Thursday, 25 October 2012

Benefits of Steel Framing


Steel framing studs, which have been used to frame commercial buildings for generations, are now gaining in popularity in residential construction and are becoming available for use in homes at more affordable prices.

There are many benefits to utilizing steel framing in your new home:
  • Steel frames are stronger than wood frames.
    Steel is stronger than wood and more resistant to fire, earthquake and tornado damage, and can cost less to insure. Steel also does not rot, warp, crack, split or change with the weather and it is termite- and vermin-proof.

  • Steel-framed structures move less.
    Walls, floors and roofs consistently stay straight when built with steel framing. And, because the structure moves less than when wood framing is used, steel frames can reduce air leakage and energy costs.
  • Steel framing is environmentally friendly.
    Steel is the most environmentally friendly choice, as it saves trees, is non-toxic and creates 100-percent recyclable waste.

Monday, 15 October 2012

Why you Should Hire Green Home Builders?

There are various steps in building the ideal green home. It starts with creating a green home design that will be eco-friendly as well as beautiful. While designing the home the green home builders have to look at elements such as site, geography, water efficiency, materials and resources, energy and the quality of environment indoors. If you select a local builder having least experience in green homes then they will not be able to keep the following features in mind. Designing a green home requires the builders to keep all these components in mind and it is not as easy as it sounds.


You might have a basic knowledge about construction and have learned about green homes, but it always wise to take help from the professional green home builders. They will be able to provide sustainable designs and construction for your home. Some of the other benefits of hiring such professionals include:
  • They will design your home uniquely to meet the spatial requirements of the house better. They will also look to decrease the energy and water consumption in the homes.
  • The designs they create will minimize the harmful effects of your house on the surrounding environment and thus save nature.
  • The homes will be built using various green technologies, green building products (that are non-toxic), renewable energy systems (such as solar panels on the roof), and build energy efficient systems for your entire home that will go well with the site.
All these features can only be provided by green home builders having high expertise. These builders are a part of your green team. The choice of builder will decide how energy efficient and well designed your home is. Thus you should interview a number of builders before making a final choice. You should ask them pertinent questions regarding the materials and systems. The reputed green home builders will be able to suggest you best products and other energy efficient means to make your green home stand out from the rest. So make a wise choice and have a house to treasure. You will also save Mother Nature in more ways than one by constructing a green home

Architecture Home Designs


Architecture Home Designs can be said as a perfect combination of science and arts, which creates a defined space to meet your needs. Your home provides you that full space where you could have healthy environment and comfort. Every architectural design is a reflection of that particular time and age. The well-combined formation of science and art makes architecture more dynamic. Architecture is a profession which is inter connected with innovative ideas and creativity. There are so many architects who use their intellectuality but the main idea is that architecture is about the creative concept and ideas. If you are trying to find out that true meaning of architecture you will realized that it is all about having a soul design of structure. 

The best architectural home designs provide a comfort level to its owners. Your home is your dream and everyone has a desire to fill their dream house with beautiful colors. Here at DP architecture you will get a chance to décor your home with your hands. Our aim is to provide architectural home designs of unique concepts. We believe that if we listen our client's requirements then we can easily satisfy them, providing an excellent collection for modern and residential home designs. We have clientele who appreciate our refined and quality work and our designing work is basically all about the perfect combination of innovation and creativity.
 The exterior designs also have importance if we are talking about architectural home designs; a proper functionality of exteriors highlights your interior designs. These architectural home designs and drawings must show all dimensions in a proper way and must also contain a proper scale. Architectures really got a wonderful chance to put creativity of their own, as much as they are innovative. Architectural home designs also give a chance to see the creative aspect of a designer, how well he is executing his concepts in to reality.

IMARAT architecture provides architectural design service; a good architect is expected to cooperative closely within a wide range of professionals, it is important to provide the best service to clients and partners.

 

Friday, 12 October 2012

Eco-Friendly Means

 What Does Eco-Friendly Mean?

In recent years, terms like "going green" and "eco-friendly" have become buzz words on talk shows, commercials and product packaging. The term "eco-friendly" has been used for so many different products and practices, its meaning is in danger of being lost. By understanding the true meaning of eco-friendly, you can implement the practices that will lead to healthier living for the planet and its inhabitants, big and small.

Definition

Eco-friendly literally means earth-friendly or not harmful to the environment (see References 1). This term most commonly refers to products that contribute to green living or practices that help conserve resources like water and energy. Eco-friendly products also prevent contributions to air, water and land pollution. You can engage in eco-friendly habits or practices by being more conscious of how you use resources.

Product Qualifications

Making a truly eco-friendly product keeps both environmental and human safety in mind. At a minimum, the product is non-toxic. Other eco-friendly attributes include the use of sustainably grown or raised ingredients, produced in ways that do not deplete the ecosystem. Organic ingredients or materials are grown without toxic pesticides or herbicides. Products with "made from recycled materials" contain glass, wood, metal or plastic reclaimed from waste products and made into something new. Biodegradable products break down through natural decomposition, which is less taxing on landfills and the ecosystem as a whole. (See References 3)

Practice Examples

You can develop eco-friendly habits to help you use less and make the most of what you have. Turn off lights in empty rooms and use a programmable thermostat so you're only heating or cooling your home when it's occupied (see References 2). Businesses can also institute such practices, in addition to bigger initiatives, such as company-wide recycling programs to conserve natural resources and telecommuting for employees, which decreases air pollution and fuel consumption by eliminating daily travel to work.

Greenwashing

Companies sometimes label their products "eco-friendly" or "environmentally friendly" without them truly being so. Called "greenwashing," marketing campaigns perpetuate this practice, aimed at helping companies increase their product sales by appealing to ecologically conscious buyers. To avoid purchasing "greenwashed" products

Eco-Friendly Flooring Products

Eco-Friendly Flooring Products

Make a green choice for your home by choosing eco-friendly options.

Recycled Products

Consider installing reclaimed flooring. Environmentally friendly, recycled materials are often of better quality than new materials, and use less energy. For example, in 2010, researchers calculated that producing new wood flooring consumed 13 times the energy used in reclaiming wood floors (See References 3, page 8).

Wood

Wood is a renewable resource; it is the practices foresters use to produce the wood that determines its eco-friendliness, however. Forest certification programs oversee sustainable forest management; some provide databases of retailers that sell products they certify, including flooring (see References 4).

Cork

Cork parquet flooring, according to a 2009 study using the National Institute of Standards and Technology's Building for Energy and Environmental Sustainability life-cycle assessment process, was the flooring product with the least environmental impact (see References 5, page 4). Made from recycled cork waste, this flooring has a lifespan of up to 50 years (see References 5, page 3).

Linoleum

Natural linoleum, made from renewable materials such as wood flour and linseed oil, is biodegradable and nontoxic, and requires almost no maintenance. It will last up to 30 years. In the BEES analysis, linoleum was second to cork parquet in environmental impact. (See References 5, page 3 through 9).

Bamboo

Bamboo is a hardwood-like grass; growers produce species used for flooring in three to six years, without the need for much fertilizer or pesticide. Many of the flooring products made with bamboo, however, use potentially toxic and polluting chemicals in their manufacture and are shipped long distances. Forest certification is now available for some bamboo flooring products. (See References 4 and 6)

Considerations

All bio-based, certified flooring choices are eco-friendly. Factors such as local availability, cost and maintenance requirements determine which materials are best. Note that researchers using the BEES analysis found carpet, particularly wool carpet, to have the greatest environmental impact. (References 5, page 8)

 

 

Eco-Friendly Homes



Eco-friendly building incorporates a wide variety of concepts and strategies during the design and construction process. Eco-friendly materials, a vital component of sustainable building, come from renewable rather than nonrenewable resources. Such materials enhance the health and efficiency of homes, but they also promote conservation of dwindling nonrenewable resources worldwide and reduce the overall impact associated with resource extraction, including transportation, processing, fabrication and disposal of materials. (See References 1.)

Advantages

Homeowners reap many benefits from eco-friendly building materials. Some of these advantages include reduced maintenance and replacement costs over the life of the home, increased energy efficiency and utility bill savings, improved personal health of home occupants and greater design flexibility. (See References 1.)

Resource Efficiency

All eco-friendly building materials have resource efficiency in common, a criteria they meet in a number of ways. Materials may contain postconsumer or postindustrial recycled content, or they may be easy to recycle at the end of their useful life. Others are harvested from sustainably managed sources, often certified by third-party verification. Some materials are locally harvested, saving money and resources related to transportation. Others are salvaged, refurbished or remanufactured. (See References 1.)

Indoor Air Quality

Eco-friendly building materials enhance the interior air quality of a home by meeting one or more criteria. They can be low in toxins, including carcinogens and reproductive toxins, as proven by product testing. They may emit minimal levels of volatile organic compounds (VOCs). Some do not promote moisture or the growth of biological contaminants such as mold. A final criteria qualifying materials as eco-friendly is that they require cleaning with only natural, nontoxic cleaning products. (See References 1.)

Eco-Friendly Product Assurance

To ensure that products are eco-friendly, look for labels certifying that the materials have been tested and meet specific standards. Investigate individual certification companies to determine their methods and requirements. A few certification programs include Energy Star, Green Guard, Green Seal, Green Label Plus and Scientific Certification Systems (SCS) (see References 2). Additionally, the U.S. Green Building Council's "Green Home Guide" offers information, guidance and recommendations for eco-home building products and on finding professionals (see Resources 1).

Monday, 8 October 2012

Design


natural homes

Construction of Home is always a complex task whether it is in planning phase or execution phase. At the time of the house construction there are many steps to be followed such as preparation of architectural drawings, structural drawings and obtaining approvals from concerned authorities etc.
In most of the cases of home construction projects, the money runs out before the home is completed.  This happens because the home owners do not have a stage by stage cost estimate, idea of building materials, knowledge of technical aspects etc.
Home owners must know the ways or techniques where they can save unnecessary cost while construction of their home. No one wants to pay more than necessary when building a home. These techniques apply in both the scenarios whether you construct a house in your own guidance or supervision or you have assigned a contractor to do the job.
Imarat shares various techniques or tips to save the cost of construction which keep your building budget within reason, without compromising on the home you want. These techniques includes complete schedule of construction, Detailed Bill of Quantity, Building Material Selection, Proper Planning of Architecture and Construction, Interior Designing, finishing etc.