Things You Must Consider When Trying To Build An Eco-Friendly Kit Home

by Michael Fulkerson
(Brisbane)

Kit homes are a great idea for those bursting with creativity because you can help design it from the ground up. I wanted to take things to the next level by making my new home as environmentally-friendly as possible. This meant doing lots of research to find the best tricks in the business to achieve my goals. Lots of people are interested in helping the planet these days, so you might feel the same way as me. If you are, take a look at the most important things I discovered.

The Frame Of Your Home

I knew I wasn't going to contribute to deforestation by choosing a kit home with a wooden frame. I found that steel is the one of the best options available. It's likely going to be recycled steel, plus it will be recycled again once the home comes down. It's also going to stay standing and remain in good condition longer, which means less energy will be required on repair work.

Insulating Your Kit Home

My energy bills used to be a lot, so I decided I would need to find insulation that worked extremely well while still being environmentally-friendly. In the end I think sheep wool is the ultimate choice, because sheep need to be sheared anyway and their wool will always grow back. Don't neglect good insulation, because a home without it can lose a third of its heat through the walls and a quarter through the roof.

Install Low-E Windows

A few years ago I installed low-E film on my old windows. For most people it's cheaper than replacing their windows, but when you're building a new home you can choose to use low-E glass instead. This will save you a huge amount as you'll not waste as much energy. The glass will keep the heat inside your home during the cold winter months, but in summer it flips everything on its head by keeping your rooms cool.

Build A Rainwater Tank

Water shortages can happen in lots of different areas, but there is no denying it's a big problem we all face. It's silly wasting precious water when there are eco-friendly solutions. I decided I wanted my kit home to include a rainwater tank that would collect half of the water hitting my roof. With a few basic components it's easy to set up, so the company building your home should be able to take care of it.

Use Low VOC Paint

Can you guess how many toxic chemicals are in your average tin of household paint? I couldn't believe the number was as high as 300, but it was worse realising I've been using paint for decades that vaporised in the air causing damage to the environment. Volatile organic compounds shouldn't really be anywhere near your green home, so use low VOC paint when you're decorating your kit home instead.

Choosing To Go Green

There are tons of gorgeous kit homes on the market today, which means it's very hard to choose the exact one you want. It would still be great if you decided to go green no matter how you decide to build your home, because if we all started doing it the world would become a better place. You're essentially building a home from scratch so there are no excuses.