Give Your Luxe Home the Green Light

LUXE HOME GIVE YOUR THE GREEN LIGHT

Going Green Pays Off for You and the Environment

By Tracy Ellison

Reducing your carbon footprint is today’s mantra for living green. With so many environmentally friendly options available, you can create a high-performance luxury home that improves your quality of life and helps the planet. As the green theme has grown in popularity so have the savings. Energy-efficient homes add value and end up reaping significant benefits in the long run. When you start thinking green, you’ll live healthier, decrease your environmental impact and affect the globe positively – a win-win for everyone!

Sunrise, Sun Sense The first thing many people think of when discussing “green” options is solar energy. It’s hard to ignore that big blazing ball in the sky and the energy it can produce, so go ahead and look toward the sun! Solar panels not only can harness enough power for your green home, they can secure a surplus of energy, so you can start selling it back to the utility company. How’s that for a sunny outcome? Plus, the look of solar panels has stepped up its game. Beautiful glass roof tiles combine efficiency with clean-line design for a more modern aesthetic.

Green Gizmos Waste not, want not with a backup power-source home battery. Now you can capture solar energy and store it until you need it. This cleverly designed technology is the cool new kid on the luxe homes block. And speaking of high-tech, an all-knowing thermostat is where it’s at. Control the temperature, lighting, irrigation, sound and more with these smart touch-screen units, either onsite or remotely – a must-have for an eco-friendly, high-efficiency home.

Dig Deep Geothermal energy uses heat within the earth’s surface to produce heat and electricity for your home. It’s a resourceful way to harness the forces of nature in a most efficient and sustainable way. Yes, it involves an up-front investment, but the rewards are great with an almost limitless source of energy. Now, even the most luxurious homes can leave a relatively small footprint.

Don’t Fool with Mother Nature Go with sustainable materials when building a new house or updating an old one. From the frame to the floors, all materials used in a home make an impact on the environment. Choose woods from sustainable forests. Check out unconventional flooring options that earn high ratings for home insulation and climate-control efficiency. Consider

materials such as bamboo, cork and linoleum, all of which are made from natural renewable resources. Choose wisely and make mother earth proud.

Greener Pastures Head outdoors for eco-friendly ideas and partner with nature for smart solutions. You’ll find major savings by choosing a living roof, wall or balcony. It’s a great way to conserve energy and make it rain green! This innovative approach to using vegetation as insulation is being embraced by luxury homeowners as the next natural progression. Another way to grow your eco IQ is by planting vegetable gardens. Good for the mind, body and soul, organic gardening brings home the concept of farm-to-table living brilliantly. And don’t forget xeriscaping. By using native plants and rocks, you can minimize water usage and create a unique landscape look.

ECO TIPS AND TRICKS

• Choose ENERGY STAR ® rated appliances and windows.

• Look into glass-front refrigerators and eliminate open-door energy waste.

• Use a microwave to cook. It uses about 50% less energy than conventional ovens.

• Only run full dishwasher loads; drip dry. • Turn down your thermostat; wash clothes in cold water.

• Replace incandescent lightbulbs with compact fluorescent or LED ones.

• Use low-flow toilets and fixtures; fix leaky faucets.

• Reuse, recycle, compost and collect rainwater – all make a difference.

Implement one or all of these hot green house ideas for your luxe home. The effort you put in will be returned to you, and the earth, for years to come.