green homes

Now there is prototype of a tree house that could revolutionize the home building process. This new green home is called the Fab Tree Hab and was created by three architects of out MIT.

For builders who thought going green was the answer there’s some bad news. While the hype surrounding green building features would make one think this trend would last forever, a recent study by the New York Times reveals some holes in this theory.

NH green architect Jeremy Bonin wrote an article on energy efficient home design for the September 2008 Special Green Issue of Timber Homes Illustrated, a premier timber frame home trade publication.  In the article “Simply Green”, Bonin was asked to define common terms used in green building and sustainable design, offer some simple solutions for building a green home, and discuss the costs versus long-term benefits of sustainable design.

Despite the narrowing gap in cost between green building and traditional “to-code” building, most builders and home buyers still perceive the green option to be significantly more expensive.  The reality is that due to increased builder education and an influx of affordable green building products, a building can be built green within the same budget as a non-green building.

Some easiest, ecofriendly ideas that cost only a few dollars each, offer immediate health benefits by reducing indoor pollutants, and have long-term positive effects on the wellness of our planet.

San Francisco’s board of supervisors has finally approved the Solar Energy Incentive Program making San Fran the country’s largest municipal solar program. The program has been a go for 10 years with an annual budget of $3 million dollars.

The idea of finding a piece of cheap land out in the boonies and setting up a used travel trailer to call home, became planted in my head after reading the book “Travel-Trailer Homesteading Under $5,000”, by Brian Kelling. This little book is a must have for anyone planning to do this. A lot of my ideas came after reading this book and I never could seem to shake the idea from my head. It seemed like the perfect plan for me.

How managed to break free of dept and the need for a full time job? I downsized my plans and life. I don't need a lot of crap. I found my two acres of land out past the power lines on the edge of an old strip pit for $2,000 bucks, parked a 26 foot travel trailer on it, bought a small generator, three solar panels mounted on a movable frame (so I can keep the panels facing the sun), and two 40 gallon propane tanks, meet all my needs for power and cooking.

While the housing market continues to experience a crisis, "green" building and remodeling can see large growth by influencing homeowners and builders to use more green alternatives, and as a result, make the value of their homes greater.  

In green construction, designers and builders commit to minimizing waste, improving a building's efficiency in terms of energy and water use, using sustainable or recycled products, and protecting indoor air quality.

A number of realtors around the country have reported increasing buyer requests for green homes. Citing consumer demand, the Northwest MLS (Multiple Listing Service) recently announced that it is updating its database to allow for property searches based on a range of green features.

All new homes built in Hawaii will be required to install solar hot water heaters beginning in 2010, cutting energy costs by 30%.

How to Turn Your Parents Green, by James Russell and illustrated by Oivind Hovland, is a humorous book for kids ages 8-80 (you are never too old to turn your parents green). This book helps alleviate eco-anxiety by empowering children. “The premise for the book is that grown-ups (the Groans) are responsible for causing global warming, but it’s you (the kids) who will have to deal with the consequences.”

A fantastic green home. A real dream!

This week, McGraw-Hill Construction released market research results on green home building, how much it has grown, and preferences of for green materials and processes.

 new construction techniques that are greener, reduce waste, and create a more energy efficient home.  See Video