Green Homes and Why They're Better to Live In

More people are becoming aware of the option of purchasing green homes and how they are benefitting the Earth. One thing that is often overlooked is why green homes are better for humanity to live in. Habitat for Humanity is a firm believer in this as they advocate green buildings for their homes and offices.

First of all, green building often costs the same price or less in than conventional methods. Many materials are easy to find and are priced very reasonably. Better yet, these products usually end up saving the consumer money because they use less water, energy and other resources. Another positive benefit is that they can lead to tax credits and other financial incentives. They can even increase your property's value when you have to sell it.

From a health perspective, green materials are healthier for you. Indoor air quality is often compromised by volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from vinyl, paint and other materials. This leads to long-term health effects in the respiratory and endocrine systems. When you build green, materials used often have little to no off-gassing of VOCs. There also have been studies showing that in workplaces, having a green workplace with low VOCs leads to less health problems and higher productivity.

Green homes are made from materials that are built to last and have fewer problems overall. This means that the home will have a higher value and require less work for maintenance in the long run. Less time spent fixing things is more time you can spend doing other things while not having to use more resources in repairs.

Finally, when you live in a green home, you are living in a home that was built with eco-friendly practices. It was built using less materials that were new which means that there is less waste and more to go around for future needs. Green homes also use less electricity and water, which means that you can feel good knowing that your home's impact will be less so others can have equal access to needed resources like water in the future. Also, many of the materials are managed in ways that are considered fair-trade, meaning that workers and others along the way have been paid fairly. By supporting green homes, you are helping with social change and EnviroCitizen.org recognizes that social change is necessary in order to preserve our planet for future generations.