till recently, common myths about the expense of building an eco-friendly house have abounded - but in truth, it is probably one of the best investments you can make, giving you superb returns over time, eventually paying you back with energy savings and water savings, while becoming increasingly sought-after as preferred property. As the popularity of these homes grows, their value increases in tandem.

Benefits of an environmentally-friendly house

Durable and strong: Building an environmentally friendly house naturally infers high quality; green projects often last much longer than comparable projects, saving money in maintenance and replacement costs through cannily applied sustainability practices.

Saving on monthly expenses: A sustainable home has better insulation, sealed windows and doors, efficient cooling and heating, as well as energy-efficient lighting and appliances, etc, dramatically cutting monthly expenses. A green home is estimated to return substantially on your investment within seven years.

Impact on the environment: The more we go green, the more we help the environment, reducing our dependence on fossil fuels. Recycled materials offering low emissions during manufacturing and in the building process, help to reduce the impact on the surroundings of the house.

Recycled no-waste materials: Just about everything can be recycled today. There has been a rise in the production of earth-friendly alternatives to common building materials. It is much easier these days to find suppliers of waste-negative products which are both attractive and durable.

Making a healthy home: A green home is a healthy home with much better air quality as a result of the non-toxic materials used in eco-friendly building. In addition, green homes are likely to feature natural ventilation systems, as well as air purifiers. And during green construction projects less toxic waste is emitted into the air.

Remember the exterior: Landscaping should be done to reduce a house's impact on the land as much as possible. Choose plant species which require little energy-intensive maintenance like mowing, and which have low watering needs. Collect rain water from the roof in rain barrels. Reduce the amount of cement and paving around your house, making it easier for rainwater to penetrate the soil. For driveways, choose open-cell pavers or pervious pavers, which allow water to seep down into the soil.

Tips for a green, eco-friendly house:

• Plan to integrate renewable energy systems into your home; install a solar geyser - or go solar entirely for the whole house.

• Build a smaller home for a smaller eco-footprint. A smaller home needs fewer building materials and requires less energy to cool down and warm up.

• Orient your home to take advantage of sun and wind; large, sun-oriented windows allow for passive solar heating, and for the entry of natural light, limiting electricity needs.

• Install energy and water efficient appliances.

• Install facilities to collect alternative water sources, such as rain barrels - and make use of grey-water systems.

• Use recycled, renewable and/or locally sourced building materials.

• Properly air seal and insulate your home, with the focus on ensuring extremely effective wall insulation.

Renovating your current home to be greener or building a green home from scratch is now perfectly feasible. There may be some elements that need patience and research to be sourced, and may cost more, but ultimately you are investing in a winner that will continue to give valuable returns well into the future.

Leapfrog Property Group

Leapfrog Property Group offers a fresh and innovative approach to buying, selling, renting and property investments, ensuring the best property deals for clients across South Africa. Our agents are qualified, trained, experienced; our approach bold and spirited, driven by heart, generosity and honesty. It is our mission to advise, eliminate obstacles and save you unnecessary expense. Trust is our watchword. And value our motto. Armed with our combined credentials, we are the bright face of excellence in the South African market.