Green is often less expensive when all things are considered. Sustainable buildings often seem more expensive than conventional buildings.
There are many building materials which make houses more durable and easier to heat and cool, aren't actually cheap. Some of the complicated systems that allow a certain amount of energy independence, are pricey. For example, solar and photo voltaic hot water panels.
As per the common thinking, it costs more to spray 8 inches of polyurethane foam in the roof than it would cost to install fiberglass bats. But, here is the reality, example: The decision to upgrade from double-pane to triple-pane windows. The windows will add thousands of dollars to the construction cost.
However, they eliminate the need for a warm air register in front of each window, and the savings in labor and duct installation could offset the additional cost of the window. In addition, the lower heating load means the size of the furnace can be downgrades. This would hence result in lower cost of construction.
Spending more money for more durable materials is cheaper in a long run because they wont have to be replaced as often. Considering the life cycle costs, rather than focusing solely on initial costs.
As long as the basics of green buildings are there, the house can be upgraded over time.
The blog is related to travelling through which architecture is been inspired and accomplished with a new vision. The places which I have been visiting till now and the process through which I have developed myself as an Architect, I have always been associated with blogging as a tool to communicate through my thoughts with the world.
3 Comments
It's a loaded question. Depends how you are achieving "green", and what you are considering "green."
I would say that if passive systems are used to achieve the majority of the savings then it shouldn't cost more. If you rely on gadgets then the savings and benefits dwindle.
The goal of anyone interested in this should be incorporating proper solar orientation into building code. It would save lots more energy than slapping solar panels on the random house.
Reduced scale saves energy AND resources.
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