What Makes a Home "Green"?

A green home, also known as a sustainable building, is a structure that is designed, built, renovated, operated, or reused in an ecological and resource-efficient manner. Green buildings are designed to meet certain objectives such as protecting occupant health; improving employee productivity; using energy, water, and other resources more efficiently; and reducing the overall impact to the environment. 2352 Blitzen was built with these concepts in mind and has used the systems labeled above.

What are the environmental and economic benefits of green building?

• Energy Efficiency Benefits: lower utility bills, lower lifetime cost to operate. The recent spike in energy costs is a boon to the green industry. Builders are interested in energy-efficient and environmentally friendly homes because consumers are demanding it. According to the US Department of Energy, buildings consume about one-third of all energy consumed in the United States.

• Resource Conservation Benefits: the use of recycled and sustainable materials can help conserve our natural resources. Almost 80 percent of materials can help conserve our natural resources. Almost 80 percent of consumers listed environmentally friendly features a concern when purchasing a home.

• Improved Indoor Air Quality. Nine out of ten consumers consider environmental and health factors as part of their purchasing decisions.

• Increased resale value. The true cost of a home or building takes into account not only the purchase price but the amount it costs to own and operate the building. Comfort and cost savings are tangible benefits for consumers and increase value.

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