A major step in creating a healthy indoor environment is to eliminate or minimize the usage of products that contain volatile organic compounds or VOCs. VOCs can come from a plethora of products including paint strippers, lacquers, paints, pesticides, furniture, cleaning supplies, and building materials. The EPA has stated that the concentration of volatile compounds inside your home can be up to ten times higher than the exterior.

Healthy home environments should also be free of any allergy triggers. Carpeting is one of the major culprits as it is very difficult, even with a thorough cleaning, to remove dirt and dust. Using hardwood or laminate flooring when possible can cut down irritation from dust particulates and is easy to clean. Proper air ventilation can also cut down on allergens. To suck the contaminated air out and keep clean are flowing in it is important to install an adequate system of ventilation.

An exhaust fan in your kitchen or bathroom can greatly reduce the amount of bacteria, mold, and orders in the air. If you have a tightly sealed home you will also want to install a reversed fan to allow fresh air in. You may also want to consider installing an air filtration system to remove irritants such as pet dander, cigarette smoke, and mold spores.
Another good way to improve your family’s health and have a positive impact on the environment is to install a water filtration system on faucets that provide drinking water. These systems remove the same sediments and chemicals that bottled waters do but cost a lot less than purchasing bottled water and cuts down on waste and fossil fuel usage needed to manufacture bottled water.

So lets go over the basics, first off green energy is any form of power which can be used on a continuous basis and never be exhausted while leaving a minimal (if any) effect on the environment. Wind and solar energy are some of the most common and well known forms of green energy. In addition geothermal and hydroelectric green energy sources are becoming more common place.

Wind generated power is one of the oldest forms of renewable energy. One of the key factors in its success is the easy and direct conversion form the natural energy source to electric power. Today’s wind turbines are very effective and low maintenance electrical power solutions. Depending on your location wind based power can be your chief energy source, windmill systems are especially effective in wind belt states such as Texas with miles and miles wind farms in its open country landscape.

Solar power, while viable, is still very much in the development phases with significant advances being made daily. The future is very bright for sun based power, scientist are hard at work at making lighter and smaller solar collection panels. Future plans point to the possibility of collecting solar energy with a mere sheet of plastic wrap.

The collection of geothermal energy is some what more complicated. It is based on the fact the temperature deep into the earths center remains the same, with the use of thermal rods we can harness this energy to heat and cool our homes.

Hydroelectric energy can also be considered a green sustainable source in most cases. Done on a minimal scale, small hydro electric stations do not require much change to the ecological balance or landscape around the running water from which they draw their power. However large scale hydroelectric operation often require massive flooding of a large area to churn our sufficient power, leaving a detrimental and long lasting impact on the ecosystem it is stationed in. For the causal home owner a custom built hydroelectric system that takes power from the natural flow of a nearby body of water is the best bet.

The first step is to conduct an audit of sorts on your energy usage. Home energy experts from industry leaders say that the best place to begin is to identify potential areas of energy waste.

Much of the money that is spent on utilities bills comes from older electricity guzzling appliances that are not Energy Star complaint, poor insulation, holes in the exterior, leaks, etc. The best strategy for defending your wallet against these culprits is to focus on the five key rooms in your home: the laundry room, kitchen, bathroom, utility room, and the living room. These rooms tend to contain the most appliances or receive the heaviest traffic. A few simply changes like switching over to a programmable thermostat rather than a fixed dial to automatically control the interior temperature and washing clothes in cold water instead of hot if it is not absolutely necessary can save you upwards of five hundred dollars a year on your utility bill.

In the bathroom try changing your shower head over to a low-flow two and a half gallon per minute shower head. Combine the shower head with ten to fifteen minute showers and you could save an estimated $140 dollars annually just from the electricity saved on heating that water. The same goes for the laundry room, you really don’t’ have to wash everything in hot water. There are special detergents formulated to work well and cold water and produce the same results.
Leaky faucets in the kitchen can also cause wasted hot water so insure that all plumbing is in optimal condition. Also check the dial on your water heater, if its above 120 degrees your burning yourself and the environment!

In the living room and other heavy traffic areas consider changing standard light bulbs to compact fluorescent bulbs. Not only do they uses less energy but on average they also last ten times longer.
It doesn’t take much to become an Energy Star, a little effort and consideration can save ton for you and the environment.

With solar systems it is important to know exactly what you are purchasing and how this particular solution generates electrical power. The key component to these systems are the photovoltaic solar cells which are networked together to create individual electricity panels or modules.

The panels then pass the electricity produced through a power inverter which changes the voltage form AC (Alternating Current) to DC (Direct Current) which is usable by the utility grid and your household appliances. If the solar system is going to act as the chief power source the system may also include batteries to store back up power in case there is a power outage or abnormally long period of low sunshine.
A newer method of implementing solar systems utilities photovoltaic shingles which replace their normal asphalt counter parts. Advances in this technology have lead to a sharp cost reduction in recent years, you can even integrate the solar powered shingles for a unique and modular solution. If you live in a particularly sunny environment you should definitely consider photovoltaic shingles.

Research shows that the costs for solar panel systems under ten kilowatts created in 2006 and 2007 ranged from $7.50 per watt in areas such as Arizona, New Jersey, and California up to $10.50 in places like Maryland. Experts find that larger module deployments over a wide area provide the best investment to cost ratio.

The key factor when dealing with a contractor is to have them layout all of the available options to you, from organic insulation to low VOC paints, there are tons of ways to design with a green mind. Don’t let anyone sell you on a “boxed” solution to living green, its not about how many green products a contractor can incorporate into his bid but about how you can affordably and continuously maintain the selections you make. When it comes to cost, there are instances where greener materials will increase your budget when compared to there standard counterparts but there are many that are more affordable or cost the same. Don’t stress yourself, work within your budget, and be creative. Something as simple as painting a highly trafficked area with brighter light reflecting color will reduce the cost of lighting and brighter color paints tend to contain less harmful chemicals.

As the world at large is becoming more conscious of preserving our communal home, earth, green products are becoming more readily available and affordable. Just about every major manufacturer of paint offers a low VOC line which tends to be cheaper as well, often below two dollars a gallon. A new low-flow shower head is also a great way to save when remodeling your bathroom, and taking a shorter shower doesn’t cost a thing. Make decisions that you are comfortable with and remember there is no right or wrong way to do an eco friendly renovation.

Living green is a state of mind and ongoing thinking process, make improvements in areas where you are OK with some compromise or in areas where there is no compromise (just an informed choice in purchasing materials). Collectively the United States spends in excess of $150 billion a year in home renovations and remodeling. Focusing just a little of this revenue on environmentally conscious construction will yield untold benefits to your health and our environment.

A lot of people may think that they can’t make a significant difference, we hesitate, look at those around us and say “Does it really matter if I’m the only one on my block without a massaging, reservoir guzzling, shower head?” To put it simply, yes. Using a low-flow shower head at 1.6 gallons per minute, taking a five minute shower using that head could save over four gallons of h2o verses a traditional one. Do the math and over an annual period a low-flow shower head can save a family of four over 6,500 gallons of water. Apply that same conscious spirit into ever faucet, fixture, and spout in your house and you will be making a significant contribution.

Many people also suspect that green energy can carry a heavy installation fee. While this is true in some causes, there are many degrees of green that you can make your home. You may prefer solar panels over a new shower head, or maybe just making the sound resolve to recycle all your goods. Green living is really a lifestyle choice. Once you act in a conscious way you will begin combining tons of different strategies that will not only net you a four figure savings annually, but benefit the environment as well.

Purchasing green is also an important step. This doesn’t just mean buying recycled goods, a window for example that is optimized for heat insulation can save on annual heating cost and fossil fuel usage.
Remember its not all or nothing and every little bet really does help our planet and save you some change. Use fluorescent light bulbs, build an active recycling strategy, ensure you plumbing is tight and leak free, do whatever it takes no matter how big or small to help yourself and our future.

1. Home Design: A green home should be built on a site that is overflowing with natural light, this reduces the need for artificial interior lighting and allows for increased solar panel absorption if applicable. There are a number of different strategies that should be used to capture this light such as light monitors, clerestories, light shelves, windows, and skylights. On the outside you will want devices for shading including canopies, sunshades, green screens, and of course the natural shad solution – trees! On the western and southern facades widows and door ways are particularly important to block from the sun during the hot summer months. A dual-glaze window will reduce heat gain during the hot months and also promote heat retention in the colder months of winter. It is best to have a roof which is light colored like an Energy Star heat reflecting roof, or a landscaped “green” roof which will reduce the absorption of heat. You’ll also want a design that can easily grasp any prevailing winds.

2. Location: If you are building a new green home it musty not be on a site that is environmentally sensitive. Such locations include habitats of endangered species, wetlands, and premium farmland. The best sites include development areas that are “in-fill” type properties such as former malls, rail yards, factories, and parking lots. You will want to look for a development area which is compact, the median housing density of this area should be at least six homes an acre. You will also want to consider transportation, a home that is within walking distance to mass transportation such as train stations, bus stops, and light rails will give you a chance to help the environment by leaving the gas guzzler at home more often. A home that is in walking or cycling distance to daily errand runs is healthier for you and our environment.

3. Materials: An eco friendly home should be renovated or constructed with non-toxic, healthy building materials and interior decor. Use sealants and paints that contain either low (or better yet zero) volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and non-toxic sub-flooring materials like straw-board. Any wood based materials should come from sources which are rapidly renewable like tropical hardwoods such as bamboo. Remember if you are using these types of woods that they must be Forest Stewardship Council certified. A truly green homes uses a significant amount of recycled and salvaged materials.

4. Footprint: It doesn’t matter how many recycled and salvaged materials you use, a seven thousand square foot green palace will undoubty use more of the earths resources than its more humble two thousand square foot counterpart. More space means more air conditioning, heating, and lighting. Where not asking you to go without a den and library but remember big is definitely not better when going green.

5. Landscape: Yards should use drought tolerant low water consumption plants in place of grass and some of the more thirsty plants when ever possible. Green screens covered in vines, and big canopy trees can be used to reduce heat islands by shading the driveway, exterior walls, and patios.

6. Energy: An eco friendly home should generate as much of its own renewable energy as possible. Through technologies like photovoltaic solar electrical systems a green home an generate a substantial amount of its own power. Also insure that all of your appliances have the Energy Star rating. Your cooling, lighting and heating systems should all be energy efficient.

7. Insulation: A green home should make use of non-toxic natural insulation materials such as cotton or soybean with a high heat resistance factor for the roof and walls. This will reduce the leakage of cool air in the summer and vice versa during the winter.