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What does Green Really Mean? Simply put, the word green when applied to a home has come to mean a characteristic that either helps conserve energy or reduce pollution, sometimes both. Homes with green features can look like any other home and they come in all colors, designs, shapes and sizes just like people. Some homes actually have green ratings by the Austin Energy Department of the City of Austin. These are usually new homes although some resale homeowners have entered the program. It is worthwhile to note that Austin is ranked as the second greenest city in the nation by the World Resources Institute(just behind Honolulu) and was the first to establish a green builder program. The Green Building Program rates homes on a scale of one through five stars which indicates increasing levels of "greenness" of the home. A one star home has fairly basic green building elements and is fairly easy for a builder to construct, while a five star home is filled with a multitude of green elements. There is a large group of green features that save you money on your utility bills. They are in homes that have upgraded energy and water efficiency features such as the 12 SEER or higher air conditioning system, "low-e" windows, roof radiant barriers, continuous ridge and soffit vents, programmable thermostats, ceiling fans, low-water-use turf grasses and plants etc. Then there are a number of green features thatcan save money in maintenance costs. In this case we look for homes made of durable and low-maintenance materials such as fiber-cement siding, roofing tiles, stucco, and stone. Rated homes also have turf grass and native plants which are well suited to thrive in Austin’s hot and humid climate. Then there is the whole question of indoor air quality. We spend 80-90% of our time in buildings and research is just beginning to show how badly modern buildings treat their occupants. You canaddress this problem by looking for features which can reduce the ill effects of mold, volatile organic compounds, and airborne particulates in your home. There are low-VOC paints,high quality air filters, and natural fiber carpets to name a few. Construction and operation of buildings use about 40% of the world’s natural resources. Green Building Program rated homes are designed to make efficient use of construction materials and use less energy during their lifetime, therefore causing less damage to the environment. Buying a Green Building Program rated home allows you to do a very large part to help preserve our environment for you and your children. Going Native | ||||||||||
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