What’s a Green and Sustainable Home and Why Buy One?

If you’re in the market for a new home and are interested in saving the environment you might want to think about being a sustainable or green home.

What does it mean to “go green” and what’s sustainable living and how does it differ from going green?

“Going Green” is a general term for making a conscious decision about your role in the environment. It means adopting an attitude of awareness about your surroundings and the way you live and function daily.

Sustainable living is part of being green. If you look up “sustainable” in the dictionary, it means to keep in existence, maintain or support.

Materials that you use that are sustainable are meant to last a long time, and thus have a long life. After their usefulness has ended, they can be reused or recycled into another useful object. So, there is no “beginning” or “end” to these products, they are “sustainable”

Going Green can mean many things. It can also be simply a way to keep your home or living environment free of pollutants and allergens. It also helps save money on energy bills and reduce waste. In general, these are both all-encompassing ideas that mean different things to many people.

The green movement’s humble beginnings began in the 1960s and 1970s. This, of course, led many to believe that anyone interested in the environment was a “hippie.”

This thought stuck around for a very long time. However, in these present times the ever-increasing population, and the continuation of urban sprawl, it continues to be practiced coast to coast and around the world

Whether you buy a green or sustainable home or keep one as a homeowner you can incorporate green practices in small steps and longer-term practices

Ways to be Green

Small steps would be things like changing out your light bulbs to efficient fluorescent ones.

Make sure the air filters in your heating and air conditioning unit are free of dust and dirt.

Buying Energy Star-rated appliances and using low VOC paints and eco-friendly cleaning agents.

Put ceiling fans in rooms to keep fresh air circulating. On a larger, more long-term plan, make sure your windows are insulated and free of leaks. Consider replacing them with high-quality windows if necessary.

If you are considering hardwood flooring, make sure that the wood you choose comes from a sustainable and renewable source. FSC certification, which stands for Forestry Stewardship Council, is a watchdog group that monitors the cutting of woods in this country. If your wood floor, or any trim, is not FSC certified, it could come from places in the world that aren’t managing their forestry. This clear-cutting worldwide contributes to global warming.

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If You’re Selling

Some other going green quick tips for improving the way you live at home could help your home sell faster when you do sell.

However, you don’t have to turn your entire home upside down in one day to make these green changes, just begin slowly.

Start by walking around the house and unplug electronic appliances, including TVs, computers, you don’t use daily. These items consume energy if they aren’t being utilized.

Try to use appliances wisely; wait for a full load before turning on the washing machine, dryer, or dishwasher. Always clean the lint filter after every dryer load and air-dry clothes when/where weather permits to save energy.

Keep your home warm (weather permitting) by allowing the sun to shine through by opening blinds, curtains, and other window dressings.

Use energy-efficient light bulbs in lamps, appliances when showing the home. Always turn off lights when you aren’t home or in rooms you don’t use to save energy. Install automatic timers for lights can also save energy and work great when hosting an open house.

Growing live plants at home serves as natural air filters, and some plants absorb harmful pollutants that come from carpets, furniture, and electronics. Maybe grow an edible garden including salad greens, veggies, and herbs. A garden can help reduce soil erosion and air pollution. Choose a place that doesn't use a lot of water and skip toxic pesticides or chemical fertilizers. Use organic and earth-friendly garden products, visitors will enjoy them.

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Set Your Mind

Going green can be an easy, cost-effective lifestyle for you if you set your mind to it. All you must do is be aware, diligent, and determined; before you know it, you will be doing your part to help the planet.

As you can see there are many benefits as well as costs of sustainable design to investigate before buying a new home.

The benefits, of course, we’ve already mentioned and as for the costs, this varies. High-quality materials aren’t cheap.

Thinking long-term purchasing and amortizing the cost over the life of the product, bring some expensive materials down to a more reasonable level. Taking the cheaper, faster, quick fix may be easier at the outset, but this never holds up, and in the end, could cost even more when you must replace it.

Sustainable resources are readily available however things are backlogged due to cargo delays and the pandemic. But in general, every day, there are new products introduced in this country that are eco-friendly. Recycled glass tiles, composite paper countertops, decking material made from recycled plastic, the list goes on and on. The manufacturers of these products aren’t making these products on a whim, there is a demand for them, and it increases every day.

It's easy to go green if you take the time to about it before you buy a new home or turn your existing home into a green home.

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Not a Fad

Green design isn’t just a fad. With the awareness of global warming, overpopulation, and diminishing natural resources, it’s time to do your part toward a better planet for yourselves, your children, and your future.

If you’re thinking of buying a green home or a sustainable home shortly in the Virginia area there are all sorts of options.

Many of these homes are beautiful in design and offer much to those who are looking to make a long-lasting change. There’s little doubt that the sustainable living or green living way of life is going to slow down any time soon regardless of where you decide to settle an out down roots.

Be sure when you are ready to start looking at these types of homes to contact a qualified and professional real estate agent who can show them to you at your convenience.

Is it your turn to do your part and start a more sustainable and green life?

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