Can you remember when buying a green house was meant for the purpose of housing a few special or beloved plants?

However, increasingly the reason for buying a “green” house is understood to mean acquiring an energy efficient home for our families. The terms, “special” or “beloved” now describe the saved green in our wallets, because of living greener and energy efficient, while we are hopefully leaving fewer carbon footprints behind.

The pain at the pump caused by rising gas prices, is working as motivation to our searching ways to become energy efficient in all sectors of our lives – not only automobiles.

Folks are rapidly joining the trend to save dollars and the environment, by going green with their homes. So how can you determine what makes a home environmental friendly and energy efficient – What makes a home green?

Whether you are a Home Buyer - or already own a home, you wish to remain in - an important step may be to use ENERGY STAR Appliances. Energy Star products adhere to strict energy-efficiency guidelines set by the Department of Energy and the EPA (Environmental Protection Agency). And they use less energy than conventional appliances or products.

Another simple step for energy savings is to replace light bulbs with CFLs. It should be noted however, that these bulbs contain mercury and it is important to dispose of them properly. They also require special precautions in the event they break.

If a home isn’t equipped with Energy-Efficient Windows – Windows that are dual pane or low-emittance glass-coated windows, then money can be saved by the installation of these.

The planting of native vegetation around the home is also important to consider. Compared to non-native plants, native plants tend to be easier to maintain, and are not as likely to require as much water consumption and fertilizers to survive.

There is also a U.S. Government Web site, which can assist you in the selection of products, as well as guidance with Home Energy Efficiency. A link to the ENERGY SAVERS website follows here.

Written for GreatWest GMAC
by: Myrl Jeffcoat