These "Greenest" homes are already built to be "Green". But that does not mean that you cannot take an existing home and make it more eco-friendly. This is how you can do that:
1) Keep original windows intact. Studies show that older windows can perform as well as vinyl replacements. Weatherstrip them so that they seal tightly, caulk the exterior trim, and repair cracked glazing or putty around glass panels. You'll reduce landfill waste and the demand for vinyl, a non-biodegradable material that gives off toxic by products when it is made.
2) Use light paint colors for your house exterior. Lighter colors reflect heat better than darker ones.
3) Insulate the attic, basement, and crawl space. About 20% of energy costs come from heat loss in those areas.
4) Reuse old materials such as brick, stone, glass, and slate when making home improvements. If you are rebuilding a staircase, for example, use wood from the summer kitchen or shed that could not be saved.
5) Install fireplace draft stoppers, attic door covers, and dryer vent seals that open only when your dryer is in use. An open dampener in a fireplace can increase energy costs by 30%, and attic doors and dryer vent ducts are notorious energy sieves.
6) Plant trees. Evergreen trees on the north and west sides of your house can block winter winds, and leafy trees on the south and west provide shade from the summer sun.
7) Have an energy audit done by your local utility company. Audits can help pinpoint problem areas and measure energy savings after you improve your home's efficiency.
8) In the summer, open the windows and use fans and dehumidifiers, which consume less energy than air conditioning. Many old houses were designed with good cross ventilation; take advantage of your home's layout.
9) Keep doors airtight by weatherstripping, caulking, and painting them regularly. Recent studies suggest that installing a storm door is not necessarily cost-effective.
10) Restore porches and awnings. Porches, awnings, and shutters were intended for shade and insulation. To save energy, draw shades on winter nights and summer days.
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Green is good. And the increasingly people are asking for it. Others are promoting green home audits, where you might hear about bamboo flooring, recycled glass tiles, organic cotton drapes, and different cleaning products. All fine things. But in homes, the heart of green comes down to the efficiency, safety, and durability of a home. As I like the say, the foundation of green is building science and its sibling energy-efficiency. A green audit must include a thorough look at the homes performance. This short video (http://greenhomesamerica.wordpress.com/2009/09/01/green-home-audit/) describes some of the fundamental things to look at.
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