| When you think of living green, you may consider the | | | | more and more people want to help solve the |
| major impact on the environment made by our gas | | | | problems that have come with the advances in |
| guzzling SUVs and sports cars. However, did you | | | | society. To live green doesn't necessarily mean that |
| know that the majority of the issue with our | | | | you must go all solar panels and cut out the use of all |
| environment comes from our houses and offices? | | | | appliances; but there are significant changes that you |
| According to the McKinsey report, "Curbing Global | | | | can make to help cut down on energy consumption. |
| Energy Demand: The Energy Productivity | | | | Just what is green housing all about? Let's take a |
| Opportunity", our homes are the consumers of up 25 | | | | look. Green housing can be comprised of a |
| percent of the world's energy and are therefore | | | | compilation of different aspects pertaining to building |
| responsible for 19 percent of global greenhouse gas | | | | a home. Many families are opting to build homes using |
| emissions. Keeping in mind that this number relates | | | | certified wood that has been harvested from |
| only to the homes we live in; not the massive office | | | | sustainably managed sources. Green housing materials |
| buildings that line city streets, the number is alarming | | | | could also be products that have been manufactured |
| as it stands. With these numbers of energy | | | | with resource-efficient processes such as reduced |
| consumption, you can see why green housing is an | | | | energy consumption, minimized waste (recycled, |
| idea whose time has come. | | | | recyclable and/or source reduced product packaging), |
| The reason we use so much energy inside of the | | | | and reduction of greenhouse gases. |
| home is widely because of all of our 'necessary' | | | | The need for green housing and green building |
| appliances. It is the rare home where you may not | | | | materials is clear. The availability of this sort of living |
| find a television or a computer, and very few homes | | | | may not be accessible to everyone at this point in |
| are without the all essential microwave. But the | | | | time; but those who have begun to pave the way |
| biggest issue inside of the home is the heating and | | | | for better buildings have created an easier path for |
| cooling that is needed. In fact, it is our heating and | | | | future improvements to the way we build and the |
| cooling systems that utilize up to sixty percent of our | | | | way we impact the earth. |
| energy resources at home. Green housing does not | | | | Until you can develop your own plan for a home |
| necessarily cut the need for heating and cooling, but | | | | constructed to utilize less energy, such as a round |
| certain aspects of the green housing idea do cut | | | | house, you can make small changes in the home you |
| back on the reliance of energy sapping systems. | | | | currently live in. Any move towards energy efficiency |
| To make a difference in your world is to be a part | | | | is a good one, even if it is one small step. One small |
| of the solution and not a part of the problem. Green | | | | step leads to many. |
| housing is becoming increasingly popular because | | | | |