Realty Viewpoint: It Doesn't Take That Much Green To Go Green

Greenbuilding is going to be part of our homes and businesses from now on. We all want to help the environment, but what can the individual homeowner do that will make a difference? The answer is plenty, and it doesn't have to cost you a lot of green to go green.

Whether you are remodeling, building a new home, or simply staying put, you can learn how to choose green by visiting a few websites.

Buy Green -- EnergyStar.gov

Start with EnergyStar.gov, a public service from the U.S. Department of Energy and The Environmental Protection Agency.

This site shows consumers how to buy green.

Since you have to replace lightbulbs once in a while, stop buying incandescent lightbulbs and go for the new compact fluorescent lightbulbs. They're about four to five times as expensive, but the savings is enormous -- about $30 in energy costs over the life of the bulb. They also put out 75 percent less heat, so that might save you even more money on your air conditioning this summer.

EnergyStar also rates appliances. Those that meet approval can save consumers as much as $80 a year in operating costs because they use 10 to 50 percent less energy and water.

To see what's hot in kitchens, baths and fixtures, go to CapitalDistributing.com. Senior designer Helene Terry suggests that if you're going to spend money on a single appliance, make it a good front-loading washing machine. "Your clothes come out cleaner and you'll find your drying time is cut to a fraction," she says.

Remodel Green -- CapitalDistributing.com

To update your home, you can go green with products that save you money without sacrificing style.

Wood products for cabinets and floors are in demand, but designers are turning to harvested woods that quickly regenerate themselves like Lyptus or Bamboo, so they're less expensive than oak hardwoods. Reconstituted Engineered Veneers made from poplar trees are imprinted with CAD technologis to look like exotic Zebrawood or Ebony and laminated for long wear.

Granite countertops are still fashionable, but they aren't environmentally friendly. Think of all the gas that's burned transporting them from place to place. What's de rigueur today is engineered stone, made of particles of granite and quartz for a non-porous finish. Enviroglas is made from recycled glass.

"If you see brown particles, that's likely from a beer bottle that was recycled," laughs Terry.

Build Green -- NAHBgreen.org

What if you want to build? The National Association of Home Builders has a green site at www.nahbgreen.org.

"Greenbuilding is incorporating environmental considerations in the development, design and plan of a home," explains Callie Schmitt, director of environmental communications, NAHB. "It's water efficiency, xerioscaping (native landscaping), tankless water heaters, and trees that shade in summer and let in light in winter."

You can use the site to look for a green builder, someone trained in resource efficiency. And you can make your purchase decisions based on rebates and incentives from the federal government or your own state.

Start your greenbuilding with an Energy Efficient Mortgage -- available to those who are remodeling or building using green techniques. An EEM allows you to roll green consumer products into your mortgage loan, among other benefits.

Going green may cost a little more initially, but the backend savings are well worth it.


Written by Blanche Evans
March 17, 2008