This comes from a great book called Go Green, Live Rich by David Bach. David is the author of five NYT Bestsellers, including Start Late, Finish Rich. He has some wonderful strategies for building wealth using very environmentally 
responsible methods.
The demand for greener homes in real estate is shifting right now. National Association of Realtors surveys show that 46% of buyers would prefer a “green” home. According to a study by McGraw-Hill, about 2% of American homes have notable green features. That study was done in 2007, so the numbers are certainly higher, but not by a lot. How’s that for a disconnect that is between supply and demand? It makes no sense to spend money building or remodeling and NOT choose greener methods and materials.
Right now, Americans are consistently responding in surveys that they will pay more for homes that have energy saving features, recycled or sustainable materials, save resources like old growth trees, and improve air quality. Building a green home means using more environmentally friendly materials and practices, and setting higher standards for energy efficiency and indoor air quality, while reducing waste in the process. It’s also not necessarily more expensive.
According to What’s Working (www.whatsworking.com), a 15 year old company that offers traiing on green construction, 
a green home can be built for less than 1% additional cost– and you’ll see the difference when you are ready to sell. Many of our local Central Texas builders are making green and energy efficient features standard on new construction. We can tell you which ones, and compare what they offer. You will see a difference in your monthly energy bill, and in the value of your home when you are ready to sell.
Today’s ideal home is making way for new ideals: No or low VOC paints and materials, recycled glass tiles, recycled marble flooring and wood. Green materials are available in an array of beautiful choices, and living in a green home offers definite health benefits to you and your family’s respiratory system.
If you are planning to sell now, consider adding some green upgrades that will let your Realtor tell a “greener” story and set your home apart from the competition. We’d love to show you how.
Comments Off
t, structural materials, is projected to grow by 29.2% in that same time period. The second largest segment is interior materials, then exterior, with projected growth rates of 24% and 20.6% respectively . 
In the Energy Policy Examiner, Clifford Bryan writes about the many green jobs that are showing up as sustainable building practices increase demand for green construction workers.
Memorial Day was first widely observed on May 30, 1868, to commemorate the sacrifices of Civil War soldiers. It was originally known as Decoration Day, and it is a day of remembrance for those who have given their lives in our nation’s service. 
(
Cut down on chemicals: Greener grilling? Choose your heat source carefully; make sure it’s 100% wood based, like wood briquettes or 
Pack out, Recycle, handle trash responsibly: Make sure guests and campers have an EASY way to recycle. Be the leader, set a tone of respect for not generating more waste than neccessary. 
people agree that recycling of electronics is important, but don’t know an easy way to make that happen. Here’s a great site that takes moments to look up your old device and find out what value, if any it has. You can ship it free to recycle, or sell or upgrade. It’s easy, it’s green, it’s great!
Sustainable Energy Development Company by observing what was in the trash bins. This is a link to a short and amazing video of a beautiful three story exhibition hall made of bottles. 
Dell is also offering NextLife refurbished ink cartridges for many popular printer models that print up to 20% more pages than new, reduce waste in our landfills, and reduce resources used to produce new. EPA estimates in 2003 said we dump 400 million cartridges into landfills each year. If even 1% of that number was refurbished, it would be the equivalent in CO2 reduction of planting 15,000 trees. That makes NextLife Ink cartridges a economically AND environmentally good choice! Go to the Dell site and type in NextLife into the site search.
