Being Green

Green is all the rage!  You hear it in reference to just about every marketed product.  Just what does it mean to be “green”?  According to Wikipedia:  Green, along with environmentally friendly, eco-friendly and nature friendly, are synonyms used to refer to goods and services, laws, guidelines and policies considered to inflict minimal or no harm on the environment.^[1] "

Did you know there is no single international standard for environmentally friendly goods and services?  Beware when something is labeled as such, it could mean something different than what you think it should.

So what is a green home?  According to the U.S. Green Building Council’s Green Home guide there are many factors that make up a green home.  Some items to consider are:  location, size of home, building design, building materials, energy efficiency and landscaping.  

Let’s take a look at each of these measures.  Location: the development should not be located on an environmentally sensitive site like wetlands or endangered species habitat.  The development should be compact:  at least 6 homes per acre.

Size of Home:  The smaller the home is the less resources it will use.  In the case of green, smaller is better.

Building Design and Materials:  Is the home designed to use natural light sources? Does the outside have natural shading?  Are the materials recycled or environmentally friendly?

Energy Efficiency:  This covers everything from lighting to heating and cooling and appliances.

 Landscaping:  You should choose drought resistant plants for your yard as well as place shade trees strategically to provide cover for the concrete (driveways and patios) and for the windows.

These are just a few of the factors to look at when considering if a home is “green”.   The biggest consideration, however, should be what features are important to you?   Are you more concerned with saving money monthly with energy costs? Or is it more important that that the materials are recycled and environmentally friendly? 

Are you willing to pay more for these products just to know you have a “green” product?  If you are concerned about the overall price tag of your home, make sure to compare upfront cost vs. monthly savings to make sure it makes financial sense.

Hartland Homes’ homes meet many of these “green” standards.  All of our homes meet the energy star guidelines,

our developments meet the 6 per acre standard, and our homes are smaller and efficient by design.  However, if we do not currently employ the “green” factor that is most important to you, don’t worry, we will be glad to make the adjustment.   Call us today.  We can help you determine what green features you want in your new home and how to make it a reality.    402-477-6668