Spreading the Word with 5,000 Affordable Homes

Yesterday the Home Depot Foundation and Habitat for Humanity announced the list of affiliates set to receive funding for building green homes. Habitat for Humanity chapters across the country will receive $3,000 for each home built to Energy Star Standards and $5,000 for each built to higher green standards. The foundation’s plan, which began in 2009, is to build 5,000 affordable green homes in  five years. The foundation hopes to spread knowledge to all homeowners that green building and maintenance is affordable, leaving families with higher savings. The 1,500 homes already built towards the goal have lowered utility bills by focusing on green features that don’t cost much, but save more money.

LEED Skyscraper Follow Up

Back in June we posted on the first skyscraper to be LEED certified and there was talk on our Facebook page about whether LEED equals sustainable. This month The New Yorker interviewed Richard Cook, the designer of the Bank of America Tower and partner in Cook+Architects,  in their Currents installment. In the interview Cook answers questions about sustainable architecture, nature in design and the debate over LEED standards. Watch the interview and let us know your take. Do you think the LEED standards equate to sustainable?

Green Building Myths

Many people have jumped on board with ‘going green,’ but there are still a good amount of people who have not. Some aren’t sure why they should go green, some believe they shouldn’t because of myths tainting the way of building. Since we believe in a green building we will do all that we can to dispel any falsities to the best of our abilities. Today we are sharing 4 common myths about going green from Green Building.

Myth 1: Green building is only for tree huggers. Fact: The market for green building materials is nearly $20 billion and growing showing its mainstream presence.

Myth 2: Green building is not aesthetically pleasing. Fact: Green buildings and homes can be just as beautiful and well designed as those that aren’t. Sustainable materials do not limit design capabilities.

Myth 3: Green building costs too much money. Fact: Some sustainable materials are more expensive and some aren’t. Using green building materials will ultimately lower maintenance and utility costs in the long run.

Myth 4: It doesn’t work. Fact: Certain sustainable and conventional both have problems regarding quality. Overall the use of sustainable materials is cheaper for maintenance, more energy efficient and durable.

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