Home Technology Keeping Up with Green Demands
Manufacturers and retailers, wanting to cash in and keep pace with the expanding Green Movement, are releasing green home building and remodeling products at a record pace. Demand is helping to keep down costs.
Market research by McGraw-Hill Construction projects the residential green building market will have annual sales between $12-20 billion this year (this prediction was earlier in the year, before the recent economic slump). That would represent between 6-10% of the overall homebuilding market. The firm said it expected green building to double by 2012.
The founder of New York-based Green Depot, Sarah Beatty, a chain of stores in the Northeast that sells green home products, said "It's a very dynamic time. In 10 years, there's not going to be such a thing as green building, just building."
Sometimes the most efficient energy reductions don't come through new technology - 25% of heating and cooling costs can be the result of heat loss through holes, improperly sealed windows, and insufficient insulation. There are some basic steps homeowners can take now to make their properties more effcient. One such insulation product is closed cell polyurethane foam insulation, sprayed between walls or in the attic. It expands to cover small cracks through which heat and cool air can escape. There also is insulation available made of denim or recycled newspapers, as well.
Another easy step is to replace your incandescent light bulbs with LEDs, or compact-flourescent lights. Also buy Energy Star appliances, which can save up to 30% of electrical use. Bringing in more natural light can cut down on electrical lighting. Solatube of Vista, CA, offers a dome-shaped product that installs on the roof to bend light up to 90 degrees into the house.
Smart sprinkler systems which help conserve water are available and tailored to green-conscious homeowners. They measure rainfall and adjust the sprinklers. Solar hot water heaters are now much more popular and efficient.
Homeowners have options now that were only dreams a few years ago. With rising energy costs, it only makes cents to research and use what Green Technoloty you can.
Sherry Armstrong, REALTOR
sherry@sherryarmstrong.com
www.sherryarmstrong.com
386-679-3191