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Who knew that in 1970, a puppet
frog's lament would have so much relevance to today's world. People want
to contribute to a healthy environment, but many don’t know how without drastically changing their everyday lives or sacrificing
convenience. Being conscious
of the issues are the first steps to reducing your carbon imprint. And as
the frog found out in the end, being green is actually a really good
thing. Going green often means saving it as well. Here are
some ideas to help you go green:
Leaps in New Home Construction
Instead of just making houses
smaller to save energy, builders are utilizing innovative earth-friendly ideas.
Many new homes are adding rooftop solar panels, irrigation systems that
reuse rainwater and geothermal heating and cooling to reduce reliance on
fossil fuels. A very important aspect of a green home is
plenty of plants and vegetation, as well as nearby shopping and
entertainment options. You can enjoy the outdoors to the
fullest and walk to your destination, cutting down on car exhaust. The
prices for these types of homes will vary and are often very affordable.
A green building program in Portland, Ore. made it possible to build a
1,250 sq. ft. green home for only $100,000. Energy-efficient design
strategies reduced the homeowner's energy bills by 42% for heating and 50%
for cooling compared with a typical home.
Go for a Green Makeover
Eco-friendly changes are made easily to existing homes. Energy Star is a
government-backed program to help people protect the environment by
increasing efficiency. Not only are these appliances safer, but they also
come from reliable brands. Even flat screen televisions come in
Energy star qualified options.
In home remodeling, many
cosmetic amenities have green options, as well. For example, if
you've been thinking of adding hardwood floors to your home, try a bamboo
floor. It's considered friendlier to the environment because it
grows back more quickly than hardwoods (four to six years, compared to 50
to 100 years).
Going Green = Saving Green
The government may move slowly in addressing eco-friendly manufacturing
mandates, but at least they're helping out consumers. Check out
www.dsireusa.org to see what
monetary incentives are available in your area for energy efficiency and
renewable energy. Then check out
The Home Place for mortgage or home equity financing options at Credit
Union of Ohio. Saving a few points on your loan will allow you to
invest the money in other eco-friendly upgrades.
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