The Benefits of Building Green

August 15, 2010 | By In living green | Comments(0)

There are many benefits to building green and it seems the real estate industry is catching on. Not only does building green provide a healthy place to live along with protecting the planet, but it also saves you money.

One program that offers green building certification is the LEED for Homes rating system. LEED stands for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design and is a certification that you can receive when building a green home. The LEED for Homes Green Building Rating System is a measurable tool that is evaluated by a third party in regards to sustainability and performance. The four different levels of green that you can achieve include: certified, gold, silver, and platinum levels.

One of the benefits of building green is that it reduces the building’s environmental footprint on the planet. U.S. homes account for 21% of carbon dioxide emissions, 22% of energy use and 74% of potable water consumption and therefore are a huge contributor of emissions that damage the earth. Building green can help reduce the causes of climate change by reducing our emissions, energy use and water use. In the LEED program some of the criteria include building with solar orientation in mind to capture as much sunlight as possible in addition to using durable products to reduce the need for replacement. The program also awards points for placing a home near community transit as well as using landscaping that lessens irrigation demand.

There are many health benefits to building green. The LEED program gives points for building with non-toxic materials such as zero or low VOC paint and soy-based insulations. By building with these materials, the owners reduce the chance of having health issues as a result of living among toxic building materials. The LEED program awards points for other measures to avoid health problems such as flushing the property prior to occupancy, prohibiting exhaust fans in the garage so to not vent harmful fumes into the house and building with radon-resistant construction.

Another benefit to building green is that it can save you money. Compared to traditionally built homes, green homes use an average of: 40% less energy and 50% less water. They are also built with non-toxic building materials that lower exposure to mold and mildew which could lower health care costs. Another monetary factor to consider is your homes re-sale value. If a buyer can save money on water, energy and health bills by buying a green home versus a standard home, the buyer may be willing to pay more to purchase the green home.

The list could go on in regards to the many reasons to build green, but what seems to be clear is that the green train is coming and the real estate industry appears to be on board.

Caroline Mancill Kelm is a real estate agent living and working in Jackson Hole. http://www.searchjacksonholerealestate.com
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Frugal Green Tips

July 30, 2010 | By Articles are the property of their respective Authors In living green | Comments(0)

Living a “green” lifestyle will help the environment and put more “green” in your wallet. “Green” is a word that refers to so much more than the color of grass or money. It has become a recent buzzword in modern society that defines products, lifestyles, and tasks that are environmentally conscious. Becoming more “green” usually involves consuming fewer resources and can result in saving money on typical household expenses. The tips below list some simple ways that you can “green” your life while putting more “green” in your wallet while saving for a debt settlement negotiation

Clean Green

Many popular household cleaning products sold in stores contain harsh chemicals that pollute the earth and are hazardous to humans. Natural alternatives such as baking soda, white vinegar, and lemon juice are very inexpensive and clean just as well as many brand name cleansers. Visit this link on the Greenpeace web site for recipes using natural products.

Conserve Water

According to the Rocky Mountain Institute (RMI), an organization that focuses on energy policy, a six-minute shower uses 20 gallons of water. Taking short showers can reduce water consumption and your water bill. For less than $10, RMI also recommends installing an on/off valve between the shower arm and showerhead. This temporarily shuts off the flow while maintaining the temperature. It can be useful when lathering up. For more water conservation tips, visit www.rmi.org and www.wateruseitwisely.com.

Recycle

Many local municipalities require citizens to follow mandatory recycling ordinances. Some states have even given incentives to recycle through RecycleBank. This program gives participants a recycle bin equipped with a unique built-in RFID tag. At pick up, the bins are scanned and users can receive reward points based on how much they recycle. Visit www.recyclebank.com to find out if this program is available in your local area.

Conserve Energy

Simple tasks such as turning off lights when you leave the room and installing a programmable thermostat can reduce your utility bills and overall energy consumption. When it comes time to buy new appliances, you may consider Energy Star models, which use 10-50% less energy and water than standard models, according to the Energy Star web site. You can visit this site at www.energystar.gov for more tips on conserving energy.

Drive Greener

Most green articles urge consumers to purchase a hybrid car. As you strive to settle your debts, buying a new vehicle may not be an option. However, there are other ways that you can “green” your car and save money on transportation costs. For example, you will burn less fuel if you roll down your windows in the summer instead of using air conditioning. Performing routine maintenance on your car may also reduce gas consumption and prevent costly car repairs. According to Treehugger.com, if every driver’s tires were properly inflated, approximately 2 billion gallons of gas would be saved each year. You may also consider relying on your vehicle less by walking short distances or carpooling. Sites such as www.erideshare.com allow you to search for fellow carpoolers that want to travel in the same direction as you.

Green Technology

Some people may associate living green with abandoning all personal possessions and modern technologies to live on a commune. In actuality, some technological advancements can actually help reduce the amount of waste that ends up in landfills. Consider the options below. Keep in mind that the following tips are meant to help you get the most use out of items that you may already own; we are not encouraging you to purchase brand new equipment.

Go paperless! You can pay bills online, use electronic scheduling software, and send free electronic cards. Before you print, ask yourself if you really need to have a paper copy. Take advantage of organizing important documents using email programs or document folders in your computer system software. You will use less paper and will not have to purchase expensive ink cartridges as often.
MP3 players come in all price ranges and allow users to download single songs instead of buying expensive individual CDs. You may consider transferring your CD library to MP3 format and resell your CDs on sites such as www.ebay.com and www.craigslist.org. Resell stores such as CD Warehouse may also give you cash for your CDs. Visit www.cdwarehouse.com for a location near you.
Remember to properly dispose of your electronic equipment, also known as e-waste. If you can not use it, sell or donate the item. You can also visit www.earth911.org for a recycling or donation center in your area.

Bill Loughborough is Founder and President of Credit Answers, one of the best debt settlement companies in America. Credit Answers specializes in debt management, credit card debt settlement, debt negotiation and avoiding bankruptcy. Credit Answers team of experts work to enable a new and fresh financial start for individuals with debt problems. We realize the importance of money in people’s lives and also the accompanied strain that debt can cause. Our team has helped thousands of clients across the nation.

Bill started Credit Answers in 2006 and has built it into one of the leading debt settlement / debt relief companies in the U.S. At Credit Answers we encourage our customers to Live Better Debt Free.

For More information please visit: www.creditanswers.com
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