What Makes a Home Green?

30 Simple and Cost Effective Options

To Green Your Home

http://sustainliving.wordpress.com/

Prepare For Green Home

Prerequisite #1: Know The Procedure

Rebates & Incentives

Financing (Optional)

Contractors & Raters

Prerequisite #2: Learn The Labels

The Options

Cost of The Options (Bottom Left)

$ Very Cheap

$$ Cheap

$$$ Moderate

$$$$ Expensive

$$$$$ Very Expensive

Rebates & Incentive Available

Green Elements (Bottom Right)

Landscaping, Community & Site

Energy

Water

Recycling & Local Materials

Indoor Environmental Quality

Green Education

#1: Outdoor Lighting Fixtures

✔ Direct All Light

Downward ✘ Light Pollution

$

Use Solar Lighting

#2: Safety & Social Gathering

Front Door with Peep-Hole Porches

$

#3: Landscaping

Community Garden Drought-Tolerant Plants

Drip Irrigation or

Irrigation System with Low

Reference Evapotranspiration

$$

Proper Shade Tree

Placement

#4: Landscape Maintenance

Mulch Made Out of Compost

$$$

Electric Lawn Mower

#5: Swimming Pool

$$$ $$

Efficient Swimming Pool Pump

#6: Water Efficient Fixtures

Dual-Flush Toilet Low Flow Shower Head

(< 2.0 gallons or < 7.57 liters

per minute)

$$$

#7: Efficient Laundry Strategies

$

Natural Air Drying

Wash Clothes in Cold Water

& Limit Washer Duration

#8: Harvest Your Rainwater

Tank For

Water Storage

Rain Gutter

$$$$

#9: Energy Conservation Measure

$

Smart Power Strip Turn Off Your Lights!

#10: Lighting

$

Open your windows and lift your curtains to

let light into your house!

#11: Energy Efficient Lighting Fixtures

CFL Light Bulb

LED Lighting

Fixtures

T5 Lighting

Fixtures

$$

#12: Energy Star Appliances

*Note: Make sure they meet the newest

standard levels of the day

$$$

#13: Complete Home Energy Assessment

$$$

Energy Audit

Perform by

Accredited

Professionals

Duct Blaster Blower Door Testing

#14: Home Thermal Scan

$$$

Capture images of temperature and heat patterns

as part of a complete home energy audit

#15: Insulation

Wall Insulation

Attic Insulation

Insulation Made Out of

Recycled Content

(i.e. Denim)

$$$

#16: Water Heater, Pipe Insulation &

Shower Control

Hot Water Pipe Insulation

Tankless Water Heater Thermostatic Shower Control

$$$

#17: Sealing & Air Tightness

Duct Sealing

Window Sealing

$$$

#18: Energy Efficient Windows and

Skylights

$$$$

Look at the Labeling!

#19: Cool Roof

$$$$

White Painted Roof Roof with Solar Resistant

Ceramic Coating

#20: Efficient Air Conditioning &

Furnace System

Smart Thermostat

Split Air Conditioning System

High Efficient Furnace

$$$$

#21: Self-Reliant Energy System

Rooftop Solar Panels Home Wind Turbines

$$$$$

#22: Assemble Built-in Recycling Center

Trash

Recyclables

(e.g. Glass, Plastic)

Compost

$

#23: Environmentally Preferable Flooring

Bamboo Flooring Wool Carpet

Cork Flooring

$$$

#24: Contaminant Controls

Shoe Storage and

Removal Space

Walk Off Mats at Each Entry

$

#25: High Efficiency Air Filter

• Pleated HVAC filters usually has a high efficiency rating

• MERV Rating of 6+ are usually high efficiency

$$

#26: Ventilation

Ceiling Fans Bathroom Fans With Humidistat

Humidistat

$$

#27: Low VOC Paint and Coatings

Paint

• Low VOC: <50 grams per liter

• Zero VOC: <5 grams per liter

Coating for Wood Finished

• VOC Content <250 grams per

liter

$$

#28: Combustion Testing & Carbon

Monoxide Monitoring

Carbon Monoxide Detector Combustion Testing &

Equipment For Testing It’s The LAW!!!

$$

#29: Cabinets

• No added urea-formaldehyde

in wood products

• Cabinets must comply with

California Air Resource Board (CARB)

Airborne Toxic Control Measure (ATCM)

$$$

• Recycled Materials

• Environmental Preferable

Products

(i.e. bamboo)

#30: Sustainable Education

Homeowner Manual Educational Signage

$