The Green Movement

The green movement started years ago as part of the growing awareness of ecology and the environment. Greens share many ideas related to ecology, conservation, environmental issues, and both green homes and cars are very popular at the moment.

	What is a "Green Home?"

A green home has been defined as a home which is friendly to the environment, and is constructed in such a way to leave as little environmental footprint as possible. The reason for building greener homes is really quite important. We need to live more lightly on the earth, because the degradation of our environment is compromising not only our survival, but the survival of most other living beings on the planet. The way we live, the choices we make in providing for our needs, will have an enormous influence on the quality of life for those living in the future.

The environmental impact of green homes is significant. There are more than 120 million homes in the United States, and about 2 million new homes are constructed each year. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, the residential sector accounts for 22% of the total energy consumed in the US and 74% of the water. Indoor air pollutants can often be four to five times higher than outdoor levels. Twenty-one percent of U.S. carbon dioxide emissions are contributed by the residential sector. The considerable impact on the environment created by homes necessitates a shift toward more sustainable residences.

Generally, green homes are healthier, more comfortable, more durable, and more energy efficient. And of course, they also have a much smaller environmental footprint than conventional homes.

Green homes rely upon established and proven design features and technologies that do not have a significantly large cost. Many green measures will reduce long term costs, particularly those features that involve energy and water efficiency. In many cases, these reductions in operating costs will more than offset the additional up-front costs of a green home. The home building industry is beginning to recognize the value of healthy homes, environmentally quantifying the benefits of green homes, thereby facilitating a wider adoption of this more sustainable approach to home building.

Seven Major Concepts of Green Building

• Energy Efficiency - Conservation and use of renewable energy sources
• Passive Design - Shading, cross ventilation, and reduce out dependency
• Construction Process - Resource efficient, healthy and sustainable building practices
• Water Efficiency and Quality - Reduce consumption and improve indoor and outdoor water quality
• Indoor Environmental Quality - Healthy and safe indoor air quality
• Site and Landscape - Protect and restore native plant vegetation
• Materials Selection - Selection of renewable, durable, recycled, and healthier construction materials
  

	How Can I Make My Existing Home More Green Friendly?

There are several things you can do right now to make your home and your living environment green. Below are a few things that you can do right now that will instantly provide you economical benefits, as well as lessen your impact on Earth.

• Convert all of your light bulbs to energy efficient bulbs.
• Conduct an energy audit on your house.
• Buy energy efficient appliances.
• Cut your shower time by just 2 min. to save 10 gallons of water
• Fill in your empty freezer space with boxes to save on your energy costs.
• Shut down your computer to save on energy costs.
• Start making it a habit of turning off the lights when you leave a room.
• Remove lint from your dryer during each load to increase efficiency in drying time
• Start recycling, and keep recycling.
• Start using green cleaning products or make your own
• Use Earth friendly paint for your home remodel
• Go to recycled paper products for your toilet paper, paper towels and napkins
• Check out your tap water quality

	Loren Nancarrow

Environmental issues have long been a top priority for 10News weathercaster and environmental reporter Loren Nancarrow. Loren is making his viewers more aware every weeknight on his appearances on 10News. He not only gives accurate local and national weather reports, but he also encourages San Diegans to debate today’s environmental issues in his Field Notes blog.

Loren is also an award-winning author, having co-written "Dead Snails Leave No Trails," "The Worm Book," and "Dead Daisies Make me Crazy." As an avid gardener, Loren’s gardens and gardening techniques have been featured in various national and local magazines.