Moving?

Make your next move with the environment in mind and you can save more than dollars.

Like most fads, the latest "Go Green" phenomenon seems to have a life of its own. Fueled (no pun intended) by the latest gas price growth and perhaps the latest election cycle, this trend seems to have developed some strong legs. But like any other fad, I sometimes wonder what people are thinking about when they dive in head first to be part of the "in crowd" and cost is of little or no consequence. It is my personal belief that if you stop and think about it before you act, your actions can have a greater impact and ultimately provides you with a stronger sense of self gratification.

My quest to live a greener lifestyle started some years ago. As an avid outdoorsman, I have always had a strong respect for the environment but to be honest, never really took time to think about it in depth. My real awakening came when my wife and I decided to sell our current home and move to a location somewhat off the beaten track. Having lived in a resort area for the last fifteen years was fun, but the advent of middle age was calling us and we were looking for something less complicated. One of our criteria for a new home was most definitely going one that was already somewhat "green" or that we could change to accommodate a more enviro-friendly way of life. Using this move as the foundation of search was going to be my start at really making a difference.

I soon discovered that most realtors have little or no idea of what an actual "green" home should be. Certainly, they know that a builder has used as many renewable materials as possible in the building process. But from my way of thinking, a new home was not an acceptable course of action. My research indicated that the number one way to save energy was recycling. What better to reuse than a home. Certainly, I would not be adding to the deforestation woes that exist nor would I be creating new an energy drain that occurs from the building of a new dwelling. It soon became clear that if I were going to find the right property, I would need to do it on my own.

I have never been a follower, always considering myself as someone who marched to the beat of my own drum. The big part has always been convincing my family to walk this path with me. In as much as the purchase of a home is the biggest investment most families make, this was going to be a tough sell. Not so much the green part, but more so the amenities that the new residence would likely be missing. Especially to our teenage daughter!

Experience tells me that there are several key elements to keep in mind when looking for an environmentally balanced residence.

Square footage needed - Most people don't think about how much space they need to live in and few if any make it a requirement when looking for a new home. In this day of McMansions, it would seem logical that the more space your house displaces, the more energy it will ultimately take to maintain it. Heating, lighting and cooling costs are just some of variables that increase your carbon footprint. And don't just consider the house at it exists when you look at it. Take into consideration what you may want to do in the future. Too small can cause the same problems as too large if you need to expand in the future. You don't need to be exact, but it is starting point. In the house we opted for, the square footage was a little more than the townhouse we were leaving but there were trade-offs at the new property that more than offset the expansion.

Existing green attributes. - The home we ultimately purchased was, as I mentioned, a little bigger than our old home. Additionally, it was around the same age. During our review of the new property we discovered that the builder had incorporated some green elements in it when they constructed it several decades ago. High on my list was the passive solar heating that took advantage of the southern exposure of the house. It Not only incorporated heat reflective tile flooring in the atrium but also had hot air collecting fans and ductwork which channeled the warm air back to the first floor. Insulation in both roofs and walls was way above and beyond minimal standards. Add this to the fact that it was a reverse layout (the majority of the living space is on the upper level) and I knew we had a winner. The final consideration was the landscaping. There were shade trees which were obviously planted for cooling in the summer months and as windbreaks in the winter months.

Future Plans - There is no home, regardless of whether you are upsizing or downsizing that is going to meet all of your requirements, green or otherwise. Accepting that you are going to make changes to any new home is part of the deal. Making these changes in an environmentally friendly manner is something that can be incorporated into your plans with far less aggravation than you could imagine. Some the first changes we integrated into our new home included an on demand hot water heater, natural lighting skylights and redirecting rain gutter for garden irrigation. We knew that the existing hot water heater was on its last legs when we purchased and with tax credits available, that was the easiest of the changes. The payback on the water heater is approximately four years and was well worth the initial outlay. Taking into consideration that I am not what you would call a "hands on" mechanic, I do my homework and accept my limitations by calling on professionals when the job is outside of my expertise. The homework part is especially important, even more so that going green is all the rage now. Any work that is in fad mode will always command a premium price. Know what you want, how much it will save and finding the right people to do it are of paramount importance.

We are not a "radical environmental" family. There is a consciousness that exists in our household but it is not all consuming. The path we have chosen is not one that calls to me from the mass media but rather one that calls to me from the inside. Are we totally green as a result of our move? Not even close. But we are getting there. There is a feeling of satisfaction that one gets from doing the right thing and this is one of them. A good deal of the work was done for us by the previous owners and designers; all we are doing now is building on that foundation. One thing I do know is that after two years in our new (old) green home, I like it far better than any of the places I have ever lived in my life. Give it a try and you may find that satisfaction as well. Every little bit helps.