Your ideas for building and decorating Eco-friendly?

Question

Tell me your answers of what you have done or would do have a more Eco-friendly home and how would you decorate it? Please use as much detail as possible and try to use ideas you know are Eco-friendly. Like no Excessive lighting and hundreds of windows.

Answer 1

Great idea!! I think the best building material is stone. It doesn't need paint. It's termite proof, and don't create the need for pesticides needed to get rid of termites. It stands up to wind, and storms better. It insulates better, and with added inside insulation it"s even more energy efficient. The wall facing to the north could be all glass, and would let in direct sunlight, and would make you home look spectacular. You could make this wall of a combination of glass bricks and window glass. You could even put led lights (uses less electricity) under you glass wall , illuminating it. Sky lights in the ceiling that are deep, let's in less direct sunlight, unless you actually want more of it, depending on where you live. Have you ever heard of sky lights made with angel light? It filters out the sunlight, and prevents heat from being emitted through those sky lights during summer months, when you are looking to keep the interior of your home cool.

Answer 2

Go Here:

http://www.builtgreen.org/

Answer 3

see www.cat.org.uk, preferably pay them a visit.
Also Ben Law's woodland house http://www.off-grid.net/index.php?p=443 & http://www.permaculture.co.uk/info/Grand_Designs.html is a shining example, although not all of us have his opportunity.

simple things like clay based paint, lime plaster ...
but also consider the context of the building look for the book "a pattern language".

There is no one best solution, a good starting point is the local vernacular, especially pre-cheap energy & the industrial revolution. our ancestors solved many of the environmental issues we faced today.