Video: A New Kind of Green House!
The "Green House" of the future is here!
The real estate market in the U.S. may be battered big time, but there is a ray of light for one segment of the housing industry. As energy prices continue to soar, developers of “green homes” will have a huge edge. Industry analysts are predicting that green building starts in 2010 will be five times what they were in 2005.
“It’s a question of costs and ethics,” says Robin Hartl, a well known home improvement expert. “The vast majority of homebuyers will choose an energy efficient home over one that is not energy efficient – and that means everything from insulation and advanced thermostats to groundbreaking appliances.”
Enter the new GE ecomagination Homebuilder Program, which is helping residential builders and developers across the country design greener homes. “Think 20/20/20,” says Hartl. “At least 20% savings in each of the following: household energy costs, household indoor water consumption and reduction in emissions associated with the homes.”
Among the program’s many features:
An interactive wall panel that provides current and historical feedback on electricity and water use, and also doubles as the home’s programmable thermostat
Advanced lighting, most of it with compact fluorescent lamps, which consume 75% less electricity than standard lamps
Tight construction, fresh-air ventilation and improved insulation
ENERGY STAR® qualified appliances
“It’s a question of costs and ethics,” says Robin Hartl, a well known home improvement expert. “The vast majority of homebuyers will choose an energy efficient home over one that is not energy efficient – and that means everything from insulation and advanced thermostats to groundbreaking appliances.”
Enter the new GE ecomagination Homebuilder Program, which is helping residential builders and developers across the country design greener homes. “Think 20/20/20,” says Hartl. “At least 20% savings in each of the following: household energy costs, household indoor water consumption and reduction in emissions associated with the homes.”
Among the program’s many features:
An interactive wall panel that provides current and historical feedback on electricity and water use, and also doubles as the home’s programmable thermostat
Advanced lighting, most of it with compact fluorescent lamps, which consume 75% less electricity than standard lamps
Tight construction, fresh-air ventilation and improved insulation
ENERGY STAR® qualified appliances