25 Jul EcoTip#14 A Green Home: Safer for Your Health, Better for the Earth

Building a home the conventional way can create an amazing amount of waste as well as a toxic environment for the people who live there. Little or no consideration is given to ecological habitat, water and energy consumption, or preservation of open spaces.

To be more sustainable, green builders and building ecologists consider the impact materials have on the environment and the health of the home’s occupants. For example, plywood and sheetrock and particle board are avoided because they are manufactured with toxins such as formaldehyde. Green homes are built with energy efficiency and water conservation in mind.

Green builders pay attention to siting – how the house is oriented on the land. They know the owners can save energy by oriented the house for best sun exposure for the climate and seasons. They like to preserve as much open natural space as possible for wildlife habitat and natural beauty.

To find a builder that is building sustainable, safe and healthy homes, look for certification with LEED — the Leadership in Environmental and Energy Design Green Building Rating System^TM –  or Austin’s Green Building Program^®.

The Austin Green Building website offers lots of information and resouces for making your next home green, including Green by Design: 7 Steps to Green Building. Get the details the "Resources" section of their website: Austin Energy Green Building.