Although certifications are necessary to officially designate a home “green,” anyone can make their home and their lives greener. A home’s individual green features are what make it environmentally friendly or “greener.” An environmentally friendly home is a home that—compared with a standard home—uses less energy, water, and natural resources; creates less waste; and is healthier for its inhabitants. Homes can be built green-conscious, or they can undergo green enhancements (eco-conscious alterations or remodels) after they are created.

A home that is eco-friendly should encompass one or all of the five key green principles outlined below and should:

*  Conserve natural resources
*  Use energy efficiently
*  Have improved indoor air quality relative to normal building standards
*  Create less waste to build and live relative to normal building standards
*  Be part of a livable community

An environmentally friendly home will includes features that will result in substantial water savings and a 30 percent savings on a typical electric or gas bill. Additional features may include: ENERGY STAR appliances, efficient glass, extra insulation, paperless drywall, solar electricity, special high-efficiency HVAC (heating, ventilation, and air conditioning), a “fresh-air exchange” system that prevents stale air from being kept inside the house, drought-friendly landscaping and regionally native plants, tank-less water heaters and water-saving faucets and toilets.

For more green real-estate-related tips see Going Green on our web site.

For your entire Apple Valley CA Real Estate needs visit our web site.

Going Green is a weekly publication brought to you by the Crown Team.  Check with us each week for continuing articles on how to save money in and around your home and in the process reduce your footprint on the environment.  If you have thoughts, comments or ideas with a broad application be sure and let us know so we can reproduce them with credit to you.