Building "Green"

In this green era of hybrid cars and environmental awareness, homebuilders and homebuyers have never found it easier to build green. The building industry is continually working on different products to help homeowners maintain energy efficient homes, thus conserving energy while conserving the green in their wallets.

Green building seeks to improve the way homes and home construction sites use energy, materials, and water, by making environmentally friendly and sustainable decisions during the building process. It aims to minimize the health and environmental impacts of homebuilding.

Because the typical American home can cause twice the amount of greenhouse gas emissions as a car, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Department of Energy have collaborated to provide the Energy Star program. Energy Star helps consumers buy energy efficient products ranging from light bulbs to entire homes.

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Homebuilders can ensure their homes are up to 25% more energy efficient by following a list of home construction standards concerning air flow, heat flow, moisture flow, and indoor air quality.

The Energy Star program is already making a difference. It claims that in 2005 alone, Americans, with the help of the Energy Star program, saved $12 billion on their utility bills while reducing greenhouse gas emissions equivalent to that of 23 million cars.

If the knowledge you are helping the environment isn’t incentive enough, the Energy Policy Act gives homeowners tax credits for reducing their energy usage through heating and cooling, insulation, roofing and windows. Check out www.energystar.gov and www.eere.energy.gov for more information.

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