Energy efficient windows are one feature of the Heartland Healthy Home.
What do you see when you picture a “green” home? Perhaps you imagine a house with solar panels and a wind turbine, or a simple home that conserves resources and has energy efficient appliances.
If you ask Alan Gillespie, founder of Heartland Homes, he will tell you that energy efficiency is only one piece of the puzzle when building green homes. His custom home-building company developed the Heartland Healthy Home, which includes a series of environmentally friendly features.
“Higher indoor air quality, increased comfort, and environmental impact are just as important [as energy efficiency],” says Alan. Not only does the Heartland Healthy Home include features that support this vision, its materials and products come from other companies that go green in the creation and delivery of their goods.
A Green Home Design
The Heartland Home contains some of the following options and green building products, which you too may want to consider using if you are developing plans for a green home.
- Green cabinetry comes from sustainably managed forests or recycled products. With a non-toxic finish or low formaldehyde-emitting materials, it is the greener option for your kitchen cabinets.
- Low E glass windows contain a thin metallic coating that reflects heat, which helps your home stay cooler in the summer and warmer in the winter.
- Low- or zero-VOC paint is durable but contains lower levels of the volatile organic compounds that contribute to indoor air pollution. PPG, one supplier of low- to zero-VOC paint, has also changed its manufacturing processes to reduce waste and minimize energy consumption.
- The Lennox HVAC saves more energy and money than traditional air conditioning units, and their air cleaner system provides the same level of air filtration that you would find in a hospital laboratory! The leader in indoor air quality, Lennox has won the Energy Star Manufacturing Partner of the Year Award four times.
- Kohler products maximize water efficiency and are available in a range of options that all adhere to strict performance standards.
- Whirlpool appliances maximize energy efficiency and come from a company that is committed to environmental protection. They created a corporate office for environmental control and were the first company to receive the Sustained Excellence Award from Energy Star.
With the advancements being made in product technology and manufacturing processes, it’s not necessary to sacrifice style or the environment when building and customizing a new home. From the raw materials to the final touches, a green home design promotes conservation, energy efficiency, sustainable practices—and better health.
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Nice article, everything you mentioned goes a long way in making your home more efficient. The great thing is that these are simple considerations that any new home builder can do! If they are really ambitious they can even try a custom green project. But i know they require more work and money, not for eveyone i suppose