How does building houses affect the environment

Read more stories by 3p Contributor. Words by 3p Contributor. Economic Benefits Building new homes attracts customers for local businesses and additional taxes for the local government. Green Buildings Although buildings provide substantial economic benefits, they can be a real detriment to the environment.

How to Build More Sustainably Green builders use many different strategies to make their projects more sustainable. Here are a few of them: Sustainable Materials: Materials account for a large portion of the environmental costs of building construction. Using materials that are locally sourced and can regrow quickly can significantly reduce that impact. Local resources require less fuel to transport.

Bamboo is a popular green material because it grows so quickly. Using Less: In order to reduce the environmental impact of construction, people working on green building projects often rent equipment rather than purchase it. An added bonus is that environmental compliance is handled by the equipment provider. Those who want to live a greener lifestyle might rent items or use shared ones as well.

They might use a car-sharing service or go to the laundromat, for example, rather than buying their own car or washer and dryer.

Energy Efficiency and Renewables: Green buildings are designed to use less energy than a standard building. Green designers take care to insulate any spots where air may escape to make heating and cooling more efficient. They also often use energy-efficient appliances.

Green buildings also often use renewable energy, such as solar and wind. The end result is that homeowners and their families are healthier in these newer homes. It reduces stress and medical costs and improves their overall quality of life. Using eco-friendly products are also good for our environment as a whole.

Reducing emissions from coal, wood and other pollutants can help improve our outdoor air quality. It also helps lessen the effects and slow the pace of climate change. It is very possible for us to use current resources and materials in creating homes that are actually very beneficial for the environment.

They create building materials that give off fewer carbon dioxide emissions. Instead of ending up in dumps or landfills, a lot of construction waste can be reused or recycled for other uses. It also takes less time and energy to transport these materials to be reused or recycled. All of these efforts help make our world a much safer place to live and work every day. Your email address will not be published. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

Notify me of new posts by email. This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed. Email Address. Here are 8 important factors to prove that home building can improve the environment: 1. Reduced reliance on shared resources As our global population continues to grow, more and more strain is being put on our natural resources every year. Efficient materials When most homes are built, the end results usually wind up having a lot of extra materials laying around.

Lower operation costs Most modern buildings are designed in ways that are energy efficient. Better indoor air quality New homes are often constructed with air quality in mind. Efficient use of water resources Older homes sometimes have design flaws and problems that can waste large amounts of water. Better personal health More and more construction companies and remodelers have been using environmentally friendly building materials. Healthier for our environment Using eco-friendly products are also good for our environment as a whole.

Parting Shot It is very possible for us to use current resources and materials in creating homes that are actually very beneficial for the environment. Like this: Like Loading Recommeded Reading. About Salman Zafar Salman Zafar is the Founder of EcoMENA, and an international consultant, advisor, ecopreneur and journalist with expertise in waste management, waste-to-energy, renewable energy, environment protection and sustainable development.

Salman has successfully accomplished a wide range of projects in the areas of biomass energy, biogas, waste-to-energy, recycling and waste management. Building a home requires such a massive personal undertaking that it's easy to forget the environmental effects.

As you deal with crew coordination, project budgets and building permits, you tend to focus on the home-building's effect on your mind and body. Once you take a step outside your busy mind, however, the effects of home-building on the environment can became clear. While these effects are rarely positive, you can take proactive steps to minimize your future home's impact on the natural world.

Each year, the United States generates about million tons of building-related construction and demolition debris -- which accounts for about two-thirds of all non-industrial solid waste generation in the country, according to a report from the U.

Environmental Protection Agency. The same source reports that only about 20 to 30 percent of this debris -- including asphalt, concrete, metals and wood -- is collected and recycled. When it's not recycled, this waste occupies valuable landfill space and consumes additional energy for transportation to, and storage at, the waste site. In addition to the energy expenditure of construction -- including fuel burned during transportation, and electricity and gas used during building -- homes account for about 39 percent of total energy consumption in the United States, according to the EPA.

This includes 12 percent of the country's water consumption, 68 percent of its electricity consumption and 38 percent of its carbon dioxide emissions.