Is That Home REALLY Green

I was at a bbq last weekend and was talking to a small home builder and he said they installed recepticles in the garages, for a couple hundred dollars each, so they could call the homes "green."

Yes Don, there are all kinds of measurements and tests that have to be done to differentiate true Green from not so green.  We do indeed have builders here who are meeting those requirements with the proverbial flying colors...

This is another reason that buyers should be using us when they go to buy new homes.  We can help them get educated so that they get the product they want, not a knock-off!

"Green" is defiantly a buzz word these days.  I read that article and found it insightful.

What kind of 'recepticles' can make a home green? This sounds very odd. Is he talking about recycling receptacles? Green normally describes: recycled or high efficiency building materials, low energy use, low water use, solar power etc.

I love the checklist, Its all very accurate. I don't own a consulting company, but I also did not just get on the bandwagon. Someone needs to share with developers that smaller is greener , and the sustainable areas, i.e infill, or building in an old rail yd is much more green than what the developer's are doing.

if you talk to developers , ( at least the ones here in WA state) about what they are building , 3-4bdrm homes with upstairs living in 4 out of 5 floor plans and sq ft sizes from 3000-5000 for a family home. They will tell you that they have been building this way for 10 years and that is what people want. and they know exactly how much it costs them to build them.

Prices vary based on region, but in the greater Seattle area this home runs you between 650-950K depending on the neighborhood. 650K based on a 6.375 % mortgage with 20% down gives you a monthly house payment of 4k a month and due to the tighter lending guidelines  a dti of 41% means your income is greater than 10K a month and you have no other debt. and that is on the conservative side at 875K purchase price your monthly house pymt is 7300 based on 41% dti means your income is 18K a month with no other debt.

Then ther eis the fact that many people , I will go out on a limb here ) most people do not think about what it costs to furnish and maintain that home.

Green is a way of thinking , not just a type of construction. Its about better layout and design, more natural light , more ergonomic. its about spending less on energy by investing long term. The benefits of a green home we just remodeled are huge. an electric bill of $18.00 a month , gas $29.00 a month . for 1600 sqft 3bd. 1.5 bath 1 block off the waterfront walking distance to everything in downtown Gig Harbor.

Anyone who is in the developing , construction, or real estate industry should know that our demographics have changed since the mid 1990's . By 2010 60% of our population will be over the age of 60. Most of these people are downsizing and would like to live in a community in a rambler /ranch ( single level home ) that is 2000 sqft or less. within walking distance to everything where they can lock up and leave . The days of spending all your weekends maintaining a huge yrd are for the most part in the past . This sector of or population also controls 1.7  trillion dollars in wealth. If you want to see the housing market improve we need to pay attention to the wants and needs of this population and educate them.

THere are green mortgages available too

"Lani Kish" <LKish@golfsavingsbank.com>,

I see that you are new to Active Rain and I just wanted to welcome you. I hope that you enjoy it as much as I do and that you find it a great resource.

Well done Don, you picked this up great. You might want to check out how well your article appears on localism too.

http://localism.com/neighbor/donpick