Green Living Guidelines features
Energy-Smart Products
- Programmable thermostat
- Compact fluorescent lighting
- Adequate insulation and home sealing
- Energy Star appliances
- Energy-saving home electronics
- Solar water heater
- Tankless water heater
- Energy-efficient windows and doors
- High-efficiency heating and cooling
- Photovoltaic solar cells
Earth-Smart Materials
- Engineered structural wood products are manufactured from fast-growing trees and recycled wood chips, thus helping to safeguard old-growth forests.
- Rapidly renewing wood flooring also protects old-growth forests. Examples include lyptus (a fast-growing eucalyptus that looks like cherry or mahogany), cork, and bamboo.
- Recycled content carpet, commonly known as "pop bottle carpet," uses plastic and recovered textiles and is more resilient and colorfast than conventional carpet.
- Cellulose attic insulation is made from recycled newspaper and sprayed in for superior sealing.
Health-Smart Approaches
- Low- or no-VOC (volatile organic compounds) paints
- Central dehumidification to reduce mold and mildew
- Central air purification and ventilation systems
- Central-vacuum system
- Flooring that doesn't harbor dust
Water-Smart Products and Techniques
- Drought-tolerant plants reduce the amount of time and money you'll spend on irrigation.
- Xeriscaping challenges the assumption that grass should always be the dominant design element of a yard and lets the climate determine what makes the most sense.
- Water-efficient appliances such as front-loading washing machines have attracted great consumer interest, and low-flow showerheads and toilets have been mandated by law.
- Water purification devices that use carbon to remove contaminants and reverse osmosis systems are effective in the home.
- Permeable pavement lets rainwater seep through, which reduces runoff and allows the soil underneath to act as a natural filter.
