The market for green building products offers many great eco-friendly products which are not only green and functional, but also beautiful. Building green however can be achieved with using just a few green products, if done right, or a lot of wasted energy even with more green products if done wrong. Also, it is easy to be seduced by a product’s claim to fame, when in reality a lot of times such a product is not really necessary. It is important to thoroughly consider the skeleton of the house with all its guts. A small house plan must be strategically designed to capitalize on green benefits.

Here are some common green building mistakes:

Low quality or poorly installed windows
Windows that leak or do not have a tight seal are the cause for major air infiltration which increases energy consumption and consequently your utility bills. However when you do install tight, non-leaking windows, air circulation is impeded which means you can end up inhaling reused air over and over. It’s not very green, or very pleasant. Be sure to provide means for plenty of ventilation by installing whole house ventilation systems and natural ventilation options.

Poor installation of ductwork
Installation of ductwork in unconditioned spaces such as the attic, right under the roof where it gets extremely hot during the summer months, and frigid during the winter means your heating/cooling system has to work harder, increasing your energy bills. HVAC ducts should be installed in conditioned spaces such as between floors to improve efficiency, minimize waste, and make the maximum green effect.

Poor insulation choices
Poorly insulated walls are big energy wasters, and on top of that, the material insulation is made out of isn’t always great for the environment. Plenty of insulation with the minimum required R-value per code is essential. Beyond that there are several great green insulation products which use natural fibers to choose from. There are also spray foam insulation products made from soy, which are better green options.

Be deliberate and work with your contractor to ensure that all components of your small house are deliberately chosen and installed. Doing it right the first time will not only save you many headaches but money and energy in the long run.

Photo by laurenmanning

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