Here is why you should care: A properly built home or building can save you money, improve your health and hopefully help turn around our environment which is falling apart rapidly.
Sound good? It should, but before you go down this path, please understand that there are several different perspectives on what is really "Green.
" Don't take anyone's word for it.
Spend some time and do your research.
Several companies claim to have green products that are environmentally friendly and will save you money and they aren't and won't.
This is my definition of a green home or building.
There are others out there, but I like this one because I can relate to it.
A green building is a building or home that has been specifically designed or remodeled to save energy, promote healthy indoor air and have much less impact on the environment.
Green building started out as a construction term used to describe whole house design and techniques that are ecologically friendly using sustainable materials and components.
These days the media likes to use it as a buzz word even if the term doesn't fit or is a stretch.
When you hear the following terms, consider them interchangeable for the most part: green home designs, eco home, eco house, green house, green home designs, building efficient green homes, eco friendly houses and eco friendly home.
There are also several organizations in your area that will give you guidelines and green certification.
Most homeowners don't really care about the certification and see no reason to pay the fee.
I am with them.
What you should care about is how using green building products will benefit you and your family or business.
That is singularly what is important.
I like Green products that are going to save me money and are better for the environment.
If they don't do both then I want nothing to do with them.
There are plenty of products that do both.
The one certification I do recommend over all others is the one used for appliances, Energy Star.
Products with the Energy Star logo are built to very specific standards and will tell you just how efficient they are, how much they cost to run and the energy savings you will obtain by using them.
Most importantly, don't take anyone's word for it that their product is Green, will save you money or improve your environment.
Research and verify.
I know it's a pain, but it will save you aggravation in the long run.