A Low Impact Woodland Home

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You probably haven’t heard of Simon Dale. He’s not exactly a celebrity and he’s from Wales (England’s less popular little cousin). However, Dale is a really cool guy… He built a self-sustaining family home for only £3000. As of today, that’s around $4,857.13: less than most used cars.

So, you probably have a lot of questions. How did he do it? Can I do it? Will it last? Is there a way to do it so that my house doesn’t look like a Hobbit hole? Do I, in and of myself, have the resources to pull this off?

Honestly, I don’t have the answers to all of these questions, and you probably have more. You can probably find a lot of answers to your questions on Simon’s site, so I won’t steal his thunder. But to answer a few…

Can you do it? Yes. It’s totally possible for you to pull of a low-impact, green home. Maybe not as low impact as Simon’s house, but definitely greener than most if not all of your neighbors.

Will it last? Of course! That’s the point of sustainability. Every structure requires upkeep, but you can count on a low impact home lasting as a home and helping your environment to last, as well.

Do I, in and of myself, have the resources to pull it off? That depends on your skills and willingness to put forth the effort. You may not have the carpentry skills to build ahouse on your own, just like you probably don’t have the skills to give yourself stitches or litigate your own trial. That’s why you hire doctors, lawyers and carpenters.

You may not be able to do your own home remodeling like Simon Dale, and that’s okay. That’s the goal of Greenovations: to offer green home remodeling, environmentally friendly contractors and low-impact basement refinishing. If you’re not a Simon Dale, but you care about the environment and the sustainability of your home, contact us and we’ll help you out!

Green by Design

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Courtesy of azstarnet.com

Gabrielle Fimbres from the Arizona Daily Star is reporting that consumers are beginning to fill their homes with eco-friendly décor.  A recent survey found that sales of all organic products in the U.S. rose by 20 percent in 2011.  Green home décor is also on the rise.  “‘Green design is really a trend, which is different from a fad,’ said Pamela Portwood, interior design principle with Greener Lives in Tucson.  Portwood claims that a decade ago there were few options in environmentally friendly home décor.  Today it is easier to create a fabulous home while reducing the impact on the environment.  Today you can find green décor in stores and online, everything from paint and flooring to bedding and kitchenware.  “Sofa padding is now greener than traditional petroleum-based foam, towels are made from bamboo, and recycled boat wood is used to build furniture and cabinets.”  Owner of A-1 Mattress in Tucson, Bobby Boido, said more clients are looking for custom-built, organic mattresses and foundations.

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Energy-saving rebates heat up sales

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Courtesy of Google Images

Tim O’Brien from the Times Union is reporting that the current rush to grab a rebate for high-efficiency appliances “could be hung out to dry.”  New York State had launched an incentive for energy-saving washers and refrigerators on Monday, and by early afternoon a third of the money set aside had already been claimed.  The New York State Energy Research & Development Authority set aside $3.5 million for the rebates, by 1 pm on Monday $1.2 million had been claimed.  Shoppers should be aware that not all Energy Star appliances are eligible; the machines must be rated tier 2 or 3 by the Consortium for Energy Efficiency.  The reason for offering the rebate is to cut the state’s energy consumption.  “The state has set a goal to improve energy efficiency by 15 percent by 2015…”

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Green Homes to Grow 5-Fold by 2016

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Companies who offer “green” construction services are set to pull themselves ahead and grow their business faster, according to a survey by McGraw-Hill Construction and reported by Stephen Lacey from Climate Progress.  In 2011, green builds in the residential sector made up 17% of construction, which totaling $17 billion.  “And the value of the residential green building market is expected to grow five-fold by 2016, taking up to 38% of the market and representing $87 billion-$114 billion.”  According to McGraw Hill, 46% of homebuilders say that providing green design services makes it easier to find new work.  While 71% of homebuilder companies say that providing green alternatives is what sets them apart from their competition.  The green remodeling market performed better than new construction did last year, 62% of companies said that green services helped them increase their work.  This green building movement has led to new jobs and new skills for workers.  “McGraw Hill reported in October that one third of architects, engineers and contractors in the U.S.—around 660,000—say they have ‘green’ jobs.  That number may climb to more than 900,000 jobs by 2015.”

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Think Green, Live Green

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Living Green is a concept that involves creating green homes. These homes make use of energy efficient appliances and various other energy efficient sources. Typically the initial cost of turning your home into a Green home is a major deterrent. The important thing to remember is that as your Green home ages, your energy input will decrease thus lowering your energy bills over time.c388187 s Benefits of Green Living in Green Homes

In truth the upfront cost seems scary but, if you actually take the time and money to live green, your home will eventually begin to pay for itself. Green homes use less energy, require fewer repairs because of more durable building materials and provide lower energy costs. Many insurance companies will often charge lower premiums for green homes and the government has offered several tax breaks and rebates to those owning or buying green homes. The opportunities available for you to save money are endless.

Not only are you saving money with tax breaks, insurance company premiums and energy bills but you’ll breathe easier. Seriously. A Green home is a clean home. Too often we hear of lead and asbestos poisoning. Building a Green home or turning your existing home into a Green home eliminates any bad toxins that may still be lingering around your old home. You no longer have to worry about asbestos, lead, mildew or mold. You will not only live cleanly but you’ll breath cleanly with the natural ventilation systems we install to replace your stale indoor air.

With all these benefits you can’t afford not to go Green. For more information about building a new Green home or turning your home into a Green home check out our website at http://blog.greenovations.biz/ or give Clean Mark Services and GreenOvations a call at 203-227-8618. We’d love to talk Green with you.

 

Information for the article was found here.