| A "green" home is a home that is highly energy | | | | Energy efficiency savings can be substantial. Using |
| efficient, has excellent indoor environment, and is | | | | the weather and energy costs in Illinois as an |
| built to exceed local building code. Considering this, | | | | example, and comparing an affordable green |
| doesn't this mean that a green home costs more | | | | home to conventional home with forced air |
| to build than a person could save on energy | | | | heating and central air-conditioning, a green home |
| costs? Absolutely not! A green home is | | | | can save you around 75% on electricity, by using |
| affordable to build and can save a homeowner | | | | a combination of solar panels, landscaping, and |
| thousands in energy costs annually. And there | | | | Energy Star rated appliances and water heater |
| are thousands in tax incentives to take advantage | | | | and substituting central air with geothermal |
| of. | | | | applications, over 90% on natural gas by using |
| First, planned right and built well, a green home | | | | alternative heating methods, and 60% on water |
| can be built for no more than regular construction, | | | | sewer by implementing grey water |
| and has greater market value when it is | | | | recapture. Typical annual bills of nearly $3,000 per |
| completed. It is important to have a builder that | | | | year could be lowered to $700 or less - a savings |
| has built green homes before, not just one that | | | | of $2,100 per year. Of course, these figures are |
| has added green features onto existing | | | | for illustrative purposes only. Your actual savings |
| construction. The latter has no experience with | | | | depends on your electricity usage, the size of the |
| the type of building techniques that lower building | | | | home, the number of people you have living in |
| costs. An experienced green home builder will | | | | your home, the number of solar panels you use, |
| know that getting LEED's engineers involved in the | | | | and the precise options you select for your green |
| process and restructuring the process of building | | | | home. |
| to reduce waste and energy are key to starting | | | | And green homes look like regular homes inside |
| the project off right. In addition, an experienced | | | | and out, are maintenance friendly, and fun to own. |
| green home builder will be able to make valuable | | | | With tax incentives in the thousands, energy |
| suggestions to the potential homeowner about | | | | savings worth thousands, and greater market |
| trade-offs in costs and energy efficiency and | | | | value, building and living in a green home is an |
| apply his practical experience to estimates of | | | | affordable option for everyone. |
| energy savings. | | | | |