Along with the solar design, there will be questions about insulation. Insulation is important to a green home. You want to conserve every bit of energy possible. That is one of the points of having a green home, right? In order to conserve energy, most homes are insulated with fiberglass insulation, which is not a green choice. Instead green homes are often insulated with natural products like hay bales or volcanic rock. You will need to become educated about the properties of different insulators in order to make the right choice for you and your family.
You will not only need to think about how to heat your home but also how to cool it. The landscaping of green homes is typically included in the blueprints for the home. Big shade trees, strategically placed, will help keep your home cool. Another option to cool your home naturally is to build into a south-facing hillside and use the cover of the land to shade your home. All portions of the house that are underground will benefit from the naturally invariant (and cool) temperatures found underground. If you do use underground placement, you will need to make sure those areas are well insulated because heat will be conducted out at those points.
The water and plumbing system will be another important part of your green home. You should decide if you want to use regular or composting toilets. Composting toilets conserve a great deal of water but require more maintenance than regular toilets. You can use low capacity toilets rather than composting toilets for a happy medium. Placing flow restrictors in showerheads and faucets is a typical technique for reducing the amount of water used.
Grey water systems are becoming more popular in green homes. Grey water recycles the water used in your home. Bathwater, sink water, and water from the washing machine can all be diverted and used to take car of the outside watering needs. These systems are inexpensive to install and greatly reduce the amount of water consumed. If you do use a grey water system you will need to use environment friendly soap since you will be pumping it directly into the environment.
There are plenty of web sites and books dedicated to building green homes. Do your research before beginning the building process. Find a good green builder who has plenty of experience. You will reap the rewards of your green home for years to come.