| A "green" home is a home that is highly energy | | | | are invisible to the homeowner and their guests. |
| efficient, has excellent indoor environment, and is | | | | The home will be quieter and cleaner without the |
| built to exceed local building codes. So are they | | | | dust and noise of conventional forced air heating. |
| ugly then? Look like the Jetson's space-age | | | | And the energy cost savings are substantial, |
| house? So obvious they would stick out like a | | | | depending on your particular situation. |
| sore thumb? No. No. and No. A green home looks | | | | Energy Star appliances sip electricity but are |
| just like conventional construction inside and out. | | | | similar or identical to your current appliances. And |
| The beginning of a green home is a set of plans | | | | cabinets and trim can be identical to conventional |
| that starts with a conventional floor plan and | | | | houses or use recycled material or earth-friendly |
| elevations. Then an experienced green home | | | | woods for a more eco-friendly alternatives. |
| building will modify the systems of the house to | | | | The cladding and shingles on the outside of the |
| accommodate green home features and energy | | | | home are no different than a conventional home |
| saving devises - A geothermal system rather | | | | making the home blend in to its neighborhood |
| than air conditioning; in-floor heating rather than a | | | | seamlessly. However, the market value is |
| conventional natural gas forced air system; a grey | | | | probably higher than the surrounding homes due |
| water recapture system; energy efficient | | | | to its energy saving advantages and tax |
| windows, doors, appliances, and water heater; and | | | | incentives. |
| high quality, high 'R'rated insulation. | | | | So a green home is a beautiful swan, not an ugly |
| The best part is that these systems work very | | | | duckling, at all! |
| different from their conventional counterparts, but | | | | |