Have you finally decided to take the plunge into making your home eco-friendly? In case you are having second thoughts, it’s always a good idea to do some research and see what you are signing up for. For example, while booking a vacation rental on Tellavista , you take a look at the photos to see what you are getting. There are many myths that abound about green homes and can often act as a deterrent.
Does an eco-home make you an environmentalist?
Contrary to popular misconceptions, having an eco friendly home doesn’t make you a tree hugger or an environmentalist. It is just about being conscious of our surroundings and doing our own bit to keep it clean and healthy. An environmentally conscious attitude needs to be adopted by everybody, and not just left up to the activists.
Here are some of the common myths about eco-homes.
1. The insulation can be expensive
This is one idea that has been doing the rounds forever. Remember that the purpose of all insulation material is to save energy. It is just that some of these materials are made with components that are more eco friendly than others. It is a difference of degree, not of kind. If you are worried about the insulation costs that you are incurring, then go in for cheaper materials.
For example, if your loft is a foot deep, it needs about 270 mm of insulation. If you don’t insulate your home properly, it will lose energy.
2. Wind powered turbines are useless except on high ground
Wrong again. Granted that a streamlined wind flow is ideal for the functioning of a wind turbine. That however, doesn’t mean that it can’t generate energy in any other location. Go by ideal locations, the best one for a turbine would be a huge plain without any barriers in sight.
Not too many people have houses in such locations. So don’t worry. Even if you have a house in the middle of an urban jungle, you can still get a wind turbine which will generate electricity for your eco house.
3. High investment with slow returns
It is obvious that if you are choosing to invest in a eco home improvement that you will be wondering about the paybacks. It is a long term project and not a short term deal like renting a vacation rental apartment on http://www.tellavista.com/. Here are a few examples of eco-friendly improvements and their cost returns.
- A solar water heating system can start generating returns within five years of installation.
- If you are putting in photovoltaic panels, they can last you for over three decades.
- A good loft insulation itself can last for two winter seasons.
Home owners often tend to overlook the fact that environmentally friendly installations actually add to the value of a house. For example, do you calculate investment returns when it comes to installing a new kitchen? Remember that houses with eco installations run using very little money.
4. Installing your own loft insulation is difficult
If you are planning on insulating your loft yourself, then you don’t necessarily need to use materials like fibreglass which are really difficult to handle. There are many lighter materials which are also environmentally friendly. These would include:
- Recycled plastic bottles
- Hemp
- Fleece from upland sheep
- Recycled denim
You can buy all these materials and handle them with each as well. However, remember that no matter what you use, it will be a bit of a dusty affair anyway.
5. Too much effort goes into making solar panels
Another widespread myth about photovoltaic panels. While it is true that creating solar panels takes a fair amount of time, because of its structure, you can recover your energy within two to four years of sustained use.
As the days progress, the technology behind solar panels is improving and becoming increasingly efficient in terms of manufacturing. Usually these panels are guaranteed for three decades at least. Thus, it’s definitely worth it.
6. Eco friendly gadgets are useless
There are different kinds of eco gadgets that are available these days. You can find solar chargers, radios, calculators and so on. These are very handy in situations where you are bereft of an electrical power source. However they do work very well. Just keep in mind that they have to be used on a sustained basis because of the way they function.
7. DIY eco home projects is technically complex
No, small home eco projects are not rocket science. It just requires a bit of common sense and a lot of research. Most of the information is available online and the materials too can be sourced very easily. True that in cases involving electricity and structure; you need technical knowledge for not so for the smaller ones.
By now, are you satisfied that it is worth it to green up your home? If so, what are you waiting for? Go and do your bit to save the planet!
About the author
Nadav Ziv is the co-founder of an apartment booking engine called TellaVista. It is a premium platform for tourists looking for a home away from home while on holiday.
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The post Busted: Popular Myths About Eco Homes appeared first on Environment News South Africa.