Go 'green' doing it yourself

Not all gift cards created equal

"Going green is cool. My favorite way to go green is to use recyclable materials. Much of the redwood discarded in California ends up in at the dump. Once the decayed parts are cut away and the nails or screws removed, one can use the recycled wood with a personal touch," said Anthony Burchill, a general contractor and feng shui consultant from Berkeley, CA.

by Broderick Perkins
© 2010 DeadlineNews.Com


Unauthorized use of this story is a copyright violation -- a federal crime


Deadline Newsroom - Simple do-it-yourself home improvements can turn your listing into a much more valuable sale this spring.

Make those upgrades "green" and some of the work will both extend value to the planet and put a tax credit in your wallet.

The time is right.

May is National Home Improvement Month and the National Association of the Remodeling Industry says whether you are selling or staying put, now's the time to beat the rush and book the work before demand for contractors pushes up prices.

HomeGain surveyed real estate agents for the top green do-it-yourself home improvements most likely to provide a return in terms of value added to the home.



"Going green is cool. My favorite way to go green is to use recyclable materials. Much of the redwood discarded in California ends up in at the dump. Once the decayed parts are cut away and the nails or screws removed, one can use the recycled wood with a personal touch," said Anthony Burchill a general contractor and feng shui consultant from Berkeley, CA

The top five green home improvements that real estate agents recommend to home sellers were...

See: Go 'green' doing it yourself

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You are reading a sample of "News that really hits home!", now available from several beats and published in a growing number of locations.

Broderick Perkins, an award-winning consumer journalist, parlayed 30 years of old-school journalism into a digital real estate news service, the San Jose, CA-based DeadlineNews Group, including DeadlineNews.Com, a real estate news and consulting service and Web site, and the Deadline Newsroom, DeadlineNews.Com's news back shop.

Perkins was the first Examiner to cover three beats for the Examiner.com news service:
• National Offbeat News Examiner
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• National Real Estate Examiner

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Greensburg, KS rises from rubble as 'Green Phoenix'

Recession resistant jobs, right here!

On the second anniversary of its destruction, the Little-Town-That-Could's effort is putting Greensburg, KS back on the map in a very green way. What's more, jobs are being created and savings will mount as the town becomes a model for sustainability.

by Broderick Perkins
© 2008 DeadlineNews.Com


Unauthorized use of this story is a copyright violation -- a federal crime

Deadline Newsroom -
Greensburg, KS rises from the rubble as a 'Green Phoenix'

From the ashes of a May 4, 2007 EF5 tornado that virtually wiped the town off the map, Greensburg, KS is being redeveloped for its namesake -- GREENsburg.

On the second anniversary of the destruction, the Little-Town-That-Could's effort is putting Greensburg back on the map in a very green way. What's more, during a recession, their timing couldn't be better. Jobs are being created and savings will mount as the town becomes a model for sustainability.

From a bootstrap angle as well, President Barack Obama owes them a visit.

Soon after the tornado, the city council passed a resolution stating that all city building would be built to LEED - platinum and other sustainability standards, making it the first city in the nation to do so.

The greening of Greensburg comes with the help of Greensburg GreenTown, a non-profit organization created to partner with residents to teach them about being green and to help them implement green history.

In a year's time, the long-term community redevelopment plan has done more than most towns accomplish in 20 years.

Of course -- for better or for worse -- they did have a virtual blank slate upon which to draw.

In any case, when it comes to green, Greensburg's really got it going on.

• More than hot air. A planned Greensburg Wind Farm of 10 turbines will provide enough power for the entire city.

• Locavores are lovin' it. Organic and natural foods from a consortium of 100 local farmers and other food producers is available to the town.

• LEED homes are moving in. The first (eight) LEED platinum homes in the state of Kansas, among only a handful in the nation..

• Recycled building materials are hot. A Silo Eco-home comprised of recycled foundations, basements, driveways, and sidewalks of buildings destroyed in the tornado.

• More green buildings are going up. See the "Greensburg Sustainable Building Database."

• The town has celebrity status. The Discovery Channel's Planet Green, Greensburg is documenting the effort, now in season two.

• It's a social networking model. The town's all the rage on both Facebook and in a Flickr photo journal.

• The town's got guts. It hasn't been easy. See "Red Tape Precedes Greensburg's 'Green' Rebuilding Plan"

• More on Livin' Green

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Broderick Perkins, an award-winning consumer journalist, parlayed 30 years of old-school journalism into a digital real estate news service, the San Jose, CA-based DeadlineNews Group, including DeadlineNews.Com, a real estate news and consulting service and Web site, and the Deadline Newsroom, DeadlineNews.Com's news back shop. Perkins is also a National Real Estate Examiner. All the news that really hits home from three locations -- that's location, location, location!

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Roof replacing signals over your head?

Don't just rely upon the calendar to tell you when it's time for a new roof. See what the neighbors are doing, what the market has wrought and what you can do in the name of "green."

by Broderick Perkins
© 2008 DeadlineNews.Com


Unauthorized use of this story is a copyright violation -- a federal crime

Deadline Newsroom - Red flags that signal it's time to replace your roof may be over your head.

Sunlight permitting holes and bucket brigade-sized leaks are obvious signs it's time for a new topper for your home.

There are however, additional indicators that may not be so obvious.

"Certainly if your roof is approaching the end of its life cycle -- usually 20 – 25 years for asphalt shingles -- it's time to think about a new roof," says Ray Rosewall, president and CEO of DaVinci Roofscapes in Kansas City, KS.

The National Association of Homebuilders says decorative slate, metal, masonry and newer synthetic roofs can have a life expectancy of 50 years or more.

"However, a calendar shouldn't be the only way you determine if it's time to replace your roof," said Rosewall.

Think about replacing your roof when:

• Your neighbors have new roofs and you want to maintain the value of your home. Also, given most homes in a neighborhood were built at the same time, your roof may reach the end of it's lifecycle at the time your neighbors' roofs are failing.

• Your neighbors have not added a new roof and you want to increase the resale value of your home. Hanley Wood's Cost vs. Value 2008-2009 report says a new roof can return an average 65.5 percent of the cost in the form of value added to the home. On a $18,825 roof, that's $12,336 added to the value of your home. That adds up to greater salability.

• Your geographic area has seen an increase in severe weather conditions, (including hail or tornados) that require a stronger roofing material to handle the dramatic weather changes.

"With the changing weather patterns in our country, combined with the need for homeowners to add value to their properties, consumers should be vigilant about looking for signs of wear along with upgrading their roofs," said Rosewall.

• Your existing roof is functional, but has staining that detracts from the look of your home. In a housing market laden with poorly-maintained foreclosed homes, it's a good idea to make yours standout from the eyesores.

• You want to shrink your carbon footprint and take advantage of more sustainable green roofing alternatives that are low maintenance and energy saving and can come with 50-year warranties.

© 2008 DeadlineNews.Com

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Broderick Perkins, an award-winning consumer journalist, parlayed 30 years of old-school journalism into a digital real estate news service, the San Jose, CA-based DeadlineNews Group, including DeadlineNews.Com, a real estate news and consulting service and Web site, and the Deadline Newsroom, DeadlineNews.Com's news back shop. Perkins is also a National Real Estate Examiner. All the news that really hits home from three locations -- that's location, location, location!

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Towns To Get Up And Go For

Outside magazine's spin on the best towns is a rundown of places for great alfresco living. DeadlineNews.Com put the list to the home value test and found healthy real estate markets in many of the towns.

by Broderick Perkins
© 2008 DeadlineNews.Com

Unauthorized use of this story is a copyright violation -- a federal crime

Deadline Newsroom - When Outside magazine asks its readers to come up with a list of the best towns in America, chances are they won't be skyscraper canyons or commuter suburbs.

The magazine is pretty much about what its title implies -- living the active life -- without a roof overhead.

Every issue lays it on pretty thick for the thin with stories about buff people working up a sweat with their hot gear.

However, when DeadlineNews.Com took a closer look at this spin on best places, it discovered the towns featured in the magazine's August issue were a lot more than living large al fresco style

Towns where the fit want to get up and go to also often include housing markets in pretty good shape.

While some towns listed for their outdoorsy appeal are pricey resorts, others are affordable places that didn't see skyrocketing home prices during the boom. Most of them were still enjoying home price appreciation this year.

Along with the possibility of developing a hard body, there's also the potential for buying into a healthy real estate investment.

Here's a quick look at some of the top towns, a bit about how they made the list, Outside magazine's own "median home value" for each and, where available, home value growth (or not) for the past year ending in the first quarter 2008, according to the Office of Federal Housing Enterprise Oversight.

• Washington D.C. tops the list. The new major is ultra-buff, the new National's MLB stadium is the first LEED-certified one in the nation, young entrepreneurs are flocking to the northwest and Chinatown and there's lots of inner-city revival. Rock Creek Park hosts 40 miles of trails, there's another stretch along a scenic canal towpath, and there's even Class V rapids at Great Falls, baby. Median value, $437,700, down only 1.5 percent.

• Chattanooga, TN is a former manufacturing town turned waterfront gem. LEED-certified urban renewal along the Tennessee River flows through town with a ten-mile river walk, an aquarium, pedestrian pier, public boat slips and the aptly dubbed Renaissance Park. Locals are planting trees, hanging out at the Riverbend music festival and spending more time in the verdant Appalachians. Median value, $119,900, up 2.75 percent.

• Ogden, UT, once a railroad junction in the foothills of the Wasatch, has become a Main Street America town with a self-proclaimed moniker "Adventure Sports Capital of America." Skiing, kayaking parks, mountain biking and a rec center with climbing walls, a vertical wind tunnel and standing surf wave make it so. Twenty outdoor gear manufacturers headquarter in the town where two rivers flow. Median value, $14,700, up 6.64 percent.

• Portsmouth, NH, no longer a ship building center from the 18th century, has turned a run down waterfront into a preservationist's dream home. Cobblestone paving remains endearing and emerging musicians and artists are populating independent theaters, a restored Music Hall, galleries, a film fest and live music venues. The beachfront town boasts the first stretch of the 3,000 mile East Coast Greenway planned to run from Maine to Florida. Median value, $318,000, down 1 percent.

• Tacoma, WA, long overshadowed by Puget Sound neighbor Seattle, is now a vibrant art center with a University of Washington campus, reborn Union Station, and plenty of waterways for water sport junkies. Don't forget Mount Rainier's snow cone. Median value $228,300, up 1.64 percent.

• Ithaca, NY offers ivy league education from Cornell University and Ithaca College, for those who want to their brains a work out. Cardio pumping happens at the walkable mall, around the Finger Lakes and in Treman State Park. Sustenance is legendary at famous Moosewood eatery and sustainability is found in EcoVillage with two organic farms. Median value, 183,500, up 10.63. That's not a typo.

Rounding out the Top 10 were:

• Bourbon, bluegrass and Kentucky Derby's Louisville; $141,600, up 2.73 percent.

• Home to half the globe's old-growth redwoods (and, in the county, one other infamous cash crop), Eureka, CA; $262,250, down 5.8 percent (the figure is according to the Humboldt County Association of Realtors).

• Considered Colorado's last great ski town, Crested Butte; $301,100, up 4.91 percent (according to OFHEO's statewide figure).

• Embraced by the foothills of the Ozarks, Columbia, MO; $164,700, up 3.28 percent.

© 2008 DeadlineNews.Com

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Broderick Perkins, an award-winning consumer journalist of 30 years, is publisher and executive editor of San Jose, CA-based DeadlineNews Group -- DeadlineNews.Com, a real estate news and consulting service and Web site and the new Deadline Newsroom, DeadlineNews.Com's news back shop. In both cases, it's where all the news really hits home.

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Gas Prices Fuel Urban Desires

Global warming-spawned climate control was already making us reconsider where we should live. Now the cost of gasoline is also giving new meaning to "location, location, location." Even Santa Claus is moving to avoid North Pole melt.

by Broderick Perkins
© 2008 DeadlineNews.Com

Deadline Newsroom - Gasoline is putting the brakes on the choices you thought you had about where to live.

Scientists recently revealed how burning fossil fuels, like gasoline, contributes to climatic change.

Climate change can spawn severe weather conditions that force you to think twice about where to live.

It's not just the fear of the roof being blown off, burned away or snowed under.

Extra costs are associated with living in a natural disaster risk area -- more robust buildings, higher insurance premiums, higher home energy costs and disaster preparedness, to name a few.

Now, the cost of gasoline -- averaging $4 a gallon nationwide -- is further reducing the choices you have about where to live.

A recent Coldwell Banker Associates Report, "Interest in Urban Homeownership Fueled by Higher Gas Prices", found that the vast majority of sales associates' clients -- 78 percent -- said the rising cost of gas has increased their desire to live in the city instead of the suburbs.

More than 80 percent of them said that's because, with the higher cost of gasoline, the commute is just killing their household budget. They want to be closer to work centers or the public transit that can take them there.

Urban development, inline with mitigating global warming, is typically more compact, more densely populated with both people and destinations, more walkable and generally easier to traverse for less via public transit.

Urban cores also tend to be nearer job centers and community and cultural centers. From city center it's often a lot easier to get from Point A to Point B for a fraction of the cost of a gallon of gasoline.

It the Coldwell Banker survey, 75 percent also said the basic prospect of being able to walk to more places is a positive factor. And there's a positive health factor that comes with walking.

Coldwell Banker's survey also found an 84 percent spike in interest for properties with a home office, another indication of a trend towards telecommuting, getting out of those gasoline burners and having more money to spend at home and for the home.

Global warming-sensitive planners and developers as well as consumers, more and more often seek urban living-style development -- even in the suburbs -- for a host of reasons from a healthier, walkable, more energy efficient environments to cheaper development costs, less impact on the infrastructure and closer knit communities.

Coldwell Banker's survey wasn't the first to discover gas pains in suburbia.

DeadlineNews.Com
has long reported how the reliance upon gasoline to support suburban living is a questionable approach to the American Dream.

In 2004 DeadlineNews.Com reported in "Vote For Smart Growth":

The U.S. Census Bureau's "2004 American Community Survey" found that those who were in the market to buy a home were more likely to say they want to be in or near a city as opposed to living in a suburb or rural area.

The same year the chilling documentary "The End Of Suburbia: Oil Depletion and The Collapse of The American Dream" became an eye-opener about the impact the decline in oil supplies will eventually have on the American Dream -- especially the suburban version.

The documentary reveals the lifestyle many home buyers choose is one with a questionable future.

"The whole suburban project is the greatest misallocation of resources in the history of the world. America took all its post war wealth and invested it in a living arrangement that has no future," says new urbanist James Howard Kunstler, Saratoga Springs, NY author of "Geography Of Nowhere: The Rise And Decline of America's Man-Made Landscape" (Touchstone/Simon & Schuster, $14).

"The End of Suburbia" says the nation's reliance upon fossil fuels has been exponentially multiplied by the drive-everywhere suburban way of life Kunstler calls a "tragic landscape of highway strips, parking lots, housing tracts, mega-malls, junked cities, and ravaged countryside that makes up the everyday environment where most Americans live and work. A land full of places that are not worth caring about will soon be a nation and a way of life that is not worth defending."

The now four-year-old documentary says cheap oil, enjoyed for the past 150 years as the lubricant driving suburban development, is about to evaporate and virtually forecast what's happening in today's market.

"Within our lifetimes we are going to see the end of the Age of Oil, and the result of that will be the end of an American way of life" says Richard Heinberg, author of the new "Powerdown: Options and Actions for a Post-Carbon World" (Consortium, $16.95). Heinberg is also a journalist, educator, and, at the time, core faculty member at the New College of California, a sustainable world institute in San Francisco, CA.

The documentary also said, just a year into the War in Iraq, that the war is but the first battle in a larger war to control what's left of the world's oil reserves in order to sustain a lifestyle fewer and fewer home buyers desire.

"Afghanistan and Iraq are the two opening engagements in what are bound to be a long series of wars and international contests over the remaining oil in the world, and over 60 percent of that oil is located in places where people don't like us very much," says Kunstler.

"We have to revive the idea of the city, the town. New urbanists have been criticized for being 'back to the future' but you have to pick up the threads of culture and history and carry them forward," said Peter Calthorpe , an urban designer, architect and founder of the San Francisco-based Congress for New Urbanism.

"The traditional American town and the great American city were fabulous forms of urbanism. The ultimate form, the classic American grid, both at the city scale and village scale, is pretty unique. It's just tragic the kind of environments we are creating when we compare them to what we used to build," Calthorpe said.

Indeed DeadlineNews.Com's "Builders Filling the Gap" revealed only in the last decade have new home builders become serious enough about infill housing, transit oriented development (TOD) and urban living to create special divisions devoted to the energy-dependent lifestyle.

They may be too late.

• See the series "Global Warming Hits Home" only available on DeadlineNews.Com.

© 2008 DeadlineNews.Com

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Broderick Perkins, an award-winning consumer journalist of 30 years, is publisher and executive editor of San Jose, CA-based DeadlineNews Group -- DeadlineNews.Com, a real estate news and consulting service and Web site and the new Deadline Newsroom, DeadlineNews.Com's news back shop. In both cases, it's where all the news really hits home.

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SF Shouts 'Solar!' From Rooftops

Add San Francisco's new solar panel rebate to existing incentives and the cost for a typical $30,000 photovoltaic system is slashed nearly in half. A $0.00 electric bill also boosts affordability.

by Broderick Perkins
© 2008 DeadlineNews.Com

Unauthorized use of this story is a copyright violation -- a federal crime

Deadline Newsroom - San Francisco just thrust solar power further into the limelight.

The city's Board of Supervisors recently voted to launch a citywide cash incentive program for rooftop solar panel power generation.

It's the largest municipal solar initiative in the nation.

That means you get money back -- and lots of it -- for installing rooftop solar systems to generate electricity.

The big news is that the city's solar panel incentive piggy-backs rebates onto existing state and federal incentives.

For example, an average solar system costs about $30,000 including installation.

With the maximum rebates available, San Francisco residents can get $6,000 through the San Francisco Solar Energy Incentive Program; $2,000 from federal energy tax credits and $4,500 from the state's California Solar Initiative.

That's a maximum total of $12,500 that can be rebated to San Francisco residents, leaving them on the hook for the remaining $17,500.

To help lower costs more, a community movement in San Francisco, called One Block Off The Grid, is coordinating a group buying effort to cut costs.

Also, a growing number of lenders offer special, low-interest loans for solar panel purchases and installation.

Rooftop solar panel installation also can be eligible for an Energy Efficient Mortgage.

What's more, solar panels can increase the value of your home.

Let the sun shine in.

© 2008 DeadlineNews.Com

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Broderick Perkins, an award-winning consumer journalist of 30 years, is publisher and executive editor of San Jose, CA-based DeadlineNews Group -- DeadlineNews.Com, a real estate news and consulting service and Web site and the new Deadline Newsroom, DeadlineNews.Com's news back shop. In both cases, it's where all the news really hits home.

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Site To See: Green Condo Life

A new Web site and best practices manual is designed just for homeowner association members who want to pitch in on the world's 'green' movement to help save the planet.

by Broderick Perkins
© 2008 DeadlineNews.Com



Deadline Newsroom - Just because you live in a homeowner association (HOA) governed community doesn't mean you always need permission to go green at home.

Granted, a condo, townhome, loft or other home in an HOA community isn't always your castle when it comes to certain home improvements, but there are many other approaches you can take to help save the planet.

Community Associations Institute (CAI) has launched an interactive, Net-based initiative, Community Green to help HOA communities turn global thinking into local action through environmental awareness and activism by community association leaders and the 60 million people who live in HOA communities.

The principles are simple:

• Collaborate with neighbors to develop sustainable, consensus-driven decisions.

• Respect property rights and honor private agreements that are compatible with sustainable environmental practices.

• Be vigilant in actions that minimize the environmental footprint.

And developing green habits in a condo home is easy. Here are some ideas:

• Buy Energy Star. Appliances account for 20 percent of a household's energy consumption. Upgrading your kitchen with a new refrigerator will save the most. Don't forget the dishwasher, stove, oven and clothes washer and dryer.

• Tighten up. Close the fireplace damper when not in use. Insulate. Plug holes. Check air ducts for leaks. Patch the roof.

• Be cool with heating and cooling. Heating and cooling account for more than 40 percent of a home's utility bills. Keep your system well maintained, clean filters regularly and consider upgrading to the latest energy efficient models as soon as possible. Keep the thermostat as low as is comfortable in the winter and as high as is comfortable in the summer. Turn kitchen, bath and other ventilation or exhaust fans off as soon as possible or they'll suck out warmed or cooled air.

• Landscape smart. Choose indigenous plants with deciduous trees planted on the south and on the west sides to keep your house cool in the summer and allow sun to shine in the windows in the winter. Vines also provide shading and cooling. Growing on trellises, vines can shade windows or the whole side of a house. Winter winds can be deflected by planting evergreen trees and shrubs on the north and west sides of the house.

• Lighten up. Replace 25 percent of your lights in high-use areas with fluorescents and you'll save about 50 percent of your lighting energy bill. Why not replace them all? Fluorescent lamps also last six to 10 times longer than incandescent bulbs. Whenever possible, use solar powered outdoor lighting. Otherwise use photocells or a timer on outdoor lights so they will turn off during the day.

• Make windows winners. Windows account for 10 to 25 percent of heating and cooling bills. Replace old single-pane windows with new double-pane glazing and high-performance glass. In cold climates select windows that are gas filled with low-emissivity (low-e) coatings to reduce heat loss. In warmer climates, select windows with spectrally-selective coatings to reduce heat gain. New solar control spectrally-selective windows can cut the cooling load in half. If you can't replace your windows or decide not to, install white window shades, drapes or blinds to reflect heat away from the house; close curtains on south- and west-facing windows during the day;
Install awnings on south- and west- facing windows; Apply sun-control or other reflective films on south-facing windows to reduce solar gain.

"Best Practices: Energy Efficiency" by the Foundation For Community Association Research contains more greening information for HOA dwellers including remodeling tips and case studies of HOAs that successfully made it a priority to reduce their energy consumption and costs.

The report is available on the new Web site Community Green, along with a host of related information for HOA members.

"Site To See" reviews are occasional but timely critiques of content-heavy real estate Web sites deemed unique, consumer-friendly, informative and easy to use.

© 2008 DeadlineNews.Com

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Broderick Perkins, an award-winning consumer journalist of 30 years, is publisher and executive editor of San Jose, CA-based DeadlineNews.Com, a real estate news and consulting service, and the new Deadline Newsroom, DeadlineNews.Com's new backshop. In both cases, it's where all the news really hits home.

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How To Get the Goods on 'Regreening'

Divorcees' divvied up domicile.

'Regreening' -- green remodeling -- requires some extra homework to make sure the materials, design and contractor all come with true green practices and guidelines.

See all "regreening" stories.

by Broderick Perkins
© 2008 DeadlineNews.Com

Deadline Newsroom - It makes good sense to go green when you make home improvements and renovate your home.

Green remodeling, dubbed "regreening," includes design and construction that reduces the environmental impact of the work itself. That includes the impact on energy, water, and materials consumption; waste generation; and harmful emissions -- indoors and out -- according to the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC).

The council also says a green home is one that uses less energy, water and natural resources; creates less waste, and is healthier for the people who live there.

If being politically correct isn't enough to make you see green, with today's attention to global warming, consider this: regreening can also increase the amount of green backs you get when you sell your home.

But how can you be sure the green approach you use is the best green you can find for your home improvement?

To assist homeowners who want to cultivate a green home improvement lifestyle the American Society of Interior Designers (ASID) and the USGBC have teamed up to create Regreen, a resource for green home renovation best practices and guidelines.

ASID is a community of designers, industry representatives, educators, and students committed to interior design. USGBC is coordinating the establishment and evolution of a national consensus to provide the industry with the tools necessary to design, build, and operate buildings that deliver high performance inside and out. It's also a leading organization representing the building industry on environmental building matters.

The partnership says to get true green, begin with these tips.

Consider composition. When choosing a green product, consider the raw materials used to create the product and their origin. For example, some composite decking manufacturers use recovered wood fibers and recycled plastic grocery bags, milk jugs and detergent bottles to create their materials. Products using recycled rather than virgin materials help by creating less waste, by keeping materials out of landfills and by reducing the need for costly raw materials like petroleum.

By comparison, decking products made polyvinyl chloride (PVC) come with the promise of lower maintenance, however the material is problematic.

"PVC is the worst plastic from an environmental health perspective, posing unique and major hazards in its manufacture, product life and disposal," according to The Healthy Building Network. The network also says PVC poses unique and significant risks in its production, product life and disposal, and defies the greater desire for a healthy environment and improved quality of life.

Consider a product's life cycle. To reduce environmental impact, seek long-lasting products that also can be repurposed or recycled at the end of their life. Some can even be returned to the manufacturer to be recycled into future products.

Consider sustainability. Products should also have the ability to be maintained sustainably. For building products that will be used outdoors, look for durable products that can withstand the regional climate over an extended period. Sustainability should also be practiced by the manufacturer and during the production process. Manufacturing processes can use a great deal of energy and resources, as well as release toxic chemicals and gases. Look for sustainable companies that have implemented environmental processes and procedures to reduce emissions and energy, as well as reduce the amount of waste through recycling, reusing and other environmentally responsible practices.

Consider value. While green home improvements are inherently good for your home's value, ensure you'll get the most from your regreening by looking for a life-cycle cost analysis of green products. The analysis calculates the approximate maintenance cost over its lifetime compared to the initial product price.

For more information, download Regreen ASID & USGBC Residential Remodeling Guidelines, check out USGBC's Green Home Renovations, visit Healthy Building Network's Web site and see Consumer Reports' GreenerChoices.org.

• DeadlineNews.Com offers more green news that hits home.

• DeadlineNews.Com offers more global warming news that hits home.

© 2008 DeadlineNews.Com

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Broderick Perkins, an award-winning consumer journalist of 30 years, is publisher and executive editor of San Jose, CA-based DeadlineNews.Com, a real estate news and consulting service, and the new Deadline Newsroom, DeadlineNews.Com's new backshop. In both cases, it's where all the news really hits home.

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Cultivating A Green Lifestyle At Home

Going green at home is a lot more than just switching light bulbs, swapping out the thermostat and plugging holes. To really save the planet, change your lifestyle.

See all "regreening" stories.

by Broderick Perkins
© 2008 DeadlineNews.Com

Deadline Newsroom - Think you really know how to go green at home?

Sure, you've swapped out those incandescent bulbs with fluorescents. You have a new thermostat. You've stuffed your attic with insulation. Winterization plugs and seals have already saved you a bundle.

You've been trading up to Energy Star emblazoned major appliances and those not-always-on tech gadgets. And gas prices are forcing you to trade in that gas guzzler.

Still, chances are, you've only scratched the surface of saving the planet.

Going green at home is more than just tossing one energy hog for a more efficient replacement. To really shrink your households' carbon footprint, going green must be more of a lifestyle than a trend-induced fad.

Here are some green steps you may have overlooked.

• Hire a green broker. When shopping for a home, hire an EcoBroker.

Around since 2003, EcoBrokers are licensed real estate agents, additionally endowed with eco-savvy certification from the Association of Energy and Environmental Real Estate Professionals.

As an education outreach partner with a national green builder network, BuiltGreen.org, EcoBrokers help the home building industry sell green homes, but they also assist home buyers who want to buy green homes -- new and resale.

At an open house they can point out features that save energy costs or where you can improve the green status of the listing. Schooled in energy efficient technology and sustainable energy issues they can also help you land an Energy Efficient Mortgage, which, if you are really serious about being green, you won't buy a home without.

• Buy a green home. The U.S. Green Building Council, the folks who developed the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) green building rating system for all kinds of structures, residential and not, help take the guesswork out of buying a green home. The council's Green Home Guide includes links to green multiple listing services (MLS), ListedGreen.com and GreenHomesForSale.com offering new and resale sustainable homes around the globe.

To help you shop green the council also offers a Green Home Checklist a detailed analysis of what features to expect in a green home.

• Regreen. "Regreening" is green remodeling, renovating and home improving and new guidelines from the LEED people, Green Home Renovations help you, well, go for the green.

• Buy a green home in a real Emerald City. Two studies point you to green location gems. BestPlaces.net and Country Home magazine teamed up to produce Best Green Place To Live and SustainLane.com offers Greenest U.S. Cities.

And if you really want to get down to the green nitty gritty, location-wise, you can plant your green being in specific communities and neighborhoods noted for green living.

The LEED for Neighborhood Development program, offered by, the Congress for New Urbanism (CNU), U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) and the National Resource Defense Council (NRDC) integrates the principles of smart growth, urbanism and green building into the first national system for sustainable neighborhood design.

• Fill up with green. When it's time to send a thank you gift to your Ecobroker or to fill that new or resale green home with stuff, buy green. Consumers Union's GreenerChoices.org brings the consumer advocate's time-honored goods and services ratings scrutiny to environmentally sustainable and healthy goods and services. From the foods you stuff in the fridge to the car you park in the garage GreenerChoices.org has ratings for numerous household goods.

• DeadlineNews.Com offers more green news that hits home.

• DeadlineNews.Com offers more global warming news that hits home.

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Broderick Perkins, an award-winning consumer journalist of 30 years, is publisher and executive editor of San Jose, CA-based DeadlineNews.Com, a real estate news and consulting service, and the new Deadline Newsroom, DeadlineNews.Com's new backshop. In both cases, it's where all the news really hits home.

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