Steps needed for a Green Home

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What are the concrete steps needed to make your home more green.
Here are some steps performed by a builder in central Fla that may be worth considering if you are ready to build or retrofit your home.

WHO:
Paul Fallman of Fallman Design and Construction in Clermont Fl
Is Certified by Green Building Coalition-floridagreenbuilding.org

WHAT:
Home was rated 62 on the Home Energy Rating System(on scale of 0-100 the lower the score the better)

WHY:
-layout promotes South facing orientation so gets strong sun in winter-this is really important in non semi tropical states or up north
-use High performance windows tinted, low E-4 and argon filled
-has Covered balconies and overhangs-very important for Florida summers
-has 50 yr shingle roof with icyene spray foam insulation-also attempts to cool the attic which is a gigantic heat sink in Fla summers
-has concrete block walls w/ rigid insulation
-has dual compressor 20 seer air conditioning unit
-has 2 tankless gas waterheaters-we feel gas retrofitting is a pain but for new construction may be an answer-prob is that electric instant hot waters are not competitive
-has Energy star appliances-this is a must but  not all are created equal so you must do research

SAVINGS:
-Expects additional costs of going green will be paid back in 5-10 years

from jpatterson@orlandosentinel.com

SUGGESTIONS:
This home was not all copacetic though. 
-The house is 4000 sq ft. We very strongly feel most US homes are way over built. This was something started by the large builders to raise the price of the homes. We feel that most families should only have 2 kids and 4000 sq ft is much too big for a family of 4

-There is no mention  of off the grid or grid tied electric options. How can a home be considered green if all power comes from the electric utility? It simply cannot

For more steps on Going Green visit our website customwordpresssites.com/conservastore

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