The Property Eco Movement

The eco movement is fast sweeping across the world. It is no wonder that it is increasing in popularity what with the weird weather reports and doomsayer’s predictions that we have been reading about lately. Apart from that, it actually makes environmental sense to ensure that we are doing our bit for Mother Nature because we want to ensure that future generations can still enjoy lush greenery and normal weather conditions. While there are many people who are going into sustainable living, many property developers worldwide have started utilising environmental friendly practices into their buildings.

Contrary to widespread belief, sustainable living does not mean that one resides in a mud shack out in the wild. Instead, there are many ways to comfortable living without having to give up life’s little pleasures while at the same time doing our bit for the environment. An eco friendly home simply means that the building lasts longer, is free from harmful chemicals and works hand in hand with nature. In fact, some of the most beautiful homes on the market were built based on sustainability and environmentally friendly practices.

In Lackspur, Colorado, there is actually a magnificent mansion painstakingly built based on environmentally friendly designs. As you can see from the picture, this house is nothing short of luxurious. You would think that the energy bill for this house alone is likely to cost a bomb. However, you might be surprised to note that the energy bill for this house does not even go beyond $350. This is largely due to its layers of insulation and energy efficient heating and water system. This definitely makes you wonder why everyone hasn’t jumped on to the environmental bandwagon yet!

There are of course some commonalities in eco friendly homes built today. First off, there has to be more insulation throughout the house. This is an extremely energy efficient move because it ensures that air leakage from and into the house is kept to a minimal. Studies have shown that a few additional layers of insulation can help the household save on an average of 50% off existing energy bills. Furthermore, the house should also be built completely of natural and organic materials. Did you know that some types of paint actually release harmful chemicals into the atmosphere? True, the rate of release is miniscule but still basically means that you are breathing in toxins into your body every day.

Now, you might not be in the position to move into a new, fully eco friendly home. It might be that it isn’t in your budget or that eco friendly homes are hard to come by. The good news is that there are ways and means for you to incorporate environmentally friendly practices into your daily regime without having to move out of your house. You can start small by recycling and encouraging family, friends and neighbours to do the same. Try and source out a plot of land in your neighbourhood in which you can use to cultivate a garden. Not only is this a good way to bring more greenery around the area, it is an extremely healthy activity which everyone can take part in. You can also gradually switch to energy saving lights. Did you know that there are many appliances which offer energy saving capabilities as well?

Additionally, the next time you go furniture shopping, find out more about what it is made of. Furniture made of recycled or renewable materials would be the best choices. Bamboo products make exceptionally long lasting materials; not to mention the fact that they are lightweight. Furthermore, if you can afford it, think about investing in solar energy. In Malaysia, you would normally find solar energy utilised for water heating systems. It might cost a fair bit but would really help the environment quite a fair bit.

Yes, the green movement is growing in importance simply because we understand that there is something we should do in order to help the environment. Development is good but if not done correctly could have an adverse effect on our planet. It is definitely nice to see countries around the world placing emphasis on environmentally friendly practices when building homes. When it comes to saving the planet, no effort is too small!

Picture courtesy of: Greenmoves

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