Green houses are no longer the safe haven for plants alone— human beings have joined the club. As ecological degradation continues unabated, the need for environment-friendly homes cannot be emphasised enough. Yet, not many have made the switch. Reason—high costs.
But the truth is quite the opposite. Instead of being prohibitively expensive, a green lifestyle actually reduces living costs in the long run.
Click here to see detailed green house infographic
A building’s initial construction expense represents just 20-30% of its entire useful-life costs. Usually, the cost of constructing green buildings is higher by 15-20%. But they save around 30% in energy usage annually and up to 50% in water consumption. While some of this cost cutting comes from changing habits, some comes from the use of efficient fixtures. For example, a five-star-rated AC consumes 30-40% less electricity.
The concept behind green houses is to follow the three ‘R’s—reduce, reuse and recycle all possible resources. The graphic alongside explains how you can make your house environment friendly.
Once that is done, you can also get a green rating for your home. In India, TERI and CII Green Building rate residential buildings. This rating will enable you to claim a premium from a buyer or tenant thanks to assured savings in the monthly maintenance bill. As a buyer of a green house, this rating assures you of a healthier and lower cost of living.
It isn’t difficult at all. Go green—for the environment and for your finances.
