Going Green in Housing.

The word “Green” has become a hot topic or buzz word in housing in the past few years. It is also an often misunderstood concept that is sometimes interpreted as merely being energy efficient. While “green” does refer to energy efficiency, there is much more to it.

The concept behind a green home is conserving resources. It’s an easy concept, with a variety of ways to implement it. And it does not just apply to a new home or condo.

Here are some ways to be green in a typical existing single-family home:

• Replace incandescent light bulbs with high-efficiency compact fluorescent bulbs.
• Replace kitchen appliances with Energy Star rated ones.
• Plant drought resistant grass and plants appropriate to our climate.
• Install programmable thermostats that automatically regulate temperature.
• Replace heating or cooling systems with new energy efficient ones.
• Use window coverings to block the sun to keep the interior of the home cooler.
• Install an attic fan that uses fresh air to cool the home.
• Reduce drafts with caulking and insulating.

Here are examples of green features to look for in a new home construction:

• Energy Star ratings designating that the home is designed for energy efficiency.
• The home is positioned on the lot to take advantage of the sun’s warmth (passive solar energy).
• Recycled materials in its construction (this can be anything from siding to stone to old doors).
• Low maintenance finishes with long service lives.
• Low volatile organic compounds (VOC) paints and finishes, which release fewer contaminants into the air.
• Composite products used instead of traditional wood.
• Sealed combustion heating systems which draw air from the outside and stop air infiltration. Some new systems are about 96% more efficient than older units.
• Drought resistant plants and shade trees so less watering is needed.

These are just a few examples of what it means to be “green” in residential housing. There are a lot of things that all of us can do. While some of these may seem small, the implications of many people doing them are simply enormous. Everybody needs to learn to live on this planet in a more sustainable environmentally friendly manner.