What does "Building Green" really mean?

In a recent survey commissioned by FreeGreen, a leading house plan provider, it was shown that most homeowners in America are more concerned about saving energy (and money from that) than anything else when labelling the process of "Building Green"...

Over 45% polled in this Synovate Study claimed Energy Efficiency as the single most important factor in determining if a home (building) is Green!

Just under 20% said Environmentally Friendly Materials.

Just under 19% said renewable resource source.

10% said Natural Resource Efficiency, 4% healthy materials and 2% location.

TIME TO EDUCATE

It looks to me like there is still much "educating" to do about what Building Green truly consists of... After all if folks see "green building" as saving energy more than anything else, then allot is being missed out on the many opportunities that exist way before we even get to considering the home/building's insulation and energy saving ability...

Furthermore it appears that no mention was made of minimized or even zero waste in home/building construction and/or maintenance, nor anything about closed loop design considerations in the after life of the structure's materials.

And did you know that by adding alternative natural energy sources, like solar panels or wind generators actually ADDS equity value to your home?   Often times it's more than the cost of the equipment as well - as this value is rated on how much energy costs you will save from before and after!!  Unlike savings at the bank, or stock investments, this  is a good investment that you can count on?   Plus it will save you money every month and eventually pay for itself as well!  Banks are already starting to open up on more freely making loans for these types of addition/renovations!  They know that this will yield a great return on investment (ROI) and help boost our economy as well...   TALK IT UP!

Most people seem to see "green" as saving on primary resources like actual ENERGY- but don't quite see/understand how much is lost from wasting manpower, buying materials that actually expend alot of energy to be made or are not even recyclable themselves. And then how "costly" it is sending unused materials to our dumps and landfills... it can literally take years of energy savings to recoup that!

Is this "ignorance" wrong or abnormal? NO, I don't think so anyway! -- as a matter of fact - before I began to read up and study about "building green" - I probably would have given the same answer. And it is not a BAD answer at all. Insulating our homes NOW - can be an immediate, quick and very green FIRST STEP. And we can save some money RIGHT AWAY!!

Do this and do it now!

STUDY, RESEARCH, LEARN

Afterwords, if not simultaneously, I feel it behooves us, especially with the tightening economy we are finding ourselves in, to take some time and learn about ALL the greening aspects, not only in the building processes of our homes, businesses, churches, shops, schools but in the fabrication of ANYTHING we use - from furniture, to cars, to cell phones... For example, one can only imagine how many cell phones end up in our dumps or landfills. I know some folks who have changed their phone like 3 times in the last year alone!! TALK ABOUT WASTE... and where did the old phone go? Since they are pretty much worthless in trade, and have only negligible value in resale - these went right into the trash and no doubt into one of our many already overflowing landfills! WOAH!

RING RING RING... I think it's time we answer this call... Don't you?

More and more people are defining H.O.M.E. as Heaven On Mother Earth. If we don't take care of her, by being more enlightened about how we do almost EVERYTHING in our lives, She will have a hard time being the Heaven She is meant to be in return...

What do you think?

Getting Greener,

Martial