Our green reserves are fast depleting and each single step we take towards saving our environment will go a long way in sustaining green living. If you are a nature lover, eco-friendly houses can be your choice. Eco-friendly houses offer great benefits like greenhouses focus on energy saving devices like CFLs, HDPE pipes, solar panels, and rainwater harvesting. These innovative techniques to construct eco-friendly houses create a positive impact on the environment. This style of dwelling not only reduces the carbon footprint but also offers host of other advantages at a personal and global level. The construction of eco-friendly houses involves usage of environment friendly materials like lime plaster, FSC wood, straw bale, and more. They use alternative sources of energy like solar energy and wind energy, making these houses energy efficient and sustainable. Offering financial benefits, these ecologically friendly houses are now in great demand. Some eco-friendly homes designs are listed below for your reference.
1. Perrinepod
Perrinepod, an eco-friendly modular home is sustainable and durable. This compact yet sturdy eco-friendly house design was crafted by Jean-mic Perrine. Perrinepod’s concept is based on a disaster proof structure, which is strengthened by pre-cast and pre-stressed concrete walls. This minimalist exterior and cool interior style house is ecologically sustainable. This house comes with a hot water system, which uses refrigeration mechanism in reverse to heat the water. The $125,000 house is more often than not a one-bedroom apartment and is furnished with an advanced solar powered system for heating water and electricity. The walls of the dome house are treated with a flame retardant that prohibits it from emitting toxins in case of a fire.
2. Dome house
If you are a nature lover who wants to live small, cheap and simple, this should be your pick. Dome house is an ultra-cost option as it is a prefabricated house with small number of parts. This type of house is sold in a kit and it takes approximately a week’s time to assemble it. The building is made of water and is termite proof. It is igloo-shaped making it earthquake proof and resilient to typhoons and hurricanes. It helps to reduce labor cost, as it requires only minimal manpower. It is light and easy to carry. Dome house assembly does not produce any waste and does not involve any deforestation, thereby protecting our green reserves.
3. Zero house
This is another sustainable option for the eco lovers. It can be manufactured using various colors and finishes. This type of house taps solar power and can store solar energy for a week. It is capable of rainwater harvesting which is stored in an elevated reservoir. The house has a living room, bathroom, kitchen, two bedrooms, and a covered deck. The Zero house is controlled through a central computer making it completed automated.
4. Ewok tree house
This environment friendly house was designed by a Canadian carpenter. Its exterior is made of fiberglass waterproof material, which guards the inside of the house. This house comes along with a working kitchen that consists of a refrigerator, sink, and microwave. Though great outdoors can give you a sound sleep, one can also make use of built in beds. The cost of the sphere tends to revolve around $45,000 and if you shell $50,000 more, you can choose to buy some extra accessories. This is a comfortable option for four inhabitants and allows you to enjoy nature without worrying about carbon footprints.
5. Portable Martin House-to-go
This portable house lets you pack and go wherever and whenever you want. This type of eco house has been weatherproofed with NASA accreditation insulation to face the harsh weather conditions. It comes with a complete ready to use kitchen comprising of sink, refrigerator, and a stove. Comprising of bamboo floors, this house is modernized version of eco-friendly living style. Costing approximately $39,000, it is great for someone who wants to opt for traditional housing and yet maintain low maintenance costs.
6. Cardboard house
Costing $35,000, cardboard house type is reflective of an eco style living, which is the need of the hour. It can be upgraded to make it more comfortable as per your convenience. This prefabricated house comes in a kit, which can be erected in six hours. Made of recycled material, this eco-friendly house comes along with a composting toilet and owns water-condensing facility, which is a great investment to save the planet.
