Environment-friendly homes

The green housing phenomenon has come a long way in the last few decades. However, with the environment changing and impacting negatively on humans and other animals’ lives, green housing is also quickly shifting from being an alternative way of construction to mainstream.
Green housing is a type of house designed to be environmentally friendly and sustainable, while also focusing on the efficient use of energy, water, and building materials.
Various surveys around the world show that investment in green homes is increasing as many people realise the need to save the environment coupled with the cost effective benefits of going green.

How it’s done in Uganda
In Uganda, the concept is relatively a developing phenomenon as Goodman Kazoora, the project officer, Uganda- Promoting Energy Efficiency in Buildings in East Africa at the UN Habitat, puts it.
He observes that they are currently, trying out a green housing project in western Uganda and lobbying many practicing architects in the country to adapt the concept through various seminars to sensitise them on what it is like to go green in constructions right from the planning levels.

But as the green markets keep expanding, Kenneth Kavuma, of Ken Construction Company, observes that there are a variety of options for clients that seek to improve the quality of their homes, reduce energy costs and have a decreased environmental impact.
Kavuma says going green in the construction industry means one has to invest in structures and processes that are environmentally responsible and resource-efficient throughout a building’s life-cycle. This, he says, includes having a sense of design, construction, operation, maintenance, renovation, and demolition, which is environmentally friendly.

How to achieve green housing
Kenneth Kavuma, of Ken Construction Company says since the sun is the ultimate source of clean, low-cost energy, if one is building, then they should have a unique opportunity to plan for solar power use in a way that owners of older homes cannot.
“By using solar power in your home, you can take advantage of light and geography to get the most sufficient energy for your investment,” notes Kavuma.
He adds that how you position a house on your plot of land and where to place solar panels can have a significant impact on the power collected.
Using recyclables
Kavuma explains that, total-fill insulation, which involves lining of your ceiling or the wall with strong glass fibre made from recycled materials, pays off. Kavuma explains, “Because you are using recyclables, the initial material costs are often lower than it would be for virgin materials.”
Kavuma adds that using recyclable materials helps save money over time since these materials perform better than first-use insulation such as treated wood which cannot be reused.
He gives an example of cotton wool, wood pulp; soybean byproducts as materials one is likely to find used for roll insulation and foam for spray-in insulation for a ceiling or a wall.
However, Kavuma cautions that foam insulation is a bit expensive. He explains that foam insulation is mostly used to insulate houses in countries that experience below zero degrees temperatures.
In Uganda he says this can work better in Kisoro district where the temperatures at times are very low.
He says there are many other recycled materials that can be used in green home building, which may include; reclaimed wood and countertops made from recycled glass. These he says can be used to lay a nice tile-like floor or for interior wall decoration cover.
Plastic bottles, aluminium and soda cans or even durable products recycled iron metals that can reduce the amount of new lumber, and bricks used in the construction of your home.
Use wood
From the frame of your home to the flooring inside it, sustainable building materials such as wood can reduce the impact of your construction on the environment.
“Flooring has been proved to be one area where new environmentally friendly products, great for home lining ratings, are flourishing. Current floorboards of this kind may include bamboo, among others,” he explains.

Use cool rooftops
Materials used on a roof can make a dramatic difference in any home’s energy efficiency.
Kavuma says, one could want to consider a product that reflects the sun’s energy away from the roof, or one that cools faster at night and holds less heat for less time in order to help reduce energy costs and usage related to heat. F
or instance, he observes, terra cotta, slate, white tiles, special membranes and metal roofing are some of the roofing products available with variable degrees of green benefits.
But he says although there are many roofing options, the greener ones are relatively more expensive, both in materials and installation, but the good side is that one could recoup the costs through energy savings, the longevity of the product and the required minimal maintenance.

Make use of your land scape
Kavuma explains that designing a home to take advantage of the surrounding landscape from the onset will enable the owner enjoy easier, less expensive lawn care for the entire home life.
“Plan your tree or grass planting to take advantage of the property’s natural characteristics.
If your property slopes, for instance, planting water-loving rackets, decorating plants that absorb water such as Papyrus in low areas and conifers on higher ground, will offer the natural beauty to your home,” he advises.

Building smaller houses
He says that no matter how green you build a large home, a smaller home with the same energy-efficient and eco-friendly construction techniques will have a smaller environmental impact.
“This does not mean one needs to restrict to building a humble cottage instead of an expensive dream home, but needs to be thoughtful about how to use the available space,” he advises. “Plan the home around your lifestyle but keep the space manageable and cost effective and avoid expanding anyhow in every direction,” he cautions.

Materials used in plumbing
Kavuma advises that one needs to consider materials that conserve water such as low flow faucet aerators, tank-less water heaters and Energy Star rated washers.
“I have seen several products on the market which automatically pause showers once the water has warmed to avoid gallons of hot water being wasted in an empty shower,” he says.
He adds that one should also consider harvesting rainwater.

Use energy saving windows.
Kavuma says new technology has helped design energy star windows, which are relatively new players on the window market.
“They are aptly-named windows and rated as energy star products, and are more energy-efficient than the double-pane models and aluminum windows, since they reduce sound transfer between outside and inside and also reduce on the heating and cooling costs of the home,” he adds.
Kavuma explains that all these materials can be found in local hardware shops.

Advantages of green housing

Kenneth Kavuma, of Ken Construction Company notes that on comparison, the costs of building a green home is relatively cheaper than the conventional houses.
“Many builders will tell you that the cost of building an environment friendly house is cheaper than the conventional way of constructing,” says Kavuma.
Although not adopted in many developing countries, green house constructions, are reported to be cost-effective with the green technologies used, helping many homeowners realise cost cuttings.

“If you went to Imperial Royale Hotel and observe its rooftop, its designer had a sense of an environment and it helps the owner to minimise on the power costs during day because the light through the rooftop is sufficient for the interior,” he observes.
Many green home products and technologies can now be purchased right from many local hardware stores.
Even established national homebuilders are beginning to offer green home options and choices for their home buyers.
These are some green home building tips Kavuma offers for someone planning to build a new home that is environmentally friendly.

Saving power
• Switch off lights. Turn off any lights or appliances if they are not in use. This is because even when not using plugged in items, they still eat away at potentially saved energy (including things like laptops, cellphone chargers, basically everything that can be plugged in).
• Use recyclables. Buy only recyclable containers and reusing plastics for food storage. Creating family energy plans that involve all households such as holding safe and environmentally friendly alternatives for things like entertainment. This may involve eliminating the extensive use of the television or the Internet.