If you’ve decided to build a new home, then one of the things you should consider is the environment around you. To reduce your environmental footprint, think about incorporating some green building ideas, such as active daylighting, into your home design.

Source: Wikipedia.com

Active daylighting occurs when a mechanical device collects sunlight in order to increase the efficiency of your home’s light collection. Active daylighting systems are different than passive daylighting systems in that they actively track the sun’s light instead of remaining stationary.

There are two types of active daylighting systems: closed loop and open loop. Closed loop systems use sensors that are directed at the sun. The sensors will pick up on when the sun begins to move whenever they are hit by shade, thereby allowing them to track with the sun. Open looped systems use sensors, but not to track the sun’s movement. Instead, the use a motorized system that is pre-programmed to follow the sun’s path.

Make your home more efficient by implementing an active daylighting system, whether it’s a closed loop system or an open loop system. Find out how you can implement green building techniques into your home design by contacting Trilogy Partners today.

The bathroom can be one of the least eco-friendly spaces of your home if you’re not careful. Just think about how much water and energy is wasted in the bathroom everyday – not to mention the materials used in the design of the bathroom. If you’re looking to design a more eco-friendly bathroom, then consider some of the following bathroom remodeling tips:

via Houzz

When remodeling your bathroom, try to use materials that are eco-friendly. For example, using local materials, such as stone, instead of ordering materials from far way. Materials that are shipped to you have to be transported, which means that you are contributing to the use of gas and the release of exhaust. You may also want to think about using recycled materials – you can find some beautiful wood to repurpose for your vanity, for example.

Don’t forget about your fixtures either. Look for low-flow faucets and dual flush toilets. These fixtures help to reduce the amount of water that is used without sacrificing performance.

Consider some of these eco-friendly bathroom remodeling tips. Be sure to contact us at Trilogy Builds today for more information and advice concerning eco-friendly bathroom design and green building in general.

If you are in the process of designing a home, then you should consider incorporating green building features. Not only will green building features provide you with a way to reduce your environmental footprint, you’ll be saving money on your energy bills. The following are some green building trends you should be aware of:

• Zero-net energy – Green home building has already hit the mainstream. Now, many owners and developers are going a step further by attempting to accomplish zero net energy on an annual basis.
• More competition against LEED – LEED certification is somewhat complex and can be costly, which has led to direct competition from other rating systems, such as Green Building Initiative’s Green Globes rating system.
• Use of solar power will grow – The use of solar power will grow in popularity, which will lead to more third-party financing offerings to take advantage of.

These are just a few of the green building trends to be aware of. It seems as though green building is the future of home building, which means you should plan for a green building design now. For more information about green building, be sure to contact us at Trilogy Builds today.

When designing their new home, homeowners are increasingly demanding the integration of environmentally conscious products into their home construction. Sustainability is a desired feature, because not only do they add beauty, they reduce a home’s carbon footprint. When it comes to your home’s design, consider some of these green home features:

Solar Panels: Solar panel popularity is multi-faceted: Solar power installation can save you money, increase the value of your property and be a great investment that also helps the environment.

Flooring: When choosing your flooring, opt for natural, renewable, or recycled flooring sources. For example, bamboo flooring is a grass which, unlike trees, can be harvested every five years. Another option is floor panels. Look for floor panels which conform to the Sustainable Forestry Initiative Standard, which promotes responsible forestland management in North America.

Cabinetry: Green cabinetry that is certified by the KCMA environmental stewardship program assures you that stringent requirements for process resource management, air quality, community relations, and environmental stewardship have been met.

For more ideas about building a greener home, contact us at Trilogy Partners.

Trilogy Partners possesses both the skill and the experience needed to build you your dream home. However, having a home built is a significant commitment of resources, which is why we recommend green home building practices. Not only is it good for the environment, it’s also good for your wallet.

Consider these financial benefits of living in a green home:

• Green homes are built to be energy-efficient, meaning that they can either be heated or cooled using the least amount of energy possible while still maintaining a comfortable living space. Although the savings may not seem impressive to homeowners in the short run, they can build up to big sums over time.

• Similarly, green homes show the same efficiency when it comes to the usage of water both indoors and outdoors. This results in similar savings when it comes to water bills.

• Green homes are predicted to become more and more popular over time. At the moment, 60 percent of consumers show interest in green home amenities, which has translated to a 9 percent increase in value for homes with some kind of green certification in places like California.

Please contact us to speak about other green home benefits.

Being eco-friendly is getting easier every day as green experts come up with new ways to be green. One important way to go green is the green driveway.

How does it work?

You may be wondering how a driveway can be green, but if you have a concrete or asphalt driveway then much of the rainfall you get will run through your driveway, picking up pollutants. This water makes its way back into rivers and other large bodies of water. A green driveway, however, will often be made of non-pollutant materials, and reduce water run-off

How do I make it happen?

The best way to incorporate green ideas into your driveway is to use a sustainable drainage system, or SuDS. Here are a couple ways to do that.

• Open-cell pavers. These are lattices of concrete. Grass is planted in the holes of the lattice. Multiple layers of clean stone go under the pavers in order to support vehicles.
• Gravel. Gravel is often a good solution as well, though it requires a plastic underlay to maximize ground absorption.

Have questions about how to incorporate green ideas into your driveway? Get in touch with us online.

We’re committed to helping our clients develop a style that includes as many green home design elements as possible. Some things are simply good old-fashioned common sense, like turning off lights when leaving a room and taking advantage of natural lighting. The mantra “reduce, reuse, recycle” is perfect for reminding us to lighten our carbon footsteps on our fragile earth.

Get creative with decorating by visiting flea markets and antique shops to look at old objects with a new eye to their purpose. Old glass bottles can turn into unique tiles, scrap metal can be re-purposed into wall panels for an industrial vibe, weathered wood can become flooring or a tabletop depending on your needs.

Conserving water is especially necessary these days. Using rain chains and barrels to divert and store rainwater for use later in the home and garden is a good way to conserve resources. Bring the green inside, as plants are natural air purifiers and make a lush background in your home. You can also save money at the grocery store by planting an indoor herb garden and growing veggies in window boxes.

Trilogy’s integrated design and build process makes living green in Colorado a sustainable lifestyle. Contact us for more information.

Too many people like to think of the outdoors and indoors as mutually exclusive and it really needn’t be this way. There is so much you can do with green home design when creating the ideal living space. What goes into building the ideal home then, and how can you make the most of both the external and internal?

Source: Trilogy Partners’ Facebook Page

• Cross-ventilation can help to create the perfect atmosphere on a hot sunny day outside. Keeping the temperature at an acceptable standard is imperative and this also works when considering fireplaces for the cooler days.

• Embrace the outdoors with large sliding glass doors to really accentuate the space. This will allow the blend between the two to be far more seamless.

• Having a breeze is important as this will allow the air to be far fresher than it would be otherwise.

• Architecture is helpful to keep in mind as you make the most of the space as it transitions from one to the other. This also goes for such elements as foliage too.

There’s plenty more ways to fully utilize the external and the internal with green home design. For further information contact an expert at Trilogy Partners to see how they can help you.