Marketing the “Hidden Elements” in Green Home Building

According to The National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) up to 50 percent of new homes will contain significant green elements by 2010 and the choice of the current consumers is evident since green building is environmentally friendly and efficient in many ways.

Let’s take a look at its “hidden elements” to begin with, site specific design is oriented to get as much natural light as possible. It works by using solar energy. Doors and windows located in the right place provide light being good entryways of natural lightning. Saving existing trees on site helps to shade.

Rocks being a part of green design can be reused from the site to pave walkways or used for drip lines around house. Rocks are also perfect as bases for exterior post lighting and can be considered as an alternative to plants. They can be used for rockeries to make rock gardens.

Then, the whole house system building is designed to reduce the heating and cooling system sizes, thanks to tighter building envelopes, let in more natural light reducing lighting bills, provide fresh air by means of HRV system, use less hot water owing to short plumbing runs and heat water saving energy with the help of hot water tanks.

Green homes make efficient use of the space. There is more usable living area, as a result. Flexible spaces with open floor plans have many benefits. For example, having a well thought out space that can be used as a guest room, 2nd office, craft room, or a kid’s play area.

Finally, the neighbourhood connectivity is a model for future comfortable living: walkable streets, centralized schools and parks, restaurants public transportation nearby and ability to ride bikes. Green homes are built closer to places where you spend your time. The purpose meant is you can easily walk home from restaurant or ride your bike to work.

By following the green lane, you have to prove yourself as a role model for the younger generations, so that they get inspired and get concerned to keep the world around them green. Greener cities with all their hush can prove to be more worthy places to live in and when treasured with green homes they become even worthier.

So the magic mantra should be, “Go green and enjoy Life!”

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House Cleaning – How It Can Be Green

Choose house cleaning elements that are green and save the environment and your family from the dangers of harsh chemicals. There are many options for products that are safe for your wallet and the planet.

As the focus shifts from our own homes and backyards to global awareness of the environment and our effects on the planet, many homeowners are choosing house cleaning options that are friendly and green. Even if you aren’t worried about saving the planet, you may be worried about saving your new son that is crawling on freshly bleached floors and wondering what steps you can take to make your home a less caustic place.

Toxic cleaners are available row upon row by the dozens in every grocery store across the country. But what sort of effects do they have other than getting your bathtub to sparkle? Are the swirling suds down the drain harmful for the environment? Are the fumes harmful for you? And is there really an effective alternative that can do a similarly good job? These questions can be answered by looking for products that are made with ingredients that are less harsh, but still work as well.

One of the biggest ingredients in house cleaning products that claim to be less harsh and more green is hydrogen peroxide. As an effective anti-bacterial agent used in hospitals, hydrogen peroxide is effective on many surfaces in your home. In fact, using harsh anti-bacterial soaps on your hands and home surfaces can actually help to breed stronger bacteria that are harder to kill off and invade our immune system more easily. These super bacteria are not killed with bleach or ammonia and we end up with more bacteria on our kitchen counter without even realizing it.

Many traditional agents used for house cleaning also contain petroleum and butane gasses. These corrosive toxins can be inhaled by you, your pets or your children and the harmful long-term effects have yet to be discovered. And yet, if you could do something small to prevent your pets or children from inhaling butane, you probably would.

Perhaps the most publicized reason for choosing green products is the effect they have on the environment. Water treatment plants are working overtime to remove chemicals and detergents from water and do not do a complete job. Instead, these toxins end up flushed back into our rivers and streams where they build up and have long-reaching effects on ecosystems and animals. Plants and fish are highly sensitive to changes in their environment.

As such, consider using green products for house cleaning. They work just as well as their toxic counterparts and don’t necessarily cost as much. In fact, you probably have several items in your cupboard right now that could be used to safely bring your tub to a sparkling shine and disinfect your kitchen countertop. Baking soda, borax, lemon juice, olive oil, hydrogen peroxide, vinegar, and castile soap are all green alternatives to commercial brands that are simple green cleaning solutions.

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Green Houses – or Just Colorful?

Just as we were fooled by the terms ‘lite’ and ‘low-cal’, so we are now beginning to get caught out with the terms ‘green’ and ‘environmentally friendly’. In the same way that we were willing to pay more for low fat and low calorie products, we will also pay more for green products.

Green has even entered the realty market, and green choices are optional in some newly built homes. But how can we protect ourselves from what is truly green and what is erroneously called green?

As consumers, we need to know how to define these popular terms that are pushing our prices up. We need to know that we are getting value, and doing something ethical, for our money.

We can be fooled by such terms as biodegradable, natural, non-toxic and organic. According to the web site called the green guide.com, those words have no value in terms of lawful support. They are not defined by a governing body and have no uniformly required standard.

Housing is one of the newer areas where the terms ‘green’ and ‘sustainable living’ are bandied around. In housing, some of the recommended labels include Greenseal, LEED Certification for Homes, and the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC). Also, the labels stating ‘PVC Free’ and ‘Low or No VOC’ are recognized as reliable.

LEED stands for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Designs, but take care when you see this mark of approval, as it comes in four different levels. The lowest level is simply called ‘certified’. The levels proceed upwards from silver, through gold to platinum.

Generally speaking, when builders take sustainable living into account they examine six different performance areas. LEED uses these guidelines to grade their certification.

One of the guidelines is sustainable sites, which includes availability of public transportation plus effects like storm water run-off. Water efficiency is a different point and it includes landscaping, use of non potable water and trying to incorporate low use water fixtures.

Energy and atmosphere is considered when building homes. The possibility of renewable energy sources is investigated, such as wind power and solar energy. Green Power may be accessible from the local energy company; also low wattage bulbs will be in use.

Indoor air will be protected by avoidance of toxic emissions from carpets, paint and sealants. Thermal comfort will ensure that some windows are able to be opened and levels of daylight will be adequate.

Materials and resources cover quite an impressive amount of points. Regional materials are recommended and rapidly renewable resources are specified. Also listed are recycled and reused building materials.

The points that are awarded for each section will dictate the LEED certification (up to platinum) of the building. Greenseal, Rainforest Alliance Rediscovered Wood and USDA Organic provide independent third party verification. These labels at least, have some proof of authenticity from green guide.com.

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