Green information provided today continues to get updated daily, monthly or annually.  The Mortgage Reel was able to speak directly with Brenda Nunes at Sustainability Foundation.  Sustainability Foundation is a Washington State non-profit corporation with the mission of promoting balanced development.   Brenda has provided information regarding the most requested topics and websites to reference. 

This post is going to consist of general information about the Design and Materials used for a green-designed home and website links.  As mentioned please refer to the links for the most accurate information. 

Exceptional Design

A green-designed home takes into account the orientation of the lot, local climate, comfort and durability.  Building “more” while using “less” while the focus is on the quality.

The Not So Big House

www.thenotsobighouse.com

Built Green Washington Case Study

www.builtgreenwashington.org/study.php?id=10

Fine Homebuilding

www.taunton.com/finehomebuilding/Design/Green-Design/72526.aspx?channel=2

Exterior

A green-designed home takes into consideration energy, longevity, health, comfort, and materials efficiency in its exterior envelope.

U.S Dept. of Energy

www1.eere.energy.gov/buildings/residential/envelope.html

Efficient Window Collaborative

www.efficientwindows.org/lowe.cfm

Finishing Materials

The choice of interior finish materials in a home can impact the health of its occupants, the environment, the local economy, indoor air quality, and natural resource consumption. 

A green designed home can incorporate finishes that are natural, recycled, recyclable, salvaged, durable, locally produced, sustainably harvested, and non toxic.

Tool Base Services

www.toolbase.org/toolbaseresources/level3.aspx?bucketid=2&categoryid=17

National Resource Defense Council’s Simple Steps

www.simplesteps.org

Green Building

www.greenbuilding.com

Thanks

The Mortgage Reel

Post from: The Mortgage Reel - Seattle Real Estate Preferred Correspondent Lender

Seattle Real Estate – Green Environmental Finishes

Green information provided today continues to get updated daily, monthly or annually.  The Mortgage Reel was able to speak directly with Brenda Nunes at Sustainability Foundation.  Sustainability Foundation is a Washington State non-profit corporation with the mission of promoting balanced development.   Brenda has provided information regarding the most requested topics and websites to reference. 

This post is going to consist of general information regarding Energy/Water Efficiency Improvements and website links.  As mentioned please refer to the links for the most accurate information. 

Energy Efficiency

According to a 2004 Department of Energy study, the electricity that we consume in our houses represents almost 15% of total greenhouse gas emissions in the US. 

A green-designed home focuses on energy efficiency from the ground up and can include improved insulation, HVAC, and appliances. 

Department of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy

http://apps1.eere.energy.gov/consumer/

Energy Star Home

www.energystar.gov/index.cfm?fuseaction=popuptool.athome

Alliance to Save Energy

www.ase.org/section/_audience/consumers

Indoor Air Quality

Did you know that the EPA has found that air inside your house can be two to five times MORE polluted – and maybe up to 100 times! – than the air outside your home?!

A green-designed home can clean pollutants out with interior finishes that don’t give off gas pollutants into the air and HVAC systems that keep pollutants out. 

Environmental Protection Agency

www.epa.gov/iaq/pubs/insidest.html

American Lung Association

www.lungusa.org/site/c.dvLUK9O0E/b.36056/k.BDFB/indoor_air_quality/apps/lk/links.aspx

GreenGuard Indoor Products Certification

www.greenguard.org

Water Efficiency

If you compare the world’s entire water supply to one gallon, fresh water composes four ounces (3%), and readily accessible fresh water makes up just two drops. 

A green-designed home saves water with improved water efficiency through the following:  low-flow or dual flush toilets, low-flow faucets and showerheads, rainwater catchment and reuse, natural storm water management, and drought-tolerant plantings. 

EPA Water Sense

www.epa.gov/watersense/index.htm

Sweet Briar College Project

http://witcombe.sbc.edu/water/

H20 Conserve

www.h2oconserve.org

Thanks

The Mortgage Reel

Post from: The Mortgage Reel - Seattle Real Estate Preferred Correspondent Lender

Seattle Real Estate – Green Efficiency Improvements

Building “Green Homes” is becoming a very popular topic as more consumers are looking to help protect the environment.  The opportunity to save money because of Green upgrades such as energy efficiency, materials, tax rebates have created a huge interest among local Seattle home owners, buyers and nationwide. 

Green information provided today continues to get updated daily, monthly or annually.  The Mortgage Reel was able to speak directly with Brenda Nunes at Sustainability Foundation.  Sustainability Foundation is a Washington State non-profit corporation with the mission of promoting balanced development.   Brenda has provided information regarding the most requested topics and websites to reference. 

Three sections of information will be posted:  Home & Location, Energy/Water Efficiency Improvements, and Design & Materials. 

Home & Location

Green Home

A green-designed home can provide benefits for investment, health, energy efficiency, and the environment. 

Built Green Washington

www.builtgreenwashington.org

Going Green at the Beach

www.goinggreenatthebeach.com

NAHB Green

http://nahbgreen.com

Local Economy

A green-designed home incorporates as many products and services from local sources as possible.  Buying “locally” promotes the “hometown” economy and saves on transportation costs. 

Buy Local Organizations

http://www.buylocal.net

Times-Herald Record (Hudson Valley)

http://archive.recordonline.com/archive/2006/08/06/news-sustain06-08-09.html

Location

The old real estate maxim, “location, location, location” now has new meaning when we consider the impact of buildings on the environment. 

The location of a green-designed home can be influenced by the proximity of amenities such as pedestrian trails and services, or even the soil at the site. 

A green-designed home can provide benefits for investment, health, energy efficiency, and the environment. 

Inhabitat Weblog

www.inhabit.com/2006/06/28/green-building-101-location-community/

The Low Impact Development Center

www.lowimpactdevelopment.org

PathNet

http://www.pathnet.org/sp.asp?id=10043

Please check review Energy/Water Efficiency Improvements, and Design & Materials!

Thanks

The Mortgage Reel

Post from: The Mortgage Reel - Seattle Real Estate Preferred Correspondent Lender

Seattle Real Estate Green Home Information