The Benefits Of A "Green House"
With all this talk about going Green, is it smart to have a "Green House"? Ecologically and economically speaking yes. A "green house" is a home that has installed energy saving or environmentally friendly products. Today, there are many "green" products available on the market for your home. The biggest and the most energy saving source is solar energy systems. These systems can range from solar powered hot water heaters, solar powered heaters for pools, to solar powered electricity for your entire home.
According to Energystar.gov, the typical household spends $1,900 a year on energy bills. Household appliances are another major energy using factors. Appliances such as refrigerators and clothes dryers are the most costly. When shopping for appliances, look for the energy star symbol. These appliances are the most effective in saving you money.
Compact fluorescent bulbs can use up to 75% less energy than standard incandescent light bulbs and last up to ten times longer; so replace those bulbs as fast as you can.
Insulation in a home is also very important. You must have properly installed insulation to maintain even temperatures throughout your home.
The newest product that was recently brought to my attention is a carpet that is made from recyclable plastic beverage bottles. The company uses 30 plastic bottles for every square yard of carpet. The carpet was surprisingly soft and seemed very durable.
You can also purchase paint products that are environmentally friendly and healthier to use in the home. These paints can be non-toxic, with low or zero VOC's opposed to traditional paints, which release dangerous gases into the air.
Another aspect to consider is the many federal tax credits for qualifying energy products. One of the credits includes qualifying solar energy systems. The tax credit is 30% of the cost of the system, up to $2,000 through December 31, 2008.
When home searching, look for homes with energy star appliances or other earth friendly products. If building a home, ask your builder if the home qualifies for the energy star recognition. This could mean substantial savings for the homeowner.
Ultimately, there are many ways to have an environmentally friendly home. We all need to realize that in some way we are all responsible for what the earth will be like in the near future.
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