Going Green At Home

Green living If you’re concerned about the environment and enjoy saving money, there are some simple steps you can take to do both. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) established guidelines for homeowners and home builders to help them “go green” and include them under a program called Energy Star

What makes a New Home Green?

According to Energy Star website www.energystar.gov, a new home receives an Energy Star rating if it is at least 15% more energy efficient than homes built to the 2004 International Residential Code. Here are some standards they look for:

Effective Insulation – Insulation that is properly installed and appropriate to your climate in floors, walls, and attics. Radiant barrier insulation is a metallic foil material that blocks radiant heat transfer across open spaces, such as your attic, and reduces cooling costs in the summer. Also look for green insulation made of cellulose fiber.
High-Performance Windows – Protective coatings and quality frame assemblies create energy efficient windows that can also block damaging sunlight from your home’s interior.
Tight Construction and Ducts – Filing holes and cracks in your home’s envelope and duct systems reduce drafts and moisture.
Efficient Heating and Cooling Equipment – Energy Star rated HVAC systems are much more energy-efficient than their predecessors, requiring less maintenance and improving indoor air quality.
Lighting and Appliances – Energy Star rated light fixtures and appliances lower your energy consumption. Use compact fluorescent bulbs, which are up to 4 times more efficient than incandescent bulbs and last up to 10 times longer.

The government offers a tax break for adding insulation, replacing windows, and installing high efficiency heating and cooling systems. Credits are also available for solar water heating and other solar energy systems.

To find a list of “Green Built” home builders and service providers who follow green standards in remodeling and home building, visit the Home Builders Association of Greater Dallas website www.dallasbuilders.com

What Are Some Easy Ways to Go Green?

Many homeowners want some simple ways to help protect the environment. Start with one change and work your way up to including several of these practices in your household:

Recycle. Most DFW cities offer a recycling program.
Switch to green electricity. Enter your zip code at www.powertochoose.org to see a list of green energy options in your area.
Buy products made of recycled paper, including food packaging.
Stop buying aerosols, which can’t be recycled and end up in landfills.
Eat organic produce and discover the improved flavor of chemical-free food.
Buy rechargeable batteries and stop throwing away the disposable ones, which end up in landfills and leak hazardous waste into the water supply.
Make scratch pads out of paper used only on one side. Cut the paper in half and staple it together.
Properly dispose of hazardous waste, including paint cans, motor oil, and weed killer, at your city’s designated site.
Create a compost pile for your kitchen scraps.
Grow a garden and put some of that nutrient rich compost soil to good use.
Try walking or biking a few blocks to run errands. Also take advantage of DFW’s improved public transportation system.