Green 101

Green Remodeling is an approach to improving your home that will not only make your home look better, but will make it work better for both you and the environment.  Green Remodeling takes into consideration the energy savings you'll realize through the improvements that you make, how the materials are made, and where the products come from.  All of these things can have a lasting effect on your wallet, your health and the environment.  When it comes to Green Remodeling every little bit counts and even little changes can make a big difference!

What are the Financial Benefits

You can reduce the energy that you consume by 30-70% by choosing a green remodel.  Energy efficient and water wise designs and products reduce monthly utility bills, and lower utility bills translate into more spending money for you!

Green Elements in a home will add value too, studies have shown that homebuyers are willing to pay more for a comparable home with green upgrades and features.  80% of homebuyers also say that most new homes don't meet their environmental expectations.

What are the Health Benefits?

Air Pollution in a home can be 2 to 5 times higher than levels outside a home.  Using green materials like low VOC paints and making sure your home is adequately ventilated can reduce allergens and improve indoor air quality.

A Green Remodel can be good for you both physically and emotionally.  Making improvements such as upgrading windows and improving the insulation in your home will make your home more comfortable and improve your quality of life.

How to Go Green

Going green isn't about transforming your life overnight. It's about small steps. From greening your cleaning to saving water and energy, these resources are all you need to start living the eco-friendly life, one day at a time.

From home and garden to food and health and tech and transport, there are tons of ways we can make our lives greener, and our guides for How to Go Green are here to help. Read on to start greening your life with ease, while understanding why each action is so important. Use this website for guidance as you travel down a greener path.

For endless amounts of education, visit Planet Green’s Website:
http://planetgreen.discovery.com/

Why Build Green?

Green architecture is more than a fashion statement. Many architects and clients agree that smart, sustainable buildings are becoming a necessity. Why? Because according to some estimates, buildings account for almost one-half of the world's material and energy consumption, one-sixth of fresh water use, and a quarter of all wood harvested. As costs for sustainable materials and products drop, building green is really the most cost-effective kind of design and construction. More and more, you can't afford not to build green.

Lower Building Costs

Even if you read no further, this should convince you: Green buildings save money, starting the very first day of construction. This is true for green homes as well as sustainable office buildings, factories, churches, schools and other structures.

A 2003 study by the California Sustainable Building Task Force shows that an initial green design investment of just 2 percent for will produce savings greater than 10 times the initial investment, based on a very conservative 20-year building lifespan. For example, $40,000 in green design in a $2 million dollar project will be repaid in just two years. Over 20 years, the savings will amount to $400,000.

Improved Productivity

A number of studies  (and common sense) indicate that building occupants who are healthy and comfortable are more productive. A study of 31 green buildings from the City of Seattle found that absenteeism was reduced by 40 percent. Another study, sponsored in part by commercial real estate giant Cushman & Wakefield, reported 30 percent fewer sick days among one company's employees, and discovered a 10 percent increase in net revenue per employee in another company, after each office moved to LEED-certified buildings. Companies in green offices also have an edge in attracting and retaining great employees.

Higher Market Value

Both residential and commercial buildings retain a high resale value if they include sustainable design components. The value to prospective buyers comes from knowing their utility and maintenance costs will be lower in buildings that outperform non-green buildings. Occupancy levels are consistently higher, and vacancy rates lower, in sustainable office buildings.

Healthy Occupants

Sick building syndrome is a problem that has plagued homes and offices for decades, and costs U.S. businesses millions of dollars each month. Green buildings, however, avoid many of these problems with healthy ventilation systems and use of non-toxic building materials.

The EPA estimates that indoor air pollution may be 2 to 5 times worse, and sometimes more than 100 times worse, than outdoor air quality. Of 146,400 lung cancer deaths in 1995, 21,100 were related to the radon gas that's found in many buildings. About 20 million people (and over 6 million children) suffer from asthma, which can be triggered by the poor indoor air quality that's often found in non-green buildings.

Tax Benefits

Recent federal tax incentives have been enacted to encourage the design and construction of energy-efficient buildings, both residential and commercial. Many state and local governments have also passed tax provisions to encourage energy-efficient buildings. Ask your accountant or tax expert about the Economic Stimulus Act of 2008, PL 110-185 (ESA), the Housing Assistance Tax Act of 2008, PL 110-289 (HATA), the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008, PL 110-343 (EESA), and the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, PL 111-5 (ARRA) to see if these apply to your home or commercial real estate.

Lower Utility Demands

One indirect benefit to green and sustainable buildings is often overlooked: reduced demand on electric, gas and water utilities means that these infrastructures can do more with less. This can result in lower municipal utility costs over the long run as utilities need not expand and can avoid passing those expansion costs onto utility customers.

Improved Quality of Life

It's hard to put a dollar-amount value on quality of life. How much, for example, would you pay to enjoy a less-stressful day, or to avoid catching the flu? When all of the aforementioned benefits to green architecture and sustainable design are added up, the enhanced lifestyles shared by all of society makes sense, both economically and environmentally. Again, as we move into an era of smarter technology and more expensive natural resources, we can't afford not to build green.