Building or Buying A Green Home     (See Green Products and Websites Below)           

In addition to solar panels a wind turbine made by Honeywell should be available in 2010.  The Honeywell Wind Turbine has a 6' diameter and would sit on top of your house but it could produce 18% of average household annual electricity needs.

When people talk about their next home or updating with low-cost improvements that make a difference they say energy-efficient heating and cooling, Energy Star appliances, geo-termal heat, Energy Star windows and doors.

Basically a green home has better-than-average energy performance throughout, better indoor air quality, has incorporated the use of environmentally friendly building design, used renewable materials for construction and final details.

It has been about five years since we first heard the words "Build Green" but recently more and more builders and consumers are joining those who think Green.

The US Green Building Council standards include such things as insulation, duct work, door / window seals, and home size (a home that is larger then the average typical home would not qualify for the highest lever of LEED certification).  LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certification covers building efficient, economical, and higher performance homes.  A LEED-certified home costs 3 - 5 percent more to build but savings over time pay the home owner back, plus.

Arthur Rutenberg Homes in Myrtle Beach, SC - Energy Star Certified

All of Arthur Rutenberg Homes are designated as Energy Star certified and with minimal coast to the homeowner certifications for National Association of Homebuilders Green Home, Environments for Living Certified Green, or GE Ecomagination can be provided.

Homes offer a package of "code plus" upgrades that greatly increase the home's residtance to natural perils.   Fortified ... for safer living®, a program created by the Institute for Business and Home Safety gives the benefit of saving on insurance and piece of mind against natural disasters.

Withers Preserve Homes (Look for the "Green") in Myrtle Beach

Some Withers Preserve developers build green energy-efficient homes.  Classic Home Building & Design, say that custom is not just an adjective to describe their homes; it's the foundation on which they stand.  "Our dedicated team of professionals is committed to building homes - from foundation to roofline - that are unique to all the world, both in design and construction."   * First fortified...for safer living builder in South Carolina *  Member of the U.S. Green Building Council * Areas's exclusive member of the Southern Living Custom Builder Program * Certified Master Builder *    Building homes in Withers Preserve or on your residential lot anywhere in the Grand Strand.

Classic Home Building and Design, Inc., 524 Broadway, Myrtle Beach, SC 29577

(843) 839-0537    ClassicHomeBuilding.com

Ameri Built Homes are Energy Star and LEED Certified building developers of Southbury in Myrtle Beach and South Beach in Surfside, SC. They have also built or will build in the developments of:

The Bluffs on the Waterway          Plantation Lakes          Cypress River Plantation          Blackmoor

Prestwick          Waverly Bay          Prince Creek          Southwood          Hidden Wood

Web sites with green products, green building education, solar iPods, electric cars, environmental news and forums and more:

 Building, remodeling, or simply replacing products with “Green” that provide efficiency in energy and resources just makes sense. Below are some helpful hints of products you may want to use in the future that are not only beneficial but economical as well:

Cork, Bamboo, FSC Certified TEAK, and recycled wood are great flooring choices; renewable flooring

Skylights

Tree friendly cabinets with renewable woods

Well insulated double insulated LOE windows

Hands free automatic faucets

Tank-less water heaters

Green Products and Information:

greenerchoices.org   - Consumer Reports' green take on products and services, with detailed analysis of green certifications.

greeniacs.com   -   Commercial-free social networking site with environmental news and forums.

greenopolis.com   -   Social networking site with listings of Eco Teams around the country.

idealbite.com   -   Bite-sized pieces of green information on a single topic that are e-mailed to you each day.

southface.org   -   Nonprofit group providing green building education specific to the Southeastern climate;  its resource center is a demonstration building open to the public.

sustainablebusiness.com   -   The green side of business, featuring one of the best job-listing services, under the heading "Green Dream Jobs".

thegreenguide.com   -   Sponsored by National Geographic and featuring extensive environmental tips and listings of local green businesses.

zolagoods.com   -   hold parties to sell green products and information.

ecogeek.org   -   Specializes in environmentally friendly technology from solar iPods to electric cars

Ten Earth Friendly Kitchen Counters -

Squak Mountain Stone - Made with post-industrial crushed glass, fly ask, and low-carbon cement.  For information Google:  Tiger Mountain Innovations

Durapalm - Harvested from coconut palms, it's slightly stronger than oak.  For information Google: Smith & Fong (San Francisco, CA)

Bottle Stone - Kiln-fired recycled glass and ceramic binders, resists heat and stains.  For information Google:  Bottle Stone (Los Altos, CA)

Fuez - Recycled glass, fly ash, stones, and shells is more durable than marble.  For information Google:  Fuez (Portland, OR)

Eco Top - Blend of bamboo, recycled paper and wood fiber.  100% water-based resin.  For information Google:  Klip Bio Technilogies (Puyallup, WA)

Vetrazzo - Cement and recycled glass.  For information Google:  Vetrazzo

Windfall Lumber - Reclaimed end-grain wood.  For information Google:  Windfall Lumber

Endura - Reclaimed wine-vat oak.  Wine-vats from vineyards.  For information Google:  Endura

Teragren - Strand bamboo end-grain.  For information Google:  Teragren

Seeta by TorZo - Made from sunflower-seed hulls and acrylic palymer.  For information Google:  TorZo

Look For Green Products:

Corn and Soybean biobased cleaning products;

LED light bulbs;   energy saving lights

Low VOC paint;    eco-friendly paints, stain and adhesives

Recycled paper home insulation;

Energy Star products;   energy efficient appliances

Recycled glass, recycled glass with binder, recycled glass and concrete for countertops and even some floor applications; low VOC countertops; Industrial aluminum waste with resins can be used for countertops

Hydrogen - South Carolina to lead the way in research of solar produced hydrogen fuel according to Santee Cooper Electric.

Window Cleaner - 2 teaspoons Vinegar in 1 quart of water.