Over the years, in an effort to improve the housing market, and lower construction costs, building products have become more and more synthetic; unnatural. We’ve become desensitized to the fact. It’s normal to see vinyl siding, and faux stone. Most of these materials are fire rated, and provide a high R value, but few are eco-friendly. Homes designed and built that function with minimal impact on the environment cost more to build, but some new home owners are willing to make the compromise, and we applaud these people. These homes are energy efficient, conserving power and water with the use of high grade insulation, LED lighting and solar. Low flow fixtures are often employed, and rainwater is sometimes collected. Eco-friendly materials are non toxic, recycled, or locally sourced, or recycled products.
A well designed home is placed on the site precisely, utilizing the solar orientation to assist in temperature control with less mechanical heating and cooling. Combined with a good passive cooling system, and you have a home that’s filled with fresh air, instead of air that’s been recycled over and over again. Natural cooling pulls air via a solar powered fan from outdoors, and beneath the grade to cool it, before releasing it into the living space. What energy is needed may be supplied by well placed solar panels, and if the home owner is located in a sunny location, the energy savings can be substantial. The map below shows the five solar zones in the US. If you’re located in 1, forget solar. If you’re in zone 4 or 5, you could actually collect more energy than you use.
Organic by nature, homes constructed from all natural materials offer an alternative from the standard homes being built today. Physical and mental health will be greatly improved. We’ve learned from science that our well being may depend on how much natural sunlight we get, and how fresh is the air we breathe. Colors and materials effect our mood with green being at the top of the list, especially the green born from chlorophyll; from real vegetation. Indoor water features create negative ions, which make us feel happy, and joy brings good mental health, which leads to physical health.
Copper has thermal conductivity. It absorbs heat rapidly and redistributes it evenly, keeping water warmer for longer periods of time. This prolonged warmth effectively relieves joint stiffness, calms sore muscles, and lowers blood pressure. Our skin absorbs safe amounts of copper ions while soaking, which helps to restore tissue, and reduce inflammation in joints. It stimulates collagen production and elasticity. Soaking in a copper tub has also proven to relieve stress, and improve quality of sleep.
Living in these types of homes may help us live longer, healthier and happier lives.