When I started learning more about green real estate and building, my vision was to incorporate my personal values and ideas into working with my clients who were home buyers and sellers. The more informed I became, the more deeply committed I felt to learning new and better ways to help people in their desire for a healthier living environment.
I began to notice that not only was green the new word, but that there was a wide variance in the interpretation of what exactly a green home means. In fact, there seemed to be many shades of the same hue, not all of them as green as some people would expect.
In my desire to learn the true meaning of having and living in a green home, I unfortunately became aware of many examples of green washing - that is, misleading information about the environmental practices and benefits of some products and services. What I started to realize as well was that I had my own stereotypes and thoughts on what was green.
It seemed that if you slapped some bamboo floors down, stuck a few solar panels on your roof, then viola! – suddenly you were green! People were looking for feel good answers, and some companies were jumping on the green bandwagon in an uninformed and not very ethical manner in their haste.
Having gone through two certification programs on green homes, attended classes, workshops, and done my own extensive research, there a few conclusions I feel are important to share:
When remodeling, try to preserve as much as you can and work with the materials that are already in the home. I am in contract on my own home – a house originally built in the 1920’s with some of the original redwood floors (albeit not in the best condition). It would not make environmental sense in this case to tear out the flooring and bring in new “eco-friendly” flooring.
Where it does make sense to update is with energy efficient appliances, windows, and insulation which have a tremendous impact on the amount of carbon being released into our environment. Other significant ways are good old fashioned maintenance and upkeep of a home.
Of course there are times when we do want to remodel, and with a little research it is possible to find beautiful and durable products that reduce our footprint on the earth. From low and no VOC (volatile organic compounds that off-gas fumes which we breathe) paints, to products made with reclaimed materials and high post consumer recycled content, the choices nowadays are abundant. And not only are they healthier for the environment, but ultimately a better choice for our physical well being as well. In addition, we can choose vendors who share the same level of commitment from the start of a job, to the finish. There is a wealth of information on the internet and in new publications to guide us towards better choices in the materials we live in close proximity to. Now more than ever we are given the opportunity to use products that are aesthetically pleasing, and better for the environment, and to pass that legacy on to the next generation.
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