Green Custom Home Trends

Environmentally friendly standards for custom homes can take a variety of forms. Whether it is the materials used to build the home itself or the features, amenities, and final touches that are completed after the home is built, there are numerous ways to make a home energy efficient. Some simple green custom home trends for 2019 include:

Tankless Water Heaters

Tankless water heaters are a great way to save money on your energy bill as well as conserve water usage. These features also ensure that your home never runs out of hot water, which is great for large families.

Solar Power

When building a custom home, implementing a solar power system can greatly reduce your carbon footprint. Some solar electric systems are so efficient that you can provide enough power for your own home and the extra energy generated will be fed into the municipal grid, meaning that your solar panels will make you money.

Heat Pump for Temperature Control

A heat pump is a device that works similarly to a refrigerator, but on a large scale for your home. It moves air through a series of coils and other mechanical components to control the air temperature of an environment. They are incredibly effective and energy-efficient devices and they are becoming more popular as methods of heating and cooling homes.

Energy Efficient Lighting

Energy-efficient fixtures and LED lighting are on the rise with custom homes, and so is increased use of natural light. LED lighting can be implemented throughout a home in order to cut waste and produce more light with less power, and better systems for skylights that let in light while keeping out heat can be used in a custom home to improve energy efficiency.

To learn more about 2019’s energy efficiency trends, or if you would like to find out about any of our other residential custom building services, please contact Hyline Construction at 604-889-5242 or fill out a contact form on our website.

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Ideas for Sustainable Custom Homes

During the design phase of a custom home, there are a variety of ideas that can be considered that contribute towards an environmentally friendly build and can help a home cut down on energy use once the family moves in. Many of these ideas are incredibly simple to implement and merely require a little extra planning. Some concepts for sustainable custom home building include:

Use Better Building Materials

The very materials that a home is made out of can have a massive impact on how green the home is. Some types of insulation can be made from recycled materials or plant-based resources to cut down on waste and toxicity. Using reclaimed materials, such as wood, steel, stone, and brick, can not only conserve building supplies but also give a home an excellent, highly coveted aesthetic.

Many siding and roofing options can also help to keep energy usage at a minimum. Living roof systems are a great way to insulate a custom home, and metal roofing or siding can greatly improve heat retention.

Energy Efficient Lighting

Lighting does not have to be purely about utility. When building a custom home, there are endless opportunities to incorporate unique light fixtures and many of these options can be made to be energy efficient. Light fixtures that use responsive technology will ensure that your home always has the proper amount of light for different times of the day.

Make Use of Natural Light

Allowing for plenty of natural light will also help to ensure that electricity use is limited during the day. Skylights and well-placed windows will let in sunlight and, with the right metallic oxide coating on the glass, these windows can adapt to be low-emissivity and keep your home’s temperature steady.

Conserve Water

The right fixtures and appliances can help your custom home to conserve water use. Dual-flush toilets, water-conserving faucets and shower heads, and Energy Star rated appliances can all help to keep water consumption down.

To learn more sustainable custom home building ideas, or if you are interested in getting started with any of our residential custom building services, please contact Hyline Construction at 604-889-5242 or fill out a contact form on our website.

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Green Custom Building Ideas for Surrey and White Rock

When building an environmentally friendly custom home in British Columbia, there are endless possibilities for the home’s design. Some great ideas for green custom homes in the Surrey area include:

Green Heating Options

Geothermal power can be used in South Surrey and White Rock custom homes to replace comparable HVAC and/or boiler systems with geothermal heat pumps. Although geothermal heat pumps and other forms of green heating can cost a bit more up front, the long-term environmental and cost benefits make these systems well worth the price tag. With a massive efficiency advantage over other heating systems, custom homes with geothermal heating can expect significant monthly savings on heating and cooling. By implementing a system that does not burn fossil fuels for heat production a home can cut down on its greenhouse gas emissions and provide a higher air quality throughout the home.

Capitalize on Water Usage

Although British Columbia has an abundance of natural water resources, freshwater is a depletable resource. The energy that it takes to pump water to homes could be saved by implementing a variety of preservation systems. Rainwater harvesting, water recycling, Energy Star rated washers, tankless water heaters, and low-flow faucets are all excellent water-saving options for Surrey green custom homes.

Supplement with Solar

Solar power, like other renewable energy resources, has many environmental and health benefits. Going solar reduces greenhouse gas emissions and results in fewer air pollutants, such as sulphur dioxide. Custom homes in the South Surrey and White Rock area can capitalize on the amount of sunlight that we receive in British Columbia. Many premium solar energy collecting systems have the ability to gather energy from sunlight through medium to heavy cloud cover, meaning that a home will be able to supplement its electrical usage throughout most seasons.

Go Green with Roofing

The type of roofing systems you select can help your green custom home retain heat more readily than conventional roofs during the winter and keep your home cooler during the summer. Living roof systems are made of grass, moss, and other plant life, and they provide incredible insulation and rainwater gathering properties. They require some care, but the benefits are worth it. Other environmentally friendly and energy-saving roofing options include terra cotta, slate, or metal roofing.

To learn more about building a green custom home in Surrey, BC, or if you are interested in our custom building services for residential or commercial projects, contact Hyline Construction at 604-889-5242 or fill out a contact form on our website.

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What is a Green Building?

A green building attempts to cause as little of a disturbance to the natural environment as possible. These environmentally friendly buildings help to conserve the ecosystem by being energy and resource efficient, as well as by using sustainable building materials. Green buildings attempt to promote a healthier atmosphere for the environment and for the people working and living in and around them.

Environmental Benefits

Green buildings offer a wealth of environmental benefits by cutting down on energy usage, reducing trash and pollution, recycling resources, and attempting to minimize the footprint on the surrounding ecosystem. Building green cuts back on the wastage of water and other resources, while also protecting the people, plants, and animals in the surrounding area through the improvement of water and air quality.

Economic Benefits

While it can cost more initially for a building to go green due to the extra expense of sustainable materials, the expenditure lessens and begins to pay off over time. Studies have shown that green buildings that incorporate natural features can improve the productivity of occupants due to the increased quality of life, which further bolsters the economy. The green building initiative has created thousands of jobs across Canada and the United States and it continues to generate work and revenue. Green buildings also tend to have a higher property value than regular buildings.

Social Benefits

By improving the quality of life of those who reside and work in and around green buildings, sustainable homes and offices can positively influence society. People who work and live in green buildings report enhanced brain function, better sleep, and improved overall health. When people live and work in green buildings, they live happier, healthier, and more productive lives.

To learn more about green building practices or to speak with somebody about the benefits of green buildings, please contact Hyline Construction at 604-889-5242 or fill out a contact form on our website.

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