WHAT IS A “GREEN HOME” 

The U.S. Green Building Council defines a “Green Home” as one that: 

• Uses less energy
• Uses less water
• Creates less waste
• Uses fewer natural resources in construction
• Has better indoor air quality. 

WHY “GO GREEN” 

The benefits of a “Green Home” are lower energy and water bills, less exposure to mold, mildew and other toxins, and reduced greenhouse gas emissions. 

The cost of owning a “Green Home” is comparable to a traditional home because the expense of installing “Green Features” balances out with the savings from operating the energy-efficient products. According to the National Association of Home Builders’ remodeling division, $230 billion was spent in 2006 remodeling homes, with a large amount of that going towards eco-friendly features. More than 25% of remodelers said consumers wanted environmentally friendly upgrades in 2006, compared to 6% in 2005. 

HOW TO “GO GREEN” 

There are several “Green Features” that consumers can consider while doing some routine updates to their home: 

• ENERGY STAR APPLIANCES
Energy Star rated products such as refrigerators, dishwashers and vent fans have advanced technology that use 10%-15% less energy and water than traditional ones. 

• ENERGY STAR WINDOWS
Energy Star windows help to keep heat inside during the winter months and outside during the summer months thereby reducing energy bills. 

• COMPACT FLOURESCENT LIGHT BULBS
CFL’s use 70% less energy than regular light bulbs and can save $30 or more in energy costs over the CFL’s lifetime. 

• TOILETS
On average, flushing toilets account for 30% of water use in the average home. New efficient toilets can reduce the water use by up to 25% using redesigned bowls tanks that use less water and function more efficiently. 

• TANKLESS WATER HEATERS
Tankless water heaters provide hot water on demand at preset temperatures rather than store it. Replacing an electric water heater with a solar model can reduce costs by up to 80% a year and carbon dioxide emissions. 

• INSULATION
Increasing the R-value and amount of insulation will help reduce heating and cooling bills, which account for at least half of the energy used in the home. 

• FLOORING
Eco-friendly flooring is affordable and stylish. Bamboo, eucalyptus, and cork are great alternatives to traditional hardwoods as they mature in half the time. 

READY TO “GO GREEN” 

Once you are ready to “Go Green” talk to other homeowners about what “green features” they have implemented and what their results are. Also, contact a local or regional green building group. They can connect you to environmental architects and builders and inform you about different techniques and tax credits for your area. Ask your contractor about the criteria they follow and compare them to the National Association of Home Builders’ guidelines. The NAHB covers everything from lot preparation to water conservation. 

Environmental-impact calculators give different results using methods based on different forms of emmissions. Using these websites to calculate emissions will yield different numbers but they will give you an overall sense of your own carbon footprint. 

WHERE TO GO FOR MORE INFORMATION 

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