Building or renovating a home with green products is becoming more main stream with more options and improving costs. Consider using glass and concrete around the home.

Countertops made of recycled glass and concrete can be a thing of the future. Recycled glass is glass that is saved from the landfill and when it needs to be changed in the future, it can by recycled again.

It can be used for backsplashes, shower walls, tabletops, flooring and even outdoor pavers. You have multiple choices for finishes as well; gloss, honed or sandblasted for slip resistance.

It qualifies for a LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certification because it is made from recycled materials and is VOC (volatile organinc compounds) free.

If building a new home, polished concrete floors avoid trips to the landfill with old carpets and tile. Because of the thermal properties of concrete, cooling and heating energy needs are reduced. Indoor air quality becomes more improved without carpet and the need for glues and adhesives.

The need for harsh detergents and cleaning liquids is diminished with concrete floors - all you need is water and a mop. Ambient lighting is in abundance with polished concrete floors so you save more money on the electricity bill.

Source: Article by Maggie Calloway in the column "Smart Choices for our Future"

Preferred Client update from Chris Whitney of Royal LePage.

Managing Rain Runoff

Using rain barrels to collect water for your lawn and garden has the added benefit of keeping water away from your home's foundation and from adding unnecessary strain on municipal systems. Pools of water at groundlevel near the house can be a cause of erosion and long-term damage to the foundation of your home. Public storm sewers may not be equiped to take on heavy rain after a flash storm or long periods of downpour. It may cause backups and flooding in low lying areas.

Roofing Materials

If you are considering replacing your roof in the near future, you want want to research the new technologies and concepts that are now available in roofing.

• energy-saving roofing membranes that help reduce electricity costs during summer and winter months by keeping the heat or cool in.
• sun-reflective roof coatings that can applied on existing roofs to reduce heat absorpotion.
• ashpalt shingles are made of energy-efficient and durable materials.
• solar panels are more thin and use the roof surface area to heat water and provide electricity
• green roofs help insulate homes and use rainwater for the vegetation which absorbs greenhouse gases.

State-of-the-art green homes can be sold at market price 

Weatherford Place in Roswell Georgia is a green residential community. It's described as a "solar community of net-zero energy homes" built to the greenest building standards.

In fact, each "EcoCraft" home is at a platinum LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) level. The highest level which includes points for such things as reuse of materials, pollution reduction, green power, rapitable renewable resources, etc. It's the first project of it's kind built using "Nature's Code".

The solar power generation in the community is what differentiates this development from the rest. One of the unique features is that each house serves as a power source for the community. The solar energy collected from the houses are put in to the power grid and used by everyone. The specifications show that each home should generate more than it uses thus making each home a net-zero energy home.

The homes also use 2/3 less energy than regular homes and use solar power to heat water, etc. Each home will have monitors and sensors to measure energy consumption and the overall eco-friendliness. The data will be used in energy-efficiency studies.

The prices of these homes are listed at $750,000 USD (for homes between 2500 to 3900 square feet), but have already appraised at $1 million. This project indicates that green homes can be built to LEED standards and can be profitable.

Source: Article in Event Magazine by Maria Saporta titled "Green Homes"

E-friendly renovation tips that can increase the value of your investment

• Windows - switch to triple-glazed that are installed properly
• Lighting - use sensor lights, skylights, compact-flourescent bulbs
• Heating - get high-efficiency furnaces, radiant heating, solar panels, solar heated hot water tanks (hot water tanks are 25% of your gas bill)
• Insulation - pack insulation in the walls, basement, attic, around pipes
• Water - install low flow toilets and showerheads, install on-demand hot water heaters
• Paint - use paint that has no VOCs (these cause breathing problems)
• Carpet - install wool carpets that don't pollute the air and are renewable,
• Floors - use renewable resources such as bamboo or cork or recycle old materials
• Surfaces - use products such as PaperStone that is made from recycled paper instead of non-renewable stone

Tips gathered from Joanna Pachner's article titled "Green renos increase a home's value".

Renovations that make your home green can increase it's value by upto 10%

Houses that are energy efficient are more attractive to home buyers these days. Rising energy costs are driving consumers to ask about gas bills and what's been done in the house to counter the problem.

Not only do Green renovations increase home value, they decrease monthly bills as well. A study done in Toronto showed that home values increased by 5 to 10%. An Angus Reid poll indicates that 72% of Canadians will look for a more eco-friendly home with their next purchase.

RBC Royal Bank has data indicating that making green renovations such as getting energy-efficient windows, and doors and draft-proofing the house can help save nearly $25,000 over 20 years.

The Federal Government says that homes can save upto $700 a year on their heating bill by making their home more energy efficient. They also provide programs to entice home owners rebates, discounts and other cost savings.

Joanna Pachner of BMO has an article with more.