Real Estate Blog - "Dreaming A Little Dream of Green"

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"Dreaming A Little Dream of Green"

We were challenged by our Active Rain Eco All Stars Group to come up with 5 Elements that we would like to see in our dream home if Money was No Object. OR What 5 elements would we like to see included in Brad Pitt's Lower Ninth Ward Pink Project in New Orleans.

I Love this Challenge because Dreams become Reality!

My Eco Friendly Dream Home would include:

A grey water system to recycle all the barely used water to flush toilets, water the flowerbeds, pretty much everything but drinking and bathing. A cistern with rainwater collection would also be a part of this eco-friendly system.

diagram courtesy of Carl Lindstrom

greywater diagram

Solar or wind powered electricity that would not only support our needs but put back into the electrical system any extra power for credit against future needs or for others to share.

wind power turbine photo courtesy of BBC news

A green landscaped roof to help cool the home in summer and keep warmer in winter and add green plants to our environment. An added bonus would be home "camoflage" in satellite photos.

green roof

Solar Power windows to control and maufacture power/light/heat entering the home.

solar power windows

Solar power windows photo courtesy of XSUNX

A Thermal Heat Pump heating/cooling system to control heating/cooling for the home.

geothermal heat pump

Geothermal heat pump diagram courtesy of US Dept of Energy

I'm not sure what this home would look like architecturally but it sure would be a dream come true for me!

                               The View from Here ~ Bonnie Westbrook's Grand Rapids Real Estate Blog
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                                                        Copyright by Bonnie Westbrook 2007
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Posted by Bonnie & Terry Westbrook Grand Rapids MI Real Estate on 12/11/2007 11:29 AM

Comments (24)

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24 Comments on "Dreaming A Little Dream of Green"

DEC

2007

I love your ideas! I've often thought about... when money is no object... what kind of house would I build.. and it has some of the same things as yours... and you've given me some new ones to ponder.

"It's not easy being green."

Kermit the Frog

I need to mow the roof the grass is getting long. We all need to be more conscience of the way we use and abuse resources. My cost vs benefit analysis makes it difficult to pay for some of the green ideas but at some point we will all have to move in that direction. Thanks for the thoughts now how do I pay for these ideas?

HI Bonnie! I like your ideas! I never thought of using a green roof to spoof the satellites! What a great application!! Keep blogging, you write very well! In response to Terry - you hunt out builders who are able to put systems together that work without fluff!

Bonnie, I really do love the diversity of ideas this contest is bringing up. Great ideas, thanks for sharing!

Thanks for the first comment Eric. Yes, it is hard being green but so much better than being wasteful.

Terry, keep blogging and who knows, maybe our grandsons will be green builders!!

Mary: Oh, you learn all kinds of things in covert operations, shhh, forget I said that.

Thanks for stopping by and commenting, Dena. I am anxious to read all the other ideas but wanted to wait until after I wrote mine so I didn't get influenced by their choices.

Bonnie - I'm chuckling!

what interesting ideas! hats off to you!

Hi Bonnie, I want to hear more about the covert operations. :)

Seriously, great list! I really think that the solar windows would be neat..Ahh, still dreaming. :)

I saw some really cool solar windows at greenbuild 2007 and would love to bring the line on...maybe in the not so distant future? Also cool were some that were like transition lenses...

We have so many bright entrepreneurs and engineers now a days...I think our wish is their command...it's just getting hooked up with the right people at the right time!

DEC

2007

Great ideas, Bonnie. I'm sure this stuff will become common in our lifetimes.

Barbara-Jo & Bill: Thanks for stopping and commenting.

Stephanie: I thought the solar powered windows that generate electricity were strictly pipe dreams, too but oh,no, they exist. Not sure they are affordable or cost effective, especially in a state that gets about 60% sunshine. Maybe someplace like Las Vegas where they get 360 days of sun.

Mary: There are lots of great innovations out there - getting to know about them is exciting.

Karen: I sure hope so, we need to get serious about alternative energy sources. Thanks for the comment.

DEC

2007

Bonnie, Great ideas and systems here. These methods would defintely help the environment. I think I'm going to work on a self generating client machine that will generate me more green. :)

You already have one, Dave,...YOU! :>) Get out there and generate!!! We can all use more green!

Bonnie-Living in a State that often has water shortages I like the water idea the best. Next would be the wind energy. I heard there are smaller units now, and this would definitely be two things I would want if I could have the house I wanted. Every little bit that saves our resources is a great idea :)

DEC

2007

Bonnie, Your ideas are great, especially since my entry utilizes most of them also.

I am so keen on the photo-voltaic windows that I actually bought stock in Xsunx. I normally stay way far away from the stock market but I couldn't resist this one. I lost three thousand dollars on this. Oh well, maybe it will improve sometime in the next decade.

The only thing different with my house is the green roof because mine isan Earth sheltered house.

I particularly like your drawings.

Bill Roberts

GREEN is definately in! In fact our local Business Journal (Triangle Business Journal) does a special on building green each month now! Have you guys looked at this newsletter - has TONS of trendy ideas (and it's free) - not all green - but cool stuff all around! It was 81 here Friday - 50 now - we're FREEZING!

Kathy: It would be great if AR would help me to implement my dreams for a greener house but I am not buying the new windows yet. Thanks for your comment.

Bill: Thanks for checking out my house. I checked on yours and you do have ambitious plans. I thought the XSunX windows were too fabulous! I can see why you invested....they are probably just a little ahead of the masses. Thanks for your kind comments.

Eleanor: Thanks for the newsletter link. Yes, they do have great news! No sympathy - it is 26 degrees here today and snowing! Bright side: we got a couple of hours of sun this afternoon.