The Importance of Building Green

Building or renovating your home is exciting business! New bedrooms, big windows, large arched doors... whatever your heart desires! The possibilities are endless. More often than not now-a-days though, people are beginning to understand that they should also build with energy efficiency in mind as well as cosmetics. But why is this so important?... because now, more than ever, our environment needs us!

Its simple really, the less energy we consume- the less we need to rely on non-renewable resources such as oil. Energy consumption has escalated to the extremes of causing global warming, melting polar ice caps, rising sea levels and more violent natural disasters than ever before. This is effecting all of us whether we are feeling the repercussions of it or not. Creating an energy efficient home will allow you to do your part in cutting back in energy waste. Less heating or cooling escaping right through your walls and windows will also allow the money in your pockets to stay there!

With heating accounting for almost HALF of our energy usage, proper insulation will prevent wasting our valuable resource. Asses your energy usage by using the following tips from energy.gov :

• Check the insulation in your attic, exterior and basement walls, ceilings, floors, and crawl spaces.
  
• Check for air leaks around your walls, ceilings, windows, doors, lighting and plumbing fixtures, switches, and electrical outlets.
  
• Check for open fireplace dampers.
  
• Make sure your appliances and heating and cooling systems are properly maintained. Check your owner's manuals for the recommended maintenance.
• Study your family's lighting needs and look for ways to use controls--like sensors, dimmers, or timers--to reduce lighting use.

After you find where your home is losing or wasting energy, ask yourself the following questions to find the best solution for you:

• How much money do you spend on energy?
• Where are your greatest energy losses?
• How long will it take for an investment in energy efficiency to pay for itself in energy cost savings?
• Do the energy-saving measures provide additional benefits that are important to you—for example, increased comfort from installing double-paned, efficient windows?
• How long do you plan to own your current home?
• Can you do the job yourself or do you need a contractor?
• What is your budget?
• How much time do you have for maintenance and repairs?

Tips found at Energy.gov , please refer for more information on the impact you can make on our environment.