Green Living

Green Living
Tips and Resources for Living Green

The abundance of energy smart and healthy home products and resources on the market today make it easier than ever to create a green lifestyle. As part of my service commitment to my clients, I can help you identify and make sense of these invaluable green housing opportunities. As a real estate professional, EcoBroker, and member of the Master Builders Association Built Green Program, I can assist you in regard to the energy and environmental issues that affect real estate transactions.

The links and information included here will help you learn “How Homes Become Green” and what is available in the area of green housing, products and systems, as well as what it means to be Built Green, LEED Certified and Energy Star Rated.

What is Built Green?
Built Green is an environmentally-friendly, non-profit, residential building program of the Master Builders Association of King and Snohomish Counties, developed in partnership with King County, Snohomish County, and other Washington State agencies. The Built Green website quantifies environmentally friendly building and remodeling practices into an easy-to-understand rating system. If you are interesting in green living, consider buying or remodeling according to Built Green standards. Built Green builders and associates provide sustainable housing in more than 4,000 square miles of Washington State. Built Green homes are designed to provide homeowners with comfortable, durable, environmentally friendly homes that are cost-effective to own and operate. These resource-efficient homes are crafted to exceed building codes and provide homeowners with years of healthy, quality living, while protecting the precious Northwest environment.

What is LEED?
The Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Green Building Rating System™ is the nationally accepted benchmark for the design, construction, and operation of high performance green buildings. LEED gives building owners and operators the tools they need to have an immediate and measurable impact on their buildings’ performance. LEED promotes a whole-building approach to sustainability by recognizing performance in five key areas of human and environmental health: sustainable site development, water savings, energy efficiency, materials selection, and indoor environmental quality. LEED for Homes is a pilot program in its final phases before being fully launched. LEED requires third party verification for all levels - certified, silver, gold and platinum - and performance testing.

Features of ENERGY STAR Qualified New Homes
To earn the ENERGY STAR rating, a home must meet guidelines for energy efficiency set by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. These homes are at least 15% more energy efficient than homes built to the 2004 International Residential Code (IRC), and include additional energy-saving features that typically make them 20–30% more efficient than standard homes.

With homebuyers increasingly interested in green building, energy efficiency is the place to start. Energy used in homes often comes from the burning of fossil fuels at power plants, which contributes to smog, acid rain, and risks of global warming. The less energy used, the less air pollution generated.

ENERGY STAR qualified homes can include a variety of 'tried-and-true' energy-efficient features that contribute to improved home quality and homeowner comfort, and to lower energy demand and reduced air pollution such as:

1. Effective Insulation

2. High-Performance Windows

3. Tight Construction and Ducts

4. Efficient Heating and Cooling Equipment

5. Efficient Products ENERGY STAR qualified products

EnergyStar.gov has everything you could want to know about ENERGY STAR rated homes and appliances

A home that is durable, low maintenance, quiet, comfortable, healthy that does not have a lot of dust, mold or moisture problems is going to possess green features. If buying a home with these features is important to you please let me help you find your Built Green, LEED Certified , or energy star rated home. Click here to send me your request.

Lake & Company 7801 Green Lake Drive N Seattle, Washington 98103 800-557-5253 Direct 206.915.2358 bonnie@lakere.com

How Homes Become Green

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Green Living Links

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency provides links to access purchasing information for products and service categories such as buildings, carpets, cleaners, conferences, copiers, electronics, food serviceware, and office supplies.

LowImpactLiving.com can help you find the right environmental information to meet your individual needs.

YourGreenHome.com is your source for healthy and environmentally sensitive home and building supplies.
can help you find the right environmental information meet individual needs. From Green products & services, green projects, to you assessing your environmental impact. (more then just your carbon footprint)

GreenerChoices.org Find out what Consumer Reports has to say about green products.

Goods For The Planet Shopping at Goods For The Planet is fun -- you will find familar basics and things you didn't know existed that will help you live a little more sustainably.

EnvironmentalHomecenter.com The online store of the Environmental Home Center is your most complete source for the highest-quality green building materials.

Green Dog Pet Supply Portland-based pet store, specializing in environmentally freindly pet supplies and gifts for dogs, cats and their people.