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Going Green, a Selling Point

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With a recent decline in the housing business, builders and real estate agents are looking for ways to keep the industry abuzz. The option of a “green” has become more and more appealing to consumers. This is helping the industry because, with increased interest, the cost of supplies are dropping. People are loving this green lifestyle. Not only do they get a home with cheaper utilities, they also help save the environment.

When house hunting, it may seem as a drawback to buy a home that can be 10-15% more expensive. It is possible to find a home of relative size for much cheaper. This initial cost is a stumbling block for many budget-consumers.

If you can get past the cost of the home, then you will see how much these truly profit you. The components of these homes are stationary and require very little maintenance. When you install green items to a home they can be expected to last 30 to 40 years. When you are selling a home, having these additions can greatly boost the value of the home.

Residing in a green house is finally starting to have the misconceptions and myths blown away and people are realizing what these designs really give. Now you just need to find a green house that is right for you.

Government Help for Unemployed Builders

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I wrote earlier of a organization helping at-risk teenagers get a foot up and teaching them a little about green construction methods. Well, I found from ContractJournal.com that the government is now looking to help builders out similarly. Builders that are out of work will now receive jobs inspecting homes and making them more energy efficient. Everyone involved is in a win-win situation, as Stephen Timms, the works and pensions minister, put it. People are getting greener homes and these employees are getting paid again to do the thing they know best.

Green Design and Smart Home in One

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MSI - Smart House

The Chicago Museum of Science and Industry completed construction on what is being called “Chicago’s greenest home.” The modular home with 2500 square feet mixes both elements of the world gone by and future space-age technology.

Smart Home has furniture made of everything from crates and barrels to a dining room table fashioned out of a fallen Ask Tree. The architect, Michelle Kaufman, designed the home with large windows and motorized skylights to maximize temperature control. A garden on the roof of the home keeps the home cool and absorbs rainwater. Water use is cut to a minimum with low-flow appliances. A nontoxic collection of rugs and bedding complement an air filtration system.

But, not only is this home a just another green home. It has technological advances seen in few normally constructed homes. The home uses the motorized skylights and and lighting to reduce your energy consumption. The PC driven system of the home has many great features that will leave you with lots of extra time and peace of mind.

If your in the Chicago area I would recommend checking out this house. You will learn about both green architecture and smart houses in one location.

At-Risk Youth Gain Training through Green Building

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While on The Daily Texan‘s website I came across an article about at-risk and disadvantaged youth that are finding a way to contribute to their society and can useful on-the-job training. I was intrigued by the head and decided to read on.

The youth are representatives of a organization called American YouthWorks. Through this program, youth receive both a high school education and the opportunity to learn about construction, and more specifically, green construction. The ability for these youth that have a had a rough time before now to learn valuable working skills is amazing. Not only do they now have the knowledge to perform these jobs but they also receive pay to use towards future schooling or to make a decent living.

This was a great story to see how green home design is not only good for the natural environment but it has its benefits in the social aspect. The article is definitely worth your time and will show you what going green can do for the world.

Featured: 100Khouse

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I’ve been reading a delightful blog called 100khouse.com. This is the first hand experience of author Chad Ludeman, president of Postgreen, who is developing the 100khouse. The neatest thing of all is indeed the reality of green building. Some things go smoothly for Chad, others don’t, and some don’t go at all. I’m still not sure if he can build this green home for the 100k budget. It’s like a reality show of my dreams only in blog form. I would definitely stay up late for this one…

Recent posts detail this rollercoaster of triumphs and downfalls. A week ago, in his post titled “PV Solar Panel Quote for 100K House”, he laments the $53.9K price tag on the solar system he wished would make the house a zero-energy home (a solar/grid system that would produce enough power to cancel his electricity bill). My favorite line is a heart-wrencher “We wouldn’t even have enough room on the roof to fit enough solar panels…”

Check out Chad’s blog 100khouse.com and see what it takes to build a green home with a tight budget.

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