What to Look for in a Green Community for Seniors
 The newest group of senior citizens is very eco-aware. Because of this fact, there is a demand for green living even amongst retirees.Unfortunately, searches for green retirement communities may turn up a lot of dead ends as many people use the term "green" simply for marketing purposes. It is important to determine whether or not the retirement communities that advertise themselves as eco-sensitive are taking advantage of the new growth in environmental awareness.
The good news is that green living and retirement work very well together. Here is a list of what to look for in your new green retirement place:
1) The location is a major green factor. The greenest development sites are infill properties like former parking lots, rail yards, apartment buildings and even shopping malls.
2) Your home should also be within easy walking distance of public transportation.A green home should also be within walking distance of parks and stores.This way, everything you need is in close proximity.
3) Size also matters.If you really want a sustainable home, choose a smaller size. This will mean less materials overall.
4) The design can help a home to be truly green. The home should be oriented on its site to bring daylight into the interior to reduce lighting requirements and to take advantage of any prevailing breezes. This is called daylighting.
5) Windows, skylights and other strategies should be used to bring daylight to the interior of the house. The exterior should have shading devices, particularly on the southern and western windows and doors to block hot seasonal sun.
6) Choosing energy efficient windows and a roof will also be important to having a green home.
7) Having good insulation on the roof and walls will help conserve energy use too.
8) A green home will have been constructed or renovated with healthy, nontoxic building materials and furnishings. The materials should not off-gas volatile organic compounds (VOCs). Wood-based features should come from rapidly renewable sources like bamboo or FSC-certified woods.
9) The use of recycled and salvaged goods is another green practice.
10) A green home should have a water-conserving irrigation system, water-efficient kitchen and water-conserving bathroom fixtures.
11) Carefully look into your home's indoor air quality.Natural ventilation should bring plenty of fresh air inside the house.This can be done through fans, windows and vents. The HVAC (heating, ventilation and air conditioning) system should filter all incoming air and vent stale air outside.
12) Yards should be landscaped with native plants rather than aesthetically appealing, foreign plants and grasses in most regions. They require much less maintenance.You can also try using rainwater collection to water your plants with.
EnviroCitizen.org knows that you can find a great green community to retire in using these simple suggestions.Each small effort can make a big difference.
|
