Why aren't we building environmentally friendly homes?

Question

The technology is out there, how come we are not building wheelchair accessible, environmentally friendly homes? In the Plains states air conditioners and natural gas furnaces are the biggest energy consumers in the home. With all the new solar technology and water to air heat pumps, how come more environmentally friendly homes aren't being built? Can't the average American afford such a home? I know that installing a loop system that utilizes the earth as a heat sink can cost several thousand dollars.

Answer 1

Hi lilkeemd,

USA government doesn't believe in global warming.

I hardly want to be a cave dweller.  But take a good LQQk at the expense to some of these homes-soalr paneling, wind tunnels(for power). If you got the dollars come get me & I'll help you build one or two.

I do however recycle, have engery lights, walks rather than drive my car when necessary, have organic garden.

Have a good night. :0)

Answer 2

As said by another guy environmentally friendly homes are expensive, though they are a good investment. Besides people who already live in non environmentally friendly homes will not cough up the cash to turn their houses into e-friendly homes because as i said its expensive.

Answer 3

People ARE building more environmentally friendly homes...in fact some people, like my husband and I are building our own.

We concidered rammed earth, but have settled on straw bale, for speed of construction.

Here's a better question for you.  Why are insurance companies still reluctant to insure a straw bale home, even though its 100's of time less flamable than normal construction.  Why do rammed earth houses have trouble getting insurance, when they CANNOT burn?  

Why don't mortgage companies care to finance construction of such homes, especially when the resale value of the homes can be tremendous.

Why don't we enact laws that new construction houses need to have solar and/or wind power built right into the house?  Houses that are built with swimming pool should have to produce ALL of the power used by the pool, plus some for the house.

In many places heat sinks cannot be constructed.  Too many rocks (lava can extend for miles around here), permafrost, too sandy, or soil too damp.

There's another problem I've noticed with environmentally friendly houses.  People often feel comfortable with a power bill of a certain amount.  They move into an energy efficient home, and just add more electronics, until the power bill it at the same level it was before.  It's odd, but I've noticed this seems to happen over and over again.

~Garnet

Homesteading/Farming over 20 years

P.S. Please do not single out the Plains states...we need conservation everywhere.  And for the person that posted about homes with an R value of 2000 (two thousand!!) I cannot believe that.  Straw bale construction with walls about 1 1/2 feet thick has an R value of 56.  The average home only has R13.  R2000?  I don't think so.  If you built a straw bale house to have R2000 it would have walls over 35 feet thick.  If you know something the rest of us do not know, then post a link.

Answer 4

First, many builders ARE building "green" technology homes.  Second, you hinted at the reason not everyone builds that way.  Initial costs are higher than traditionaly designed structures.  Saving pennies on energy costs means that a homeowner will not realize his energy savings potential until years down the line.  Meanwhile, he has to come up with money out of pocket to get into such a home in the first place.

Finally, why should all homes require wheelchair access?  If that were required, there would be no second story or split level homes, nor homes built on hillsides, or above garages.  These newer options should open up design opportunities, not restrict them.

Answer 5

Because homes tend to be homebodies. They are not very friendly nor outgoing. Motorhomes get out more.

Answer 6

Lots of people are building energy efficient and environmentally friendly homes.  Canada has an R-2000 standard for construction of energy efficient homes.  The standard is used to develop an airtight envelope around the house and control heat loss that way.  Though the construction cost is about 10% more expensive it does pay itself off in energy savings over the life of the building.

The actor Ed Begley has done a few tours of his energy efficient home on TV.  Randy Bachman, lead singer of BTO has an earth home (constructed from compacted earth) that is spectacular.  But even average people can buy an R-2000 home.

It is happening, even if you aren't aware of it.

Answer 7

The simplest answer is that modern man does not want to live in a cave!!  

An underground home is the most energy conserving home available, but the view is usually terrible.