A house somewhere in the vast rainforests of Costa Rica, in an area near the Nicoya Peninsula would be perfect for an energy efficient house. The country of Costa Rica is a popular destination for people who want to experience eco-tourism (Cordoba and Veshagh 59). There are a number of sustainable resorts in the area. This area would be perfect for an energy efficient house since the land has everything someone would need for sustainable living. Instead of disturbing the natural soil, the energy efficient house will move and flow with the land, preferably on a mountainside location, which is close to water. This way, the house will be able to benefit from all the natural resources around it, and it would not bother the wildlife around it. Instead, it can be incorporated in the land, and can actually serve as a sanctuary or preserve.
The material used to build the house will be only sustainable material that can be found in the natural environment. Things such as coconut lumber and bamboo wood will be used throughout the interior and exterior of the home. This type of material will be suitable for Costa Rican climate, since the weather all year round is more humid than usual. The ceilings will be high to allow for natural air circulation. The ceiling fans will run on wind and solar energy. This solar energy will be generated from mills and panels that will be strategically placed near the top of the mountain where the house will rest. About sixty or more percent of the electricity from the home will be run on solar and wind power. The rest will be from man-made electricity and hydro electricity.
The environment of the house will make it perfect for a hydroelectricity station near the home. This will collect rain water, have it run throughout the house, while using the water as energy. The water wastage used will flow on to the green roof of the house after going through three different filtration stages. This green roof will provide as insulation and is a great way for the home to be extra-eco friendly (Naguib and Hanafi 85). Only native plants and vegetation will be planted on the green roof so that minimal water is needed and it will not need maintenance. The energy from the water-flow will be used as hydroelectricity to run the rest of the needed appliances throughout the house.
The house would take up 3,000 square feet to fit four bedrooms, a study and a library. The kitchen will need a lot of space, although it will not be filled with appliances that require electricity all the time. The appliances that will be purchased for the house will run on low energy, approved with a high energy star rating. The lighting throughout the home will be run on LED lights, which take up very minimal electricity (Cordoba and Veshagh 59). The stove and water heating will be done with the use of solar electricity from panels just meters away from the house. Heated water will be stored under the house when not in use.
The eco friendly house will have a few extra features, such as a vegetable garden and a compost bin. All the material within the house will also be made from environmentally friendly textiles such as bamboo cotton.
Works Cited
Cordoba, Denis Boret, and Alireza Veshagh. "Managing Eco Design and Sustainable
Manufacturing." Re-engineering Manufacturing for Sustainability. Springer Singapore, 2013. 59-67.
Naguib, M. M., and M. A. M. Hanafi. "Exploring the Applications of Bio-Eco Architecture for
Sustainable Design and Construction process." European Journal of Sustainable
Development 2.4 (2013): 85-96.
