<font size="3" color="#990000"><strong>Secrets to Building an Eco-Friendly Home</strong></font> <p><span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 200%; font-family: ‘Verdana’,’sans-serif’; letter-spacing: 1pt">(ARA) – Homeowners are embracing the green movement, not only opting for eco-friendly renovations when they improve existing homes, but choosing to go green from the ground up when they build a new house.</span></p><span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 200%; font-family: ‘Verdana’,’sans-serif’; letter-spacing: 1pt"><p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal">Green building not only helps the environment, it can put money back in your pocket in the long run, as well. While some options like solar energy panels and top-rated ENERGY STAR windows and doors may cost more initially, they pay for themselves with their ability to reduce energy costs.</p><p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal"> </p><div style="text-align: center"><object classid="clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000" codebase="http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=6,0,29,0&quot; width="425" height="282"><param name="movie" value="../images/banners/1b.swf" /><param name="quality" value="high" /><param name="menu" value="false" /><param name="wmode" value="" /><embed src="../images/banners/1b.swf" wmode="" quality="high" menu="false" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="425" height="282"></embed></object></div>  <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal">It’s easy to learn more about green building practices. Experts are often generous with advice.<span>  </span>Here are some secrets to embracing eco-friendly building:</p>  <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal">* "Beginning with the design stage and carrying through to the building stage, the goals should be to increase efficiency, conserve resources, reduce costs and ultimately create a healthier environment," says Frank Redavide, president of Castalia Homes, an Indianapolis-based builder who is developing a green community. The builder gives homeowners the opportunity to learn the green building techniques that are being applied to the home, including green design, foundation products, lumber, framing practices and products, insulation, HVAC systems, plumbing and windows.</p>  <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal">* To make your new home as environmentally responsible and cost efficient as possible, be sure your builder is following recognized standards for green building, such as LEED and NAHB standards. These standards address everything from the location of the site, to water and energy efficiency and the use of recycled materials.</p>  <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal">* Incorporate eco-friendly appliances and fixtures. Look for manufacturers that are leaders in technology and check out the latest options on their Web sites. For example, Indianapolis-based Delta Faucet Company makes a range of Delta and Brizo<span>  </span>water-efficient plumbing products, including lavatories, shower and kitchen sink faucets that incorporate electronics and other water-saving technologies.<span>  </span>As a manufacturer partner of WaterSense, a program of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Delta Faucet Company offers water-efficient products backed by independent testing and certification.</p><p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal"><span></span></p><p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal">* Finally, investigate third-party certification programs that ensure you have made the optimal environmental choices.<span>  </span>The LEED Green Building Rating System (LEED) was developed by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), and is the nationally accepted benchmark for the design, construction and operation of high performance Green buildings. It encourages and accelerates global adoption of sustainable Green building and development practices through the creation and implementation of universally understood and accepted tools and performance criteria. Buildings are assessed on five key areas of human and environmental health: sustainable site development, water savings, energy efficiency, materials selection and indoor environmental quality.</p>  <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal">The NAHB Green Building Standard is a voluntary education, verification and certification program that allows builders anywhere to build Green homes. The standard builds upon the NAHB Model Green Home Building Guidelines developed by the NAHB Research Center in 2004. The guiding principles include: lot design, preparation and development, resource efficiency, energy efficiency, water efficiency, indoor environmental quality, operation, maintenance and homeowner education, global impact, site planning and land development.</p><p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal"> </p><div style="text-align: center"><object classid="clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000" codebase="http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=6,0,29,0" width="425" height="282"><param name="movie" value="../images/banners/1c.swf" /><param name="quality" value="high" /><param name="menu" value="false" /><param name="wmode" value="" /><embed src="../images/banners/1c.swf" wmode="" quality="high" menu="false" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="425" height="282"></embed></object></div>  <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal">These guidelines were created for mainstream home builders and are designed to highlight the ways a home builder can effectively weave environmental solutions holistically into a new home.</p>  <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal">For more information on green building or green options for the kitchen or bath, visit <a href="http://www.deltafaucet.com/">www.deltafaucet.com</a> .</p>  <p><span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 200%; font-family: ‘Verdana’,’sans-serif’; letter-spacing: 1pt">Courtesy of ARAcontent</span></p></span>