Nowadays, everything seems to be turning greener and greener. That is, in an attempt to help save the environment, companies make all sorts of changes and go through different campaigns to make their environment-friendly efforts more noticeable. This of course, trickles down to their products. This concept also holds true in the world of home design software. There are currently a number of nature-oriented home design applications available in the market that is specially developed to create greener home designs. One such product is Energy-10.

What is Energy-10?

In a nutshell, Energy-10 is much like any other home design program in the market. It too is a piece of software that helps engineers, architects, and builders create excellent designs through the use of cutting edge features and functions. However, what sets this product apart is that it has the well-being of Mother Nature on top of its priority list.

Aside from having the capability to create aesthetically pleasing designs, this program also ensures that the said designs are as cost and energy efficient as possible. In more technical terms, Energy-10 is perfect for examining both residential and commercial buildings that are distinguished by 1 or 2 thermal zones (usually less than ten thousand square feet).

Green Minded

One of the most impressive features of Energy-10 is that it is able to estimate the energy performance of a building with very little information provided by the user. By inputting basic data such as the nearest weather data recorder, the building’s air-conditioning system, ventilation, heating, total floor space, and its geographic location, this program can come up with an accurate initial estimate of how much energy the said building will use. By doing so, Energy-10 ensures the production of home and building designs that are truly efficient in every sense of the word.

Collaborative Efforts

Energy-10 is a home design software developed by the NREL or National Renewable Energy Laboratory. Their Center for Building and Thermal Systems is the department that is at the forefront of this highly publicized initiative. They teamed up with other entities including the Berkley Solar Group, the Lawrence Berkley National Library, and the SBIC or the Sustainable Buildings Industry Council to come up with this groundbreaking software.

The result is a magnificent product that is not only effective in terms of its design capabilities, but also a breath of fresh air in the world of building construction wherein the well-being of nature has seemingly become irrelevant. Energy-10 is currently available through the SBIC and more information is available on their website.

Buying Home Design Software.Visit Home Design Software store for products information including customer reviews.

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There are so many options in today’s market for green flooring. These flooring materials can be sand down, painted, or refinished. All this can be done with using material that contains volatile organic compounds or VOC’s. The finishes and glue used for some floor installations can contain formaldehyde resins. It is important to use non-toxic materials with little to no VOC within the sealants, cleaners, finishes, adhesives, polishes, etc. As a result you will create a home that has less toxicity in the air and is healthier for the planet.

Nothing is guaranteed 100%, so even buying materials with little to no VOC doesn’t assure you that it is completely safe. This is because there are so many chemicals produced today. Regardless of that, if you want to remodel your home using green home design techniques, you need to select products that are environmentally healthy.

Every area of your home can benefit from green design. When constructing or renovating your home, be sure to install many windows, glass doors, skylights to allow the natural light to enter. These measures conserve energy and make the home bright and inviting. Concrete floors are very stylish, an come in many patterns, colors, and textures. This flooring is one of the greenest because you can install it without the uses of chemicals like glue or finishes. Concrete can also be used as kitchen counter tops, which have become very popular. They are natural in appearance and create a modern looking style. This material also works well in the bathroom and on the fireplace. Recycled glass is another option for green kitchens. This is a very versatile product that can come in different colors. Try recycled glass as a kitchen counter top, back splash, or even tiles. Recycled glass is a great alternative in green kitchen design. Green Building Supply provides recycled glass in various sizes. The prices range from $1,129.00 to $4,223.00 for 30″ x 54″ to 60″ x 108″ slabs, and each are 1 1/4″ thick. You choose from five different color palettes.

Appliances are major purchases for you home. You need to think about function, and style, but most importantly energy saving capability. Whirlpool sells a Whirlpool Black 21.7 Energy Star Certified Side by Side Refrigerator for $765.00; item #ED2KVEXVB. Energy efficient appliances are readily available in the market today. It is actually very easy to to find appliance that save energy and water usage, and there is something for every budget. Be sure to recycle your old appliance properly.

When planning green home design, install a lot insulation for your ceiling and walls. This the best way to help your house be energy efficient. Make sure the the insulation material is earth-friendly. High quality glass windows, doors, and skylight with multiple panes help to also conserve energy. The cost of energy is steadily increasing. Being energy conscious makes good economic sense. After your initial investment, you will save money, reducing the world’s exposure to harmful chemicals, and aid the environment.

Fay Salmons writes about green home designs at http://www.theinsulationreport.com

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With this in mind, consider the benefits of an eco-friendly home features as you go house hunting. Eco-friendly homes help protect nature, but also less expensive. The benefits of buying a green-featured home includes reduction in pollution, greater energy efficiency, healthier air indoors, preservation of natural resources such as native habitats and water and lower maintenance costs. These homes also maintain their value even in the current slow real estate market, appraising up to fifteen percent more than conventional homes.

How do you find out if the home you are contemplating to buy has green features? You would know if a home has eco-friendly features if it has the following:

1. It should have a U.S. Green Building Council’s LEED certified ratings.

2. Possess an air quality enhancing features

3. Low emissivity and double paned windows

4. Appliances that are energy efficient such as Energy Star appliances

5. Makes use of solar power or natural lighting from the sun

6. Native, drought-tolerant landscaping

7. On-demand hot water system and water saving showerheads

8. Low-flow toilets

9. t uses paints, adhesives and stains with low or zero volatile organic compounds to improve indoor air quality.

10. It makes use of structural panel systems and eco-roofing systems.

11. It should have deciduous trees growing on the south and west parts of the house.

12. The home should “breathe” naturally, built with sustainable materials like adobe, straw-bale, rammed earth or insulated concrete forms.

13. Native, drought-tolerant landscaping and rain-catchment or gray water system

14. A green home is smaller compared to conventional homes. Since this requires few construction materials, it leaves less damage on the environment.

When looking for a nature friendly home, bear in mind that these homes are designed, constructed and operated using resources that has a lesser negative effect to nature. You can verify whether the home has been certified through one of the many nature building programs, which includes Austin Energy’s Green Building Program, National Association of Home Builders Green Building Program. There are also some programs for new and existing homes through Energy Star, a joint program by the Department of Energy and the Environment Protection Agency. These groups provide certain standards for certification. They can recommend on how to create a more energy-efficient home.

You may also have a third-party home energy rater to check out the energy features of a home. There are several recommendations on the sites of Energy Star, Austin Energy and the National Association of Home Builders green programs.

It is also important to ask your real estate agent how much they understand about eco-friendly homes, environmental issues and healthy house building practices. He or she should be able to help in your search for the nature friendly home of your dreams.

Rental property that comes with a wealth of amenities at Mesa AZ Rental Property and green homes at Mesa Eco-Friendly Houses.

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Mechanical System – This may be the most obvious system affected when adding new heated space to a home. Can the heating and air conditioning equipment handle the additional square footage? How old and efficient is it? Have the ducts tested for leakage especially if they are in unconditioned space.

Electrical System – Can the existing electrical system handle the new loads imposed on it? Is there room in the panel for additional circuits? Many older homes have outdated wiring that needs to be identified and addressed.

Plumbing System – If a remodeling project includes a bathroom the plumbing system will be affected. The water heater may not be able to handle the needs of the new bathroom or the waste water system may need a larger diameter pipe exiting the house. If a septic system is used it may need to be updated to handle the additional load. Check with local codes.

Structural System – The existing structural components need to be evaluated if the remodeled area adds new loads to it. An addition to the second story or exterior of a house can impose new loads on girders and footings and they need to be properly sized to handle the additional load.

Insulation System – Remodeling is an excellent opportunity to upgrade the existing insulation in the home. Combined with air sealing, adding insulation could eliminate the need for additional heating and cooling needs. A blower door test can measure how leaky the house is.

As you can tell from this article the house is a group of systems all working together. A change to one system can affect another one and it is important to evaluate them all during the design phase. This helps ensure that there are no surprises during construction and that you are getting the best performance from your home.

As an owner of a renovation company in Charlotte NC, Roger Ketchum has become very passionate about Green Building. Visit his website at http://completegreenbuilding.com. Not only is he a GCP (Green Certified Professional) but also a CR (Certified Remodelor). Visit his companies website at http://advancedrenovations.com.

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1. A 2009 national poll found that 9 out of ten American homeowners want a solar-powered home. 92% said they want the government to start developing and promoting renewable energy sources. Green energy is on everyone’s radar.

2. Solar home systems protect homeowners from inflation of energy costs; so are a future-proof solution to the current energy crisis.

3. Home solar systems are now considered a part of the overall home value, and that value increases over time.

4. Investing with solar drastically lowers (or even eliminates) energy costs, now and in the future. You can expect to see a reduction of 50%-100% in your utility bills (and of course, so can buyers).

5. Solar powered homes sell twice as fast as traditionally powered homes, even in a tough housing market.

6. For every dollar you save in your annual energy costs, you can expect to see up to twenty dollars in increased market value. That means if you save $1000 a year on utilities, your home’s value will get jacked up by about $20,000.

7. In some states, solar powered homes went up 55% in value while traditionally powered homes only went up 45%.

8. Depending on where you live, the increased equity of your home can be equal to the amount you spent to install solar power.

9. Installing home solar systems gives you the opportunity to benefit from federal and state rebates and incentives. In may cases, these will let you recoup half the cost of installing the system.

10. Most FSBO sellers are busy remodeling kitchens and upgrading bathrooms, and don’t know about the investment power of solar. Your solar powered home will stand out from the other houses in a crowded market, and offer a turnkey solution to both budget-conscious and eco-conscious buyers.

While this brief review of how to sell your home using solar energy is informative, it is only the beginning. Gene Daven is a home builder and solar advocate that wants to help sellers make the most of that experience. Read more about how to utilize the sun and wind for creating home profits. At http://www.homefreesolar.com you will see the big picture of how do-it-yourself solar projects will add value to any home.

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Eco-friendly properties are not limited to individuals who want to buy them. There are homes of these types that are for rent. If you are planning to get one for yourself, it is best to talk to a contractor of green homes. He can definitely assist you in this endeavor. There are so many designs that are available to aspiring home owners. You only have to know your needs and preferences so you can assess which particular house can fulfill them. There are so many feature that you can look into. But they all adhere to one common goal-save the environment.

When you have plans to construct an eco-friendly house, do not forget to consider some things like the construction materials that you will use, the electricity that you will need during the project, the furnishings that you will display later on and a lot more. If you want your project to be organized, you can hire a professional in interior designer that focuses on green homes. He can help you accomplish your goals.

You can research further using the internet. There are websites that can give you ideas about eco-friendly homes. Try to read the latest eco news so you will know what you should be doing in your project. Know the latest environment friendly facilities that you can use in your home. In this way, you can learn more about how to design your new green home.

As for the budget that you will need for the project, it will all rely on how huge the construction is. You also have to take a look at the construction materials if they are indeed eco-friendly. In every green house, it has a distinct style from others and it has its own level of green features. You simply have to be specific in you style so you can satisfy your wants. Even to the smallest detail such as what type of bulb you will use or are you going to install blinds? Things like these should be checked since they constitute to the total appearance of your house.

When you are planning to build or buy a green home, make sure to load yourself with enough patience and diligence. In this way, you can survive the tedious process of home buying.

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On a recent project, a planning condition was to demonstrate a 10% reduction in Carbon emissions for the development. By thinking outside the box, reductions of over 25% were achieved: An incredible achievement given that electricity was the only fuel available on the site!”

While consumers are becoming more aware and extremely interested in ‘green’ issues, the construction industry has some reluctance and has only seemed willing to change a little bit at a time. Especially with new buildings, builders and developers remain understandably cost conscious in order to remain competitive. There is an uncomfortable tension between the two considerations that are difficult to balance.

The construction industry has been stuck in a cycle of incremental improvements – doing what it has always done, just a little bit better each time. What is needed now is a fundamental break from the past. There is currently a disconnect between the energy efficiency ambitions of building projects and the scale of the real challenge that needs addressing to hit zero-carbon targets.

It is expensive to include renewable technology.

Today, specifying renewable technology will increase the cost of a building project. But, as with all other technology and innovation, as demand grows, production will increase and the price will fall. What is needed is for Government procurement to take the lead; if Government funded bodies like the education sector, local government and social housing groups can create a large demand, production would be scaled up. Triple glazing is a good example, in Germany increased demand and production has seen the price drop to that of double glazing.

It will also become increasingly important to consider offsetting any increased building costs with reduced long term energy costs for the occupant. We don’t need to try to sell people green lifestyles or make them eco-warriors. Sustainable buildings should be designed to be appealing, gentler on our pockets in terms of running costs, gentler on our health in terms of improved internal environment and as well as being much more gentle on the planet; a win-win-win.

For an informal discussion on the next stage of the Energy Performance in Building Directive (to be introduced later this year) will affect you, please call Andrew Morphet direct on 07931 791195.

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Starting around the beginning of 2010, the government will be offering rebates on Energy Star appliances for home owners to help them cut back on their energy usage and cut back your home energy bills. Reportedly, around $300 million will be available for this program.

For homeowners who’re looking to make an investment in alternative energy, there are many states that offer incentives for installing items like solar panels and geothermal units in their homes. Some of these incentives cover sales tax on the items and a small amount of the system costs while in some states a much larger portion of the cost is covered. Check out your state website for more information about incentives in your area.

Energy efficient upgrades to your home can do wonders to make your home less costly to run; though most of these upgrades will take a while to pay for themselves. Inexpensive upgrades like solar water heating systems can pay for themselves relatively quickly due to their moderate cost and the fact that water heating can be such a costly endeavour when done conventionally. Geothermal heating can take longer to pay for itself because the system is more expensive to buy and install.

Not only can these upgrades make living in your home less expensive in the long run, but it can also make your home more appealing to prospective buyers. Many buyers are looking for homes that are greener than conventional homes, with less costly utilities, and with an added value. Adding alternative heating or energy collection systems can add that kind of value to your home.

To begin the process of adding alternative energy collection and generation to your home should begin with some research into what types of energy generation or collection work well in your area; not all forms of renewable energy are suited to all types of terrain or geographic areas. Look into what types of systems are covered by your state incentive programs as well, to reduce your costs as much as possible.

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1. Installation. Take a look at your sinks, showers and toilets, are they equipped with low-flow fixtures? Not only will low-flow water fixtures help reduce your water bills, but they are one of the less expensive green changes you can make to your home-well-known brand companies like Kohler have low-flow showerheads starting at just under $47.

2. Upgrade. There are numerous purchases you can make for your home, but one large purchase that will actually save you money while living in the home is to buy Energy Star®-rated appliances. Cost conscious? Before purchasing a tank-less water heater contact your gas provider as some providers allow for discounts and rebates if you purchase an approved tank-less water heater.

3. Insulate. Drop your heating and cooling bills instantly with simple changes like calking, sealing and protecting your home from the outside weather. Do-it-yourself insulation like adding weather-stripping under doorways and around windows or calking cracks around door frames is not only cost-effective, but also can be visually appealing to potential buyers.

Remember to talk to your real estate agent for additional ideas on how to make green changes to your home. Make sure that your agent knows what changes you have already made and that they are highlighting these green aspects of your home to potential buyers. Sometimes these changes aren’t ones that are visible to the eye, but a good agent can help point out these special features of your home.

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On the domestic front, NES has analysed data from over 300,000 EPCs for homes in England & Wales and has quantified the potential reduction in energy waste and CO2 emissions identified by the Energy Assessors. The results are startling.

They found that if the recommendations in each EPC, to bring homes up to their potential rating, were implemented, the average CO2 emissions for each home would reduce by 1.2 tonnes and its fuel bill would be cut by £182 a year. This adds up to a total cut in CO2 emissions of 22%; against a Government target for housing by 2020 of 29% (reduction on 2008 emissions). As more than one million homes change hands each year, these savings demonstrate a potential to reduce our national CO2 emissions by 1.36 million tonnes and reduce energy costs by £200 million every year. If Further Measures, included in the EPC, were implemented the energy cost saving could be almost doubled.

These are very encouraging conclusions as to the potential of EPCs; but realising this potential, by undertaking the Recommendations, urgently requires home owners to receive more information about EPCs, what they actually mean and how they help save money and energy. Energy Assessors also need to help implement the Recommendations in the EPC; without this the UK’s carbon-cutting targets are less likely to be met. Energy Assessors already have the skills to help building owners and occupiers; financial incentives to get things moving in the right direction are now required.

Real Action and Financial Incentives

Our next Government (whichever party) will still have the legal commitment to reduce emissions, so the rhetoric of Copenhagen now needs real action and financial incentives.

* Some form of mandatory improvements should be introduced for any property changing hands. An energy inefficiency surcharge on Stamp Duty, refundable once energy improvements have been carried out would add incentive and urgency to the problem.
* Measures such as the proposed ’scrappage’ scheme for heating systems would make a far bigger impact on carbon emissions and energy savings than the current one for cars, and at a lower cost to the tax payer.
* The Recommendations from the EPC need to be included in all estate agent particulars so buyers/renters can plan ahead.
* The Government must start planning ahead for implementing some of the higher cost, non-standard improvement measures which will be essential if the overall target for emission reductions is to be met. This is an investment in all our futures.

Energy Education not Expense.

Home owners still worry that implementing the Recommendations of their EPC will be expensive; however, the energy cost saving can offset the cost of implementing improvements such as loft and cavity wall insulation. In two thirds of the homes surveyed, the largest saving would come from recommended improvements to the heating system – it’s amazing how many people think heating is made efficient by simply fitting thermostatic radiator valves. It is imperative that Energy Assessors receive the support of Estate Agents, Councils, Politicians and the Media to ensure home owners understand the real benefits of an EPC to their pocket and the planet.

For an informal discussion on how Synergy can help you please call Andrew Morphet direct on 07931 791195 or email; contact@epcmanchester.com. I look forward to hearing from you.

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