"Green" Is the New Fad in Housing

Buying green

Green is the new "HOT" fade.  Manufacturers have notice this phenomenon sweeping across America.  Manufactures are now refining their home products raw materials, energy use, etc so they can label their products "Green".  To make a home "Green" which includes reducing your carbon footprint, a small incremental change can have major impact.  Since small changes tend not to be cost prohibitive, a much larger volume of Americans can implement the change which will have a significant impact.

If your are interested in doing more, you might consider upgrading your home.  Amy Hoak, MarketWatch, put together these five products. Some are new and some are just beginning to gain in popularity:

1. Washers that save energy and water
2. Toilets that conserve water
3. No-VOC paints
4. Smart thermostat applications
5. Low-flow faucets and showerheads

1. Washers that save energy and water

The newest washers are front loading, with features that use less water to clean clothes. Whirlpool, for example, has a washer that uses steam technology to save 73% of the water and 77% of the energy that top-load washers manufactured only four years ago use. A spin speed cycle is able to extract more water from clothes, cutting down on dryer time.  Dishwashers are benefiting from steam technology too. The KitchenAid Steam Option dishwasher saves about 2,400 gallons of water over the life of the appliance.

2. Toilets that conserve water

In many homes, toilets are the biggest water users. To save water in the bathroom, manufactures are developing toilets that use less per flush. Some models take it a step further, using different amounts of water depending on the type of waste being flushed.

Kohler has a Dual Force model under its Sterling brand that has two buttons on its tank: One allows 1.6 gallons for a "bulk" flush and another allows 0.8 gallons for "light waste" and liquid. Other single-flush toilets manage to use 20% less water than a traditional toilet, said Rob Zimmerman, senior staff engineer of water conservation initiatives at Kohler.

3. No-VOC paints

Paints have traditionally had some amount of volatile organic compounds present in them. Today's paints often have low amounts of the gasses that hurt a home's indoor air quality. A new product introduced at the show contains no VOCs at all.

The Freshaire Choice line of paints is being offered at Home Depot stores. It claims to have no VOCs in the base or the tint, and the paint comes in recycled packaging.

Generally, there has been an increasing awareness that poor indoor air quality can affect a family's health, said Deborah Jones Barrow, founder of TheDailyGreen.com, a Web site that offers suggestions for green living. "There is a lot of emphasis on increasing the health of the home environment," she said.

4. Smart thermostat applications

Programmable thermostats are often touted as a way to keep energy costs down. The only problem is, many times consumers use them incorrectly.

But online computer programs -- such as a new system from In2 Networks that works with Honeywell thermostats -- allow consumers to monitor heating and cooling consumption and control settings from their computers. The system can show homeowners the difference a couple of degrees could make, both in terms of dollars and the home's carbon footprint.

5. Low-flow faucets and showerheads

Low-flow faucets and showerheads may not be a new concept, but the latest versions perform a lot better than their older counterparts. As a result, homeowners who didn't want to sacrifice their hand washing or shower experiences for water conservation are giving these products a second look.

Delta, for example, has a Water-Efficient Showerhead with H20kinetic Technology, a product that creates larger water droplets and provides a more drenching spray, said Betty Hughes, a spokeswoman for the company.

Also read:  Lafayette is Going Green

You can find AJ Nisen on Active Rain at Contra Costa California Mortgages or at Bank of America Mortgage

Alan 'AJ' Nisen
Mortgage Loan Officer
Bank of America Mortgage
http://mortgage.bankofamerica.com/ajnisen