Green building and green homes are terms that get bandied about pretty liberally these days. Quite often, what passes for green makes strides in one area while backtracking in another. If we’re really keen on going green these days, we’ll need to look beyond labels to find out if what we’re buying will truly benefit the environment. Read on for a run-down of the four biggest magnets for the “green home” label and some of the noxious realities that lurk within:

Recycled Materials

Recycled building products may be considered green because they conserve resources, raw materials and turn post consumer or industrial waste into a valuable and useable resource. These benefits can be nullified however if producing the recycled product requires an undue amount of energy consumption, creates pollution or if the final product leeches toxins into the environment. Rubber tiles for instance put old tires to good use giving them green kudos but when used in an enclosed environment they’ll leak unhealthy chemicals into the air that are decidedly not green.

Conservation of Natural Resources

Building products that use less material than their predecessors, are rapidly renewable or have a high durability factor make the green list because they conserve natural resources. But like recycled products, products that conserve resources may also have qualities or histories that are notoriously not green. For example MDF board can be made from almost any quality wood including sawmill off-cuts and uses almost 100% of the wood in the final product. The result is that an MDF board makes more complete use of natural resources than a natural wood board. But if it has been pressed with urea formaldehyde, as it typically is, it will off-gas and working with it can make you sick. MDF also has a shorter life span and less water resistance than natural wood products which means it will need to be replaced sooner and require the use of even more resources.

Clean Air

Natural materials that don’t pollute the environment or leech toxins are legendary for getting green points and keeping it clean. Wood, stone, slate, marble and plant products, for example, don’t require long chains of chemical processing or release cancerous fumes into the lived environment. Natural, minimally processed materials are simply healthier to live with and therefore green. These benefits are eliminated, however, if harvesting, extracting or transporting the materials creates pollution, requires a huge amount of resources or depletes a resource faster than it can be renewed.

Energy Efficiency

Products that affect energy consumption and water use on a day to day basis stand to effect the biggest environmental impact of all materials that go into a home. Those who wish to be truly green will make sure that operating their home requires minimum amounts of energy and water. Properly insulated walls, windows and doors minimize the amount of energy required to heat and cool a building and therefore have a favorable impact on the environment and are fortunately fairly easy to attain. But how will you generate heat and power? Unfortunately, most of us will have to opt for some sort of fossil fuel or electric power limiting our “green” energy options to those that focus on using as few resources as possible rather than renewable resources like solar power and wind power that don’t need to be mined or transported and create no pollution.

Clearly, it’s not easy being green. Though making strides toward reducing our impact on the environment by building and buying green homes is clearly one of the best places to start, it’s important to educate ourselves if we want to do it right. Green isn’t just something we buy, it’s a careful balance between conservation, low pollution and sustainability.

CEO of LivingHomes, Steve Glenn, discusses the reasons you might consider buying a LEEDS Platinum Home. More content like this at life.gaiam.com .

Find More Green Homes Articles

It’s not Easy Being a Green Home is a post from: Eco Friendly Homes

Related posts:

1. It’s not Easy Being a Green Home Green building and green homes are terms that get bandied...
2. Having A Green Home Helps The Environment And Saves Energy With all the problems we hear about the environment and...
3. Checklist for your next green home Checklist for your next green home Looking to buy or...

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.

• Two count Boxes, pack of 3(Totally 6 counts)
• It comes with decorative, scented shades you can change to let a flickering light shine through
• Flameless Luminary Refill in a scent and design combination you like

Febreze Flameless Luminary lets you choose the scent and style you want. With a simple change of the scented shade you can match your room, your mood, or even the season. To refresh the scent, simply change the shade each week. The new Flameless Luminary accents your home with scent and style. It comes with decorative, scented shades you can change to let a flickering, flameless light shine through. Replace your scented shades with the latest scent and design every season of the year. Try Green Tea Citrus, Willow Blossom, Pomegranate Mango and special holiday shades like Cranberry Pear. h1{ color: #CC6600;}h2 { color: #7d5e3a;}h3{ color: #7d5e3a; text-align: left;}#fb_content{ padding-left: 34px; width: 1050px;}#fb_head

Rating: (out of 6 reviews)

List Price: $ 20.80

Price: $ 15.95

More Green Homes Products

Febreze Home Collections Green Tea Citrus Flameless Luminary Refill, 2-Count Boxes (Pack of 3) is a post from: Eco Friendly Homes

Related posts:

1. Febreze Home Collections Green Tea Citrus Flameless Luminary Starter Kit, 1 Kit Box Febreze Home Collections Green Tea Citrus Flameless Luminary Starter Kit,...
2. Febreze Home Collections Green Tea Citrus Soy Blend Candle, 6-Ounce Boxes (Pack of 2) Reviews Febreze Home Collections Green Tea Citrus Soy Blend Candle, 6-Ounce...
3. Febreze Home Collections Green Tea Citrus Scented Reed Diffuser, 1 Kit (Pack of 2) Febreze Home Collections Green Tea Citrus Scented Reed Diffuser, 1...

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.

Though concern for the environment might be why more people are buying green homes today, Austin buyers are definitely falling for the way they save them money on overall operating costs and maintenance.

In 2007 there were more green homes built, bought and sold in the US than ever before. And why wouldn’t there be? Green building techniques and standards have improved dramatically over the past decade, making environmentally friendly houses an attractive alternative. Consumers and builders are learning that a green home doesn’t have to be a geodesic dome or pit house, it just has to meet certain standards and be kind to the environment. Similarly priced and designed, today’s green homes also promise significant savings on utility bills, lowered maintenance costs, a healthier indoor environment and increased peace of mind. Naturally, all these benefits are also translating into a higher resale value when it comes time to move on.

Austin’s Green Home Building program is the oldest in the country and has a lot to do with the predominance of green buildings in this part of Texas. Launched in 1991 and now under the wing of Austin Energy, the program supports builders and homeowners to make Austin homes more energy efficient by allowing them to tap into information, rebates, loans and free upgrades.

This New Austin House

This past year, Austin’s green homes were in the spotlight again when “This Old House” featured a green renovation to one of Austin’s drafty old character homes. Taking an old fangled little bungalow and adding eco-friendliness with features like photo voltaic cells on the roof, rainwater collection for irrigation, spray-foam insulation, recycled-glass tile and counter tops, and formaldehyde-free wood managed to garner Austin Energy’s coveted five-star rating for the finished project. For the house’s owners this added efficiency translates into 0 less in utility bills every year and a ,000 rebate from Austin Energy’s Solar Rebate Program. For the city or the world for that matter, it means 3 tones less carbon dioxide, 14 pounds less nitrogen oxide and 20 pounds less sulfur dioxide.

Buyers interested in purchasing a new green home can expect to see more of them on the market in years to come. Early in 2008, the National Association of Home Builders will release the National Green Building Standard, an ANSI standard for green home building based on guidelines the NAHB released in 2005. The soon to be released standards cover a range of green factors including lot prep and design, resource efficiency, energy efficiency, water conservation, comfort and indoor environment.

More Green Homes Articles

The Green Homes of Austin is a post from: Eco Friendly Homes

Related posts:

1. The Green Homes of Austin Jim Olenbush asked: But the concern? N for the...
2. Q&A: Where can I find a Green Homes in Charleston, SC. Green Homes, real estate agent, Sustainable Homes? Question by George B: Where can I find a Green...
3. Green Homes – an Affordable Option Green Homes – an Affordable Option A “green” home is...

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.

• Handsome chair brings comfort and classic beauty to any home
• Glued solid-wood frame; foam and high-loft polyester back and seat
• 100-percent-polyester upholstery; ecru and lotus-green floral pattern
• Tapered espresso legs with front-leg casters; some assembly required
• Measures 28 inches wide by 27 inches deep by 35 inches tall; 1-year limited warranty

“Go ahead, stare. You know you want to. Believe me, I won’t blame you. I still can’t take my eyes off the Grant chair in the lotus green floral pattern with caster legs. It’s truly beautiful and it’s even better looking in person. This chair, for me, is what angelo:HOME is all about. I’m calling this line of upholstered furniture modern classics and the reason for that can be summed up in my grant chair. Clean, modern lines, with classic, familiar styling in the details. This chair just makes me happy looking at it and it’s the perfect companion to the chocolate brown Crawford sofa. The graphic floral print and espresso stained wooden legs are just the right mix of interest that will make any room in your home instantly cheery.” – Angelo Su

Rating: (out of 1 reviews)

List Price: $ 299.00

Price: $ 299.00

angelo:HOME Grant Chair with Lotus-Green Floral Upholstery is a post from: Eco Friendly Homes

Related posts:

1. angelo:HOME Grant Chair with Lotus-Green Floral Upholstery Handsome chair brings comfort and classic beauty to any...
2. Why Are Classic Cars ‘green/recyclable’ But Not Later Models? I watched Classic car DVD’s they say recycling classic cars...
3. Home Q SHEET SET JERSEY GREEN Sheet Set Includes Fitted Sheet, 2 Pillowcases, 1 Pillowcase...

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.

Green home designs use eco-friendly reusable materials, furnishings and leftovers. These kind of designs feature the use of long lasting, non-toxic materials as well as recycling. Green home designs make use of materials that are renewable and long lasting. To remodel a residence with new materials every few years is not green building design.

When you use materials to be green, you restore and salvage what you have when possible. Options for green flooring design can provide you many different choices today. You can sand and refinish or even paint and stencil without using materials containing volatile organic compounds (referred to as VOC’s).

Green home designs today features the use of materials such as cork, bamboo and eucalyptus since they are earth friendly and renewable. Cork is especially good since there is no destruction of trees during extraction of the cork. Hardwood flooring can last forever and is very desirable, however, these kinds of woods are often the remnants of old growth from rain forest trees and this is not eco-friendly or green. You can select types of woods that have the approval and certification by environmental groups.

Which glues and finishes to use for floor installation are issues that should concern you since many contain toxic synthetic formaldehyde resins. It is best to use non-toxic low to no VOC sealants as well as non-toxic cleaners, polishes, finishes, refinishing and adhesive products. To do so will result in having better indoor air quality since your home produces less toxins and is a healthier environment to live in.

Even buying low to no VOC products does not guarantee your safety and good health for you and your loved ones. Since we encounter so many chemicals on a daily basis, nothing can be 100%. However, it is essential to select eco-friendly products for the green design benefits. This helps to better our environment and not expose us to as many chemicals every day.

While creating your green home designs using these ideas, be sure to include many glass window and doors as well as roof and wall skylights to allow natural lighting into your home. Skylights provide the green design benefits of reducing and avoiding moisture accumulation in a room while conserving energy consumption.

Concrete floorings have made the circle of fashion, coming back in style. They come in various colors, patterns, textures and polishes. This type of flooring is not so harmful to your health since it uses no glue, finishes or refinishing products and their chemicals.

Green home designs in the kitchen can feature the use of concrete counter tops since they are a natural appearing material and have become quite popular. They can add a modern look and style to your kitchen, bathrooms and fireplace.

Vertrazzo, which is recycled glass, is another popular choice for green kitchen counter tops. Recycled glass is attractive and comes in various colors to match your decor perfectly. You can use it as both kitchen counter tops and as a backsplash. Recycled glass tiles are another beautiful alternative in trends of green kitchen designs.

While choosing your appliances, consider their functionality, style and energy efficiency as well as your budget. When you replace appliances or remodel your kitchen, be sure to find the most energy efficient appliances available as well as those that use less water. To recycle old appliances, call your local recycling department for advice on what to do to recycle them.

Sending your appliances to a landfill or passing them on to someone else is not a good idea, since ninety-five percent of refrigerator parts are recyclable. Older models that are not as energy efficient will not save you money and they are not good for the eco-system. You should recycle all of your old kitchen appliances.

Green home designs add lots of ceiling and wall insulation to your entire home. This is most beneficial and keeps your home more energy efficient. Remember to use eco-friendly insulation materials. Always chose high performance windows and double or even triple pane windows, doors and skylights as they help conserve energy as well.

With rising energy costs, energy efficient design makes economic sense. Saving money after the initial investment, reducing exposure to toxic chemicals and helping save the environment all are goals of green home designs. Learn as much as you can about the choices you have in the green interior design products that will best serve your interests.

Copyright 2008 InfoSearch Publishing

Green Home Designs and Green Design Benefits is a post from: Eco Friendly Homes

Related posts:

1. Green Home Designs and Green Design Benefits David Lee Buster asked: Green home designs using the...
2. Having A Green Home Helps The Environment And Saves Energy With all the problems we hear about the environment and...
3. Green Living Homes That You Create In today’s marketplace, Green Living Homes have taken on a...

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.

• Pack of 2, 6 ounce box (total of 12 ounces)
• Elegant scent and style with a soft glow
• Premium scented oils are locked in the soy to create an irresistible scent experience

Febreze Soy Blend Candle offers a variety of attractive scents and a slow burning, soy blend wax. Enjoy elegant scent and style with a soft glow. Premium scented oils are locked in the soy to create an irresistible scent experience with every burn. Try Green Tea Citrus, Cranberry Pear, Willow Blossom and Pomegranate Mango. h1{ color: #CC6600;}h2 { color: #7d5e3a;}h3{ color: #7d5e3a; text-align: left;}#fb_content{ padding-left: 34px; width: 1050px;}#fb_header{ margin-top: 34px; border-top: solid 5px #3b281c; border-bottom: solid 40px #3b281c; background-image: url(http://g-ecx.images-amazon.com/images/G/01/hpc/detail-page/images/bg_header.gif); height: 473px;} #fb_header_copy { position: relative; float: left; top:

Rating: (out of 46 reviews)

List Price: $ 27.30

Price: $ 27.30

Febreze Home Collections Green Tea Citrus Soy Blend Candle, 6-Ounce Boxes (Pack of 2) Reviews is a post from: Eco Friendly Homes

Related posts:

1. Febreze Home Collections Green Tea Citrus Flameless Luminary Refill, 2-Count Boxes (Pack of 3) Febreze Home Collections Green Tea Citrus Flameless Luminary Refill, 2-Count...
2. Febreze Home Collections Green Tea Citrus Scented Reed Diffuser, 1 Kit (Pack of 2) Febreze Home Collections Green Tea Citrus Scented Reed Diffuser, 1...
3. Febreze Home Collections Green Tea Citrus Flameless Luminary Starter Kit, 1 Kit Box Febreze Home Collections Green Tea Citrus Flameless Luminary Starter Kit,...

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.

Green home building and remodeling requires a different approach than the traditional, established way of building.

Traditionally the homeowner, you, approaches an architect who designs the home, based on your descriptions, ideas, dreams and wishes.

The finished design is then distributed to several general contractors for bid.

The general contractor in turn contacts his/her subcontractors to get bids from them for framing, roofing, plumbing, heating, air conditioning, excavating and foundation work, landscaping, interior finishes.

The bid prices are based on the interpretation of the drawings by each contractor. Rarely do the subcontractors talk to each other during the bid process. Rarely is the architect contacted with questions. Almost never is the homeowner, you, contacted.

The contractorrs’ final bids usually include a list of exceptions and/or a contingency allowance, which might never be used, but is paid for by you anyway.

Homeowners most often accept the lowest bid. Why not? Unless you are familiar with and know the construction business, know the contractor’s quality of work, what other criteria could you apply?

The procedure outlined above often results in considerable construction cost increases, dissatisfied homeowners and sometimes lawsuits.

Huge resources are being neglected and missed when homes are remodeled and built the traditional way: Experience and trade-specific expertise, which could save you time, money and headaches.

The Green Process To Building A Home

Building a green home must be a systematic approach and done as a team. The project must be looked at as a system, in which each component is connected to and depends on the other components. For example:

- Location of the home on the property will determine the amount of soil disturbance, excavation and landscaping

- Location, size and types of windows will impact the heating and cooling requirement

- Type of heating and cooling equipment will impact space requirements for furnace, heat pump, solar collectors, piping, ductwork, etc

- Choice of exterior wall will impact first cost versus installation cost versus insulation values versus appearance

You get the idea

Teamwork is required to make it all come together. The folks who design and build your green home, will be working with you and with each other for weeks or months. These are some important questions to ask when assembling your green building team:

- Do all of the team members agree on the importance of building green and are they committed to it?

- Do architect and contractors have experience in green building and if not, are they willing to learn? The majority if the team should have some experience in designing or building green homes

- Do you like and respect them? Can you see yourself interacting with each of them frequently and maybe work through some challenges?

- Do they like and respect each other?

- Do they take pride in high quality work?

- Can they accept input about their trade from other trades?

Don’t underestimate the importance of your team getting along and working well together. There will be times during the construction when tempers flare, tensions are high, pressure is on. And this could be just when the insulator has to do some very meticulous work to seal all leaks, while the electrician is breathing down her neck to hurry up so he can get his work done.

It is important to include as many of the trades as possible during the design phase. Decisions about choices in materials or heating system can then be done by all involved parties from a fully informed perspective. For example:

Someone mentioned to you the advantages of using structurally insulated panels (SIP), and that is what you would like to use for your green home. Preliminary investigations show that these panels would have to be shipped from hundreds of miles away. The general contractor suggests using insulated concrete forms (ICF). The factory is only 50 miles away, his team is very experienced with this system and he knows that he can do it cheaper than with SIP. The architect supports this idea, because she also knows that homeowner insurance rates are sometimes lower for homes built with ICFs, due to their resistance to termites, wind and fire.

OR

General contractor, architect and HVAC contractor work closely together to determine if your green home should use solar collectors or a geothermal heat pump system for hot water and heat. They contact the wood truss manufacturer to help determine the impact of the heavy solar collectors on the roof frame. A call to the local geothermal heat pump specialists reveals that your future neighbors down the street installed a geothermal heat pump system two years ago and are very satisfied with it. With all this information, you can now make an informed decision.

When the time comes to put the final cost for your green home construction project together, you can be assured that unexpected costs will be minimal. You will know that you and your green building team are all pulling in the same direction.

Addressing and optimizing key factors up front with the whole team will result in a smoother construction process, lower costs and a much better green home for you and your family.

Find More Green Homes Articles

Building A Green Home Requires Teamwork is a post from: Eco Friendly Homes

Related posts:

1. Building A Green Home Requires Teamwork Christiane Perrin asked: The green home building and remodeling...
2. Focus on Green Homes – Heating a Green Home Kimberley Ward asked: The methods used to heat a...
3. The 4 Basic Elements to Building a Green Home Chuck Warrender asked: The green building is more than...

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.

A “green” home is a home that is highly energy efficient, has excellent indoor environment, and is built to exceed local building code. Considering this, doesn’t this mean that a green home costs more to build than a person could save on energy costs? Absolutely not! A green home is affordable to build and can save a homeowner thousands in energy costs annually. And there are thousands in tax incentives to take advantage of.

First, planned right and built well, a green home can be built for no more than regular construction, and has greater market value when it is completed. It is important to have a builder that has built green homes before, not just one that has added green features onto existing construction. The latter has no experience with the type of building techniques that lower building costs. An experienced green home builder will know that getting LEED’s engineers involved in the process and restructuring the process of building to reduce waste and energy are key to starting the project off right. In addition, an experienced green home builder will be able to make valuable suggestions to the potential homeowner about trade-offs in costs and energy efficiency and apply his practical experience to estimates of energy savings.

Energy efficiency savings can be substantial. Using the weather and energy costs in Illinois as an example, and comparing an affordable green home to conventional home with forced air heating and central air-conditioning, a green home can save you around 75% on electricity, by using a combination of solar panels, landscaping, and Energy Star rated appliances and water heater and substituting central air with geothermal applications, over 90% on natural gas by using alternative heating methods, and 60% on water/sewer by implementing grey water recapture. Typical annual bills of nearly ,000 per year could be lowered to 0 or less – a savings of ,100 per year. Of course, these figures are for illustrative purposes only. Your actual savings depends on your electricity usage, the size of the home, the number of people you have living in your home, the number of solar panels you use, and the precise options you select for your green home.

And green homes look like regular homes inside and out, are maintenance friendly, and fun to own.

With tax incentives in the thousands, energy savings worth thousands, and greater market value, building and living in a green home is an affordable option for everyone.

Find More Green Homes Articles

You Can Save Thousands With a Green Home is a post from: Eco Friendly Homes

Related posts:

1. You Can Save Thousands With a Green Home Kimberley Ward asked: A "green" home is a home...
2. Green Homes – an Affordable Option Green Homes – an Affordable Option A “green” home is...
3. Green Homes – an Affordable Option Kimberley Ward asked: A household's? of? green? of? of?...

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.

A “green” home is a home that is highly energy efficient, has excellent indoor environment, and is built to exceed local building code. Sounds expensive. Right? Absolutely not! You may have heard that building a green home is more expensive that conventional construction, but this is a myth. Using an experienced green home builder, a green home can be very affordable to build and can save a homeowner thousands in energy costs annually. And the homeowner could qualify for thousands in tax incentives.

A green home can be built for no more than regular construction, and has greater market value when it is completed. It is important to hire a builder that has built green homes before. A builder that has retrofitted existing homes has no experience with the type of building techniques that make green homes more affordable. In addition, an experienced green home builder can help educate the potential homeowner about green techniques, their options, and energy efficiency.

While some green home features can be expensive and retrofitting existing homes can be quite high, building a green home from scratch is very affordable. Your experienced green home builder knows that getting advice from LEED’s engineers and reorganizing the building process to save time, energy, and waste are key steps to starting the project off right. Generally speaking,the green home elements are not expensive items and since they are installed as the house is built, with no demolition of existing concrete foundations and landscaping, the cost of installation is kept lower.

In case you have been wondering what green homes look like, they look just like conventional homes (except for the solar panels) and are quieter and cleaner than conventional homes. Green home features are maintenance friendly and work just like conventional home features.

Energy efficiency savings can be substantial. Using the weather and energy costs in Illinois as an example, and comparing an affordable green home to conventional home with conventional natural gas forced air heating and central air-conditioning, typical homeowner annual bills of nearly ,000 per year could be lowered to 0 or less – a savings of ,100 per year. These figures are for illustrative purposes only. Your actual savings depends on the size of the home, the number of people you have living in your home, your electricity usage, and the green options you select.

With tax incentives in the thousands, energy savings worth thousands, and greater market value, building and living in a green home is an affordable option for everyone.

More Green Homes Articles

Green Homes – an Affordable Option is a post from: Eco Friendly Homes

Related posts:

1. Green Homes – an Affordable Option Kimberley Ward asked: A household's? of? green? of? of?...
2. You Can Save Thousands With a Green Home You Can Save Thousands With a Green Home A “green”...
3. You Can Save Thousands With a Green Home Kimberley Ward asked: A "green" home is a home...

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.

When it comes to the green home, ratings matter. There are a number of eco certification for home based appliances and white goods. Plus you can get your home professionally assessed for energy efficiency.

Residential homes can be given a rating based on the National House Energy Rating (NatHERS) which is an index of the home’s thermal performance. It is done through a professional analysis by a qualified assessor working in conjunction with the builder of the home. NatHERS provides a baseline for assessment software to rate a home’s energy efficiency potential. Most homes in Australia currently fall below a 5 star rating, but the current tool has now been adapted to allow for a potential 10 star rating (which would be equivalent to zero conditioning energy). This system is based purely on the home’s infrastructure and does not include appliances or hot water systems. Find out more about energy ratings for your home.

Good insulation is a key feature in any energy efficient home. And homeowners are keen to take advantage of Kevin Rudd’s important announcement last week, with funds for ceiling insulation becoming available from the federal government. The Federal Government will be providing eligible homes wiht free ceiling insulation worth 00. Landlords and renters can benefit too with rental properties being included in the package.

Yet with all the available insulation out there, which one should we consider?

Eco Home Tip #16 – Ask about the R value – the measure for insulation materials is the R value. A high R value means better insulation potential. For example, Pink Batts offers a range ceiling insulation products that have an R value of up to 6.0.

Eco Home Tip #17 – Natural insulation – Take your insulation innovation even further and look for ceiling insulation made from sustainable materials, such as Goldenfleece wool insulation. All natural wool fibre has great insulating properties, with the CSIRO claiming, “wool insulation performs better because of it’s ability to rapidly absorb and desorb moisture from the air.” And you’ll be helping out the rural farmers!

Eco Home Tip #18 – DIY insulation – there are lots of simple insulating ideas homeowners can adapt to protect their homes against the elements. Seal draughts with door snakes or hang some thick curtains on your windows to keep out the coming cold.

Insulation is the first step to a great energy efficient home that will save you money. Well designed homes that incorporate insulation, thermal mass design and sustainable energy alternatives, such as solar panels, can save some homeowners up to 50% on their annual energy consumption. Plus you get to enjoy the comfort of having a pleasant living environment year round.

You can find more great eco home ideas on the Green Pages.

A development in Western Massachusetts features solar powered, tightly sealed and super-insulated homes, which are nearly off the grid and affordable.
Video Rating: 3 / 5

More Green Homes Articles

Insulation innovation for your green home is a post from: Eco Friendly Homes

Related posts:

1. Insulation innovation for your green home Paige Green asked: When it comes to the home...
2. You Can Save Thousands With a Green Home You Can Save Thousands With a Green Home A “green”...
3. Green Home tips – Eco heating ideas Green Home tips – Eco heating ideas Autumn is approaching...

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.