What’s New in Green Homes

Did you know?
As the interest in all things “green” increases, homeowners are constantly on the lookout for the latest in high-efficiency, eco-friendly, and natural ways to improve their homes.

High Efficiency
You’ve probably heard that compact fluorescent light bulbs last longer and use less energy than traditional bulbs. Other innovations will save you money and help the environment as well.

Water-conserving toilets can save you up to 50 % of your annual water bill, but they only cost about $300, which is comparable to other quality commodes.

Induction cooktops direct heat precisely at pots and pans, eliminating the wasted energy diffused by heated ranges.

UV-blocking windows keep hot air out of the house, thus cutting back on the need for air conditioning.

Eco-Friendly Materials
Copper roofs not only last longer—100 years versus traditional 30-year roofs—but no materials are wasted because unused portions can be recycled.

Reclaimed wood can be used for countertops, flooring, and furniture. Fast-growing plants like bamboo replace old, difficult to recover trees.

Likewise, timber framing not only creates less waste at the site than traditional two-by-four building, but harvesting and prefabricating it is far less messy than old wood products.

Using Natural Resources
From solar panels that provide energy to keep the (compact fluorescent) lights on to rainwater buckets that capture downpours to water gardens to geothermal heating and cooling systems that work with the earth as a heat exchanger, homeowners are finding alternate resources to power and maintain their homes.

Pollution-free Supplies
Nontoxic paint and formaldehyde-free insulation can help keep the air in your home, as well as that outside it, clean and safe.

Chemical-free lighting from LEDs (light emitting diodes) contain no mercury or ozone-depleting gasses. They also use 80% less energy than traditional bulbs and last up to 20 years.