Green Your Home and Save!
Why go green?
Better health - greater comfort - lower utility bills - less maintenance - lasting value
Some interesting facts…
-Residential properties are responsible for 21% of the nation’s carbon dioxide emissions.
-Residential properties built to U.S. Green Building Council standards usually save people 30-50% on their energy bills!
What makes a home green?
Energy efficiency
-CFLs (compact flourescent lightbulbs)
-Ducts in properly insulated areas
-Solar screens, window film, and Low-E glass
Indoor Air Quality
-Sustainable flooring: concrete, wood, tile
Water safety and efficiency
-Low flow toilets and shower faucets
-Rainwater harvesting
-Xeriscaping
Renewable/recycled and durable materials
-Recycled, non-toxic insulation materials
-Cement products with new technologies such as Flex-Crete which uses non-toxic fly ash (a byproduct of coal plants)
Proximity to community resources
-Access to public transportation, grocery, etc.
Using nature to our advantage
-Placing vertical opening windows to take advantage of SE tradewinds
-Special roof features to shade high-sun areas of the home
Where do I start?
A good place to start is your local energy program websites. You will be able to read about many ways to save with rebates, loans, and also just the simple things you can do around the home. Check it out - you will be surprised by just how many resources are there. You can also visit our ‘Green Links’ page for other going green resources.
