Britt Morris Thinks...: Going "Green"

Going “Green”

There’s a lot of talk lately surrounding the idea of going green. More new home buyers are adding green features to their lists of preferred amenities and more current home owners are asking for suggestions on how to make their homes more green. Whether they are interested in reducing homeownership costs or have concern for our environment, going green definitely has its advantages.

A green home uses less water, less energy, has lower utility bills, and can be a healthier environment for those living inside the home. There’s less risk for mold & mildew, and most importantly, they can be affordable. There are often rebates, tax breaks and other incentives offered for buying green or remodeling using certified green technologies.

Bank of America even offers The Green Mortgage Program for qualified buyers which provides a lower interest rate on mortgages for homes meeting Energy Star requirements.

Buyers should contact their bank or trusted mortgage professional for additional information.

The U.S. Green Building Council developed LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) - a voluntary, consensus-based national rating system for developing high-performance, sustainable buildings.

http://www.usgbc.org/DisplayPage.aspx?CMSPageID=222

The system encourages global adoption of green building/development practices

If you are interested in finding a green home, your Realtor can help you find certified LEED homes or a home builder in your area that participates in the LEED program.

If you’re not in the market for a new home or a huge remodeling project, here are some things you can do in your home to lessen your impact on the environment:

Choose Energy Star appliances
Reduce Water Use – install low-flow showerheads and install aerators in your faucets.
Use native plants for landscaping – less watering, fewer pesticides.
Make sure weather stripping around doors and caulking around windows is properly blocking drafts.
Install dimmer switches where it makes sense (dining rooms, hallways).
Make the switch from regular light bulbs to Compact Fluorescent Light bulbs (CFLs) – they use 75% less energy and last about 10 times longer.

Green Resources:

Green Home Guide

http://www.greenhomeguide.org/

Guide for Green Renovation

http://www.greenhomeguide.org/documents/regreen_guidelines.pdf

Bank of

America

http://newsroom.bankofamerica.com/index.php?s=press_releases&item=7697

National Geographic’s Green Guide

http://www.thegreenguide.com/doc/122/househunt

Energy Star Info

http://www.energystar.gov/index.cfm?c=cfls.pr_cfls

By Sarah Bracken - sarah@brittmorrishomes.com

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