Green Homes Carrie Harmon

How are Green Homes Different from Other Homes? Solar Panels Wind Mills Energy Star Appliances High Efficiency,Appliances Energy Efficient Windows Energy Efficient Air Conditioning Energy Efficient Lighting —Compact Fluorescent Lights , modern dimmer switches, and occupancy sensor light switches can be set to automatically turn off lights in an empty room. Certified Wood from Sustainable Forests — Using building materials from forests that are actively being renewed. Blown-in Cellulose Wall Insulation Fresh Air Ventilation System –improve Indoor Air Quality by pumping fresh, filtered air in and vents out carbon dioxide and carbon monoxide. Satellite Controlled Sprinkler Systems —only turns the sprinklers on as needed

Do Green Homes Cost More? According to an article in “Money Magazine” on Eco-Friendly home costs: “If you were to build a house as green as you possibly could, it might cost you 20 percent to 30 percent more than traditional construction. But that would imply an extreme sense of environmental duty.” and one prominent builder in the article stated, “Most of our projects cost between 2 percent and 4 percent more than standard construction“.

How Much Energy Do Green Homes Use? The U.S. Department of Energy reports that in 2008, Americans saved over $19 billion by employing energy saving measures and investing in energy efficient homes.

What Features Do “Normal” Houses Have? According to ReMax real estate company, some of the regular features people can choose from on most homes are: Central or window air conditioning Gas or electric heat Single, double, or triple-paned windows Brick, aluminum sided, wood, or vinyl siding exterior house finishes Choice of decks, garages, security systems, basements, and room types

What Things Are A Part Of Green Homes? Plantation-grown timbers and recyclable building materials. Paints with low volatile organic compounds. Passive solar energy where possible Using a tank to collect rainwater for irrigation and flushing the toilet, and installing systems to recycle waste water. Passive design for ventilation and cooling. Permeable paving of driveways

What Things Are A Part Of Green Homes? Different toilet designs, including composting toilets. Integration of the buildings with the site to maximize sunlight. Rainwater collection for household and garden use, and on-site storm water and waste water treatment where possible. Solar water heaters to provide the bulk of hot water needs. Clustering of buildings with productive landscaping and organic gardening principles.

Some Easy Ways to Make YOUR Home Greener! Do a “home energy audit” on your home You can hire professional or do it yourself check your home for air leaks, places that need insulation, and appliances that are not energy efficient Seal up drafts around doors and windows Get energy efficient windows Upgrade or thicken your home’s insulation

Some Easy Ways to Make YOUR Home Greener! Eco-friendly lawn Electric lawn mower rather than a gas powered one. Organic fertilizer Eco-friendly landscaping Stones that water can seep through Native plants Use appliances like tankless water heaters, or energy efficient brands of ovens, refrigerators, washers, dryers, and “smart thermostats.

How Much Would It Cost To Make Green Improvements to Your Home? Solar Panels: According to the website Love to Know: Green Living a “ballpark estimate for the cost of materials is between five and ten dollars per watt of energy that your solar panels create.” Solar Water Heating Systems: anywhere from $1,500 to $3000 average Insulation: According to Homewyse it costs an average of $0.79 per square foot of your house to update insulation (regular insulation, not blown-in insulation) Energy Efficient Appliances: Washers, dryers, refrigerators, etc. cost a bit more but supposedly save you money also.

Resources http://home.howstuffworks.com/home-improvement/construction/green/10-eco-friendly-construction-options-any-budget.htm#page=5 dudesustainable.com (eco-home diagram) http://homeguides.sfgate.com/much-less-bills-ecofriendly-homes-78755.html http://money.cnn.com/magazines/moneymag/moneymag_archive/2007/01/01/8397399/ http://www.kingstonhouses.com/pdfs/homefeatures.pdf http://www.consumerbuild.org.nz/publish/materials/materials-green.php http://www.homewyse.com/services/cost_to_insulate_your_home.html http://www.energystar.gov/buildings/facility-owners-and-managers/existing-buildings/save-energy/purchase-energy-saving-products