Going Green

Why Green Homes Make Sense

The market for environmentally-friendly homes is booming. Builders and homeowners alike have recognized that building green is healthier for people and easier on the environment. According to the National Association of Home Builders, half of those considering buying a new home, or remodeling their existing home, intend to incorporate green products into their plans. The numbers are even higher in the West, which has become an international leader in the green building movement.

What exactly is a green home?
Building green covers a series of environmental practices that:

  • conserve soil and water
  • save energy
  • increase indoor air quality and health
  • help preserve the environment

What Are the Benefits of Building Green?

A healthier home
The average American spends 90 percent of their time indoors, and most of that is at home. By using natural and low-toxic materials, green practices create healthier indoor air. Sealing air leaks and improving ventilation helps control dust and keeps pollen and pollutants from entering your home—a big plus for those with allergies or asthma.

A healthier planet
Going green is easier on the environment. Reducing household energy demand lessens air pollution from power plants. Using sustainable building materials helps preserve our natural resources. Green landscaping saves water and reduces chemicals.

A healthier pocketbook
The savings from an energy-efficient home add up fast. A model green-built home in Portland, Oregon reduced the homeowner’s energy bills by 42 percent for heating and 50 percent for cooling compared with a typical home. Residents of Village Green, an energy-efficient development in California, pay an average of $20 per month in utility bills, compared to the average bill of $200 for their neighbors across the street.

Greater resale value
Buyers see the cost benefits of a green home as a big benefit. The Appraisal Journal studied the resale value of homes with energy-saving features and found an average $20.73 increase in resale value for every $1.00 in annual energy cost savings.

How to give your home a green tune-up
There are a number of steps, both large and small, that you can take to create a home that’s healthy, saves money and is easy on the environment. Here are a few ideas to get you started.

Get smart about heating and cooling
Half of an average household’s energy budget goes to heating and cooling, so it’s a great way to pick up extra savings. Air conditioners and furnaces with an Energy Star© label are much more efficient than standard models. And the newer systems not only keep your home at a comfortable temperature, they also regulate the intake of fresh air and remove stale air and allergens from the home. Landscaping can even be used as a natural cooling system. Planting a shade tree on the west or south side of your house can reduce the energy used to cool a home as much as 25 percent.

Be water wise
There are many low-cost products you can easily install to cut water consumption. Low-flow faucets, shower-heads and toilets can reduce water usage by 40 percent. If your washing machine is more than ten years old, you can save over $100 a year on your utility bill by switching to an efficient model.

Install energy-efficient lighting
A standard incandescent light bulb uses only 10 percent of its power to produce light—the remaining 90 percent is used to produce heat, all wasted energy. Compact fluorescent light bulbs use half the energy and last 10 times longer than standard bulbs. Those energy savings also cut down on pollution from power-generating plants.

Make your garden greener
Consider drought-tolerant native plants, which require less water and are more resistant to pests and disease. Hardy groundcover plants or pavers can be used as an alternative to water-thirsty lawns. There are also varieties of grass that thrive with less water—look for grass seed mixes labeled “low-mow” and “no-mow.” Help keep our water systems clean by steering clear of garden chemicals and pesticides.

Go with natural materials
Using natural, sustainable materials saves environmental resources and creates a much healthier home. Hardwood flooring labeled “certified sustainable hardwood” has been harvested according to strict environmental standards. Bamboo flooring is an attractive, durable option, and since it grows so quickly it is readily renewable. Linoleum, made from linseed oil, pine resin and wood flour, is a healthier, natural alternative to vinyl flooring. Wool is a great choice for carpeting. It comes from renewable resources and is more durable than synthetics. Many paints, finishes, adhesives and carpets contain solvents called volatile organic compounds. The VOCs are released into the air and can cause headaches and nausea, and may aggravate asthma and allergies. To avoid these problems, look for products that are low to non-toxic or labeled “low VOC.”

Join the Green Revolution
There is an abundance of information on this topic. Here are a couple online resources that can help.


Energy Efficient Rehab Advisor
Enter where you live and the age of your home and find out how energy efficient, and how much money you can save. www.rehabadvisor.pathnet.org


Green Home Remodeling
Detailed, easy-to-follow guides on making every part of your home greener. www.ci.seattle.wa.us/sustainablebuilding/greenhome.htm