Green Building Options from the Ground Up

<h2 style="margin: 10pt 0in 0pt">Green Building Options from the Ground Up</h2>(ARA) – More and more homes are being built and remodeled with the environment in mind. This green building movement is gaining momentum and options for homeowners continue to increase, making creating a green home easier than ever.<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/12b.swf" /><param name="quality" value="high" /><param name="menu" value="false" /><param name="wmode" value="" /><embed src="../images/banners/12b.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>If you want to incorporate some green elements into your house, but are confused where to start, don’t worry. Here are some tips to make your home greener, from the ground up: Flooring With all the flooring options out there, how do you know the best one for your green home? Materials like sustainably harvested hardwoods and ceramic tile aren’t your only eco-friendly choices. A better option might be Marmoleum Click, an all-natural flooring made from linseed oil, wood flour, rosins and limestone. Homeowners can choose from 18 colors to create a custom floor that expresses their unique style. Ecologically friendly pigments are used to create the floor’s beautiful, vibrant colors. Installation is easy with a simple click-together system that does not require glue. Don’t forget about upkeep either. You don’t want to install a floor that requires the use of harsh chemicals for cleaning. Marmoleum, for example, only requires basic dusting and damp-mopping to keep the floor clean. Additionally, the flooring’s composition has antibacterial properties that prevent the breeding of many microorganisms, helping to keep your indoor environment fresh. For more information on environmentally friendly flooring options, contact Forbo Flooring Systems at (800) 842-7839, or visit the company’s Web site at www.themarmoleumstore.com. Fixtures Low-flow plumbing fixtures are a great way to reduce a home’s water consumption. Early low-flow options caused many problems, but today this technology is highly efficient comes in a variety of styles to match your home’s decor. Think about using low-flow showers and toilets, and efficient sinks with features like movement sensors that will cut your water bill as well as conserve our earth’s water supply. Paint/Decor The development of eco-friendly paints is growing. Visit your local retail store to ask about environmentally friendly options. Frequently these types of paints will have lower chemical levels. For example, regular paint that has a darker color will often use higher amounts of chemicals to get the right tone. Look for paint tints that are made of natural organic materials so the level of chemical compounds is less. As you create the look and feel of your rooms with different types of decor, keep the environment in mind also. Decorate with natural fibers such as sisal or cotton. Don’t forget the "green" value of houseplants. Not only do they beautify your décor, they remove harmful carbon dioxide from the air and release fresh oxygen. Finally, set the ambiance with soy candles. Traditional candles are paraffin-based, which is made from non-renewable petroleum. When they are burned, they release smoke into the indoor air, unlike soy candles which burn much cleaner and are made from renewable soy beans. <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/10b.swf" /><param name="quality" value="high" /><param name="menu" value="false" /><param name="wmode" value="" /><embed src="../images/banners/10b.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> Lighting The common household light bulbs that many of us use are incandescent bulbs. These bulbs are inexpensive but highly inefficient. A better option is compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs) that are very efficient. The initial cost difference is easily made up because these lights last much longer and run at a cooler temperature. Energy Star qualified bulbs use about 75 percent less energy than standard incandescent bulbs and last up to 10 times longer. Additionally, they save about $30 or more in electricity costs over each bulb’s lifetime. Roof/Solar Solar panels can be placed on the roof where the sun’s natural rays hit the panels and are then converted into energy that can be used in the home. The energy is stored in batteries that heat the home and run appliances. Solar panels are available in a variety of systems. Implementation costs are high, but once installed, they can help save a bundle in energy costs and reduce negative effects on the environment. As technology in this area continues to develop, look for it to be more efficient, with possible cost decreases. Courtesy of ARAcontent

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