 EnviroCitizen.org is pleased to see just how far we've come when it comes to green housing. Ten years ago, there were only a handful of green homes and buildings. A few individuals decided to go off the grid, but the resources available were limited at best and typically non-existent.
Green housing has changed drastically in the last decade. Primarily, it exists on a much greater scale than it did before. Many people are making changes in their homes to increase the efficiency of their home, such as making sure it is properly insulated or buying energy-efficient appliances. On the other side of things, builders are opting for more eco-friendly practices and real estate agents are making such changes, too. The recent upsurge in green housing practices can definitely be attributed to the current green revolution. To put it simply, people want green features. As a result, many housing developments are turning green, too, in response to the demand coupled with how economical it actually is for everyone involved.
From California to Maine and everywhere in between, housing developers are designing and building homes that make sense. New homes are being built to be very energy efficient. When a structure is energy efficient, it functions better and at a lower cost. For example, if you properly insulate a home, the homeowner can control the temperature and indoor air quality easily and the home is maintained for a lower cost. The lower cost associated with an energy efficient home is largely what people like about green housing developments. Developers throughout the country, however, are going above and beyond the lower cost factor. Many developers are incorporating even greener practices into their designs, such as sustainable materials. Bamboo floors, for example, have seen an astronomical increase in sales. Bamboo flooring is a great eco-friendly home feature because bamboo grows quickly, so it is extremely renewable. Bamboo floors are also beautiful, durable and cost effective. Other developers are incorporating natural lighting, an important component to an energy efficient, eco-friendly home. Natural lighting enables homeowners to reduce their need to control the indoor temperature and reduces the need for electric lighting. Many developers are installing energy efficient appliances and solar photovoltaic panels on many new housing developments.
EnviroCitizen.org finds that the housing scene is one of the more refreshing tales of the green revolution. Because of the reduced cost associated with designing and building green homes, developers around the country are taking small steps to make the homes of today and of the future more green than ever before. And since it's economical for the developer, green homes are becoming more and more economical and practical for potential homebuyers as well!
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