Energy Star Homes

New homes that are being built right now are using many methods and materials that are not only cost efficient, but they also have energy savings in mind so that they not only help to bring down your monthly bills but they will also have benefits in helping the environment. Owning a home that is significantly more efficient than a standard home will mean that you use less electricity to run your home, which will directly translate to your electric bill. This also holds true for other bills that a home might have such as your water bill. The building process of an energy star home also does not bring down the quality of the house itself, which makes sure you still have a custom home with all the amenities of a traditionally built home.

One main feature that is installed in a home that has an energy star rating is the type of insulation that is used to hold heat or cool air inside your home. This insulation is installed in the floors of your home, the walls, and the attic of your house so that your heating and air units are not constantly running and trying to keep your home at a consistent temperature. Insulation is very important when it comes to keeping your house at a constant temperature. If you do not have the proper insulation, this means it will be nearly impossible to keep your home comfortable at low costs.

Other areas of the house that can directly affect your heating and air, and energy costs, are the type of windows you have in your home. Energy efficient windows will be installed that are designed to keep the air in your home in, and whatever the temperature is outside out of your home. This will allow for your heating and air to run less of the time, and will help cut costs on power bills. These windows are also rated to block UV rays from coming through and fading not only your furniture, but also your hardwood floors.

Your entire HVAC system will be installed with efficiency in mind. The ducts themselves will be installed to wear less duct is used around your house, making your units work less. The units themselves will be high efficient, and will be built to last a long period of time. The wiring of your house will also keep your electric bill in mind by using state of the art equipment and wiring. Everything about an energy star home keeps your monthly costs down every year, and also has less of an impact on the environment.

Energy Star Home Builders

When you're in the market for a house, it is good to check what type of home the builder built during the construction process. If you see that the house is a energy star home, using modern construction techniques to ensure the home will have low monthly bills, it might be a good idea to choose that home over traditionally built houses. Many people that are in the market for a new home will more than likely be searching for a house that has efficiency in mind, and also the environment in mind. If you are looking to get into building homes, or you are already someone who builds homes, it might be a good idea to look into how you can become an energy star homebuilder.

The main things for builders to consider is that energy star homes hold their value better than normal houses, and they do not cost all that much more then building a house the normal way. Its not like an energy star home is a completely different building process. There are just many small differences that will end up being seen when it comes time to pay the electric bill, water bill, or your gas bill. The entire idea of these types of homes is to conserve energy so that people will not have outrageous monthly bills while living in the home.

The larger the house a builder is constructing, the more it will cost to upkeep each month, and the higher the energy bills will be. A great selling point of a large house that is built with energy savings in mind is that it does not use as much power as smaller homes that weren't built with energy star rating. People are looking to save money, and are looking for a house that will hold a constant temperature consistently, which is what an energy star home directly represents. A builder will have an easier time selling a highly efficient home than selling a house that was not built with energy in mind.

Background Of Green Belts And Their Share To Mother Nature

A Green Belt is not only about your expertise level in martial arts but also with the improvement of the earth. A Green Belt is really an unseen line specified as undeveloped, which remains so to allow wildlife to come back and gain a foothold in the area. These are similar to but distinctive from "greenways" and "green wedges," which can run through an urban area instead of around it.

Green Belts greatly benefit the people that live within them despite the fact that such specified areas are seriously restricted in terms of development. It's priorities relate to the natural environment, the air we breathe, wide open spaces and the integrity of the countryside.

Green Belts will not work well in all areas, and success hinges a great deal on the surrounding environment. These areas occasionally end up in uneven borders and the creation of "satellite towns," which work more like suburbs than independent communities even though they are technically detached from urban areas by a Green Belt.

Although there is evidence that it is an ancient concept, in the contemporary world this kind of policy was started in the 1930s in Great Britain. You can find fourteen Green Belts in England today. Known as green space or greenspace in the United States, the boundaries tend to be smaller and are usually confined to small spaces, such as parks.

Mandated city plans, restrictive covenants, or land use designations are the usual ways in which these are established. Several communities have placed a priority on such installations, encouraging people to think about the significance of city planning on the natural environment.

A major criticism of this derives from the fact that a Green Belt is likely to spur the expansion of areas a great deal further away from the middle of the city, increasing urban spread. Urban sprawl has become a genuine predicament in Ottawa, Canada, in the suburbs of both Kanata and Orleans. Other problems, such as travelling difficulties and land reserve issues, can develop with this.

A Green Belt has its pros and cons, but it is more optimistic concerning its effects on the environment. Conserving water, regulating temperature and giving a home for wildlife are three important priorities relating to a Green Belt. It is a move in the right direction, even according to its many critics.

The Benefits of Going Green for Homeowners

In this day and age, everyone seems to be jumping on the proverbial 'green' bandwagon. From multi-national corporations to small local businesses, there is an environmental angle to just about every consumer product. For homeowners, the benefits of going green can be numerous and while some of them can cost money up front, there are many advantages to this new environmental movement.

Of course, the environmental movement isn't new; it's actually been around for many decades. Yet a fair majority of people throughout the country have either been aware from a distance or dismissive of it as a costly and 'tree-hugging' waste of time. The reality, however, has changed in recent years as the price of gasoline, home heating, and electricity have gone through the roof, in a manner of speaking.

Homeowners who are looking to either add value to their homes or save money in the long run, or both, are beginning to turn toward the benefits of going green as a serious way to make an impact, if not on the environment, then on their budget. There are quite a few things people can do to turn their home into a green home.

Update appliances

For older homes, many of the appliances that may be leftover from the seventies and eighties will likely be chugging down electricity like an athlete downs Gatorade on a hot summer day. By updating these appliances with modern, Energy Star efficient ones, a homeowner can save up to several hundred dollars a year. Some homeowners have reported saving several thousand dollars every year by doing this.

The initial cost is often a deterrent, but given that a homeowner will likely remain in their home for many years, the cost of upgrading now is outweighed by those long-term savings. It can be looked at in another light as well. When a homeowner updates his or her appliances, such as the refrigerator, stove, washer, dryer, dishwasher, and even the smaller ones like a toaster oven, then the value of the home also goes up slightly.

Having new appliances attract potential homebuyers' attention when it's time to put it on the market. The key is to choose the appliances that have the highest energy efficient rating, fit within a reasonable budget, and add aesthetic value to the house.

Solar panels

Depending on where in the country a person lives, solar panels can be a great advantage and a boost in the home's value. In Southern California, for example, solar panels will be working overtime almost year-round, with the constant glare of the sun peering down on this region, but in Seattle, Washington, they might not offer the same value.

A homeowner in a high sun region of the country can take advantage of a number of government programs that help subsidize the purchase, installation, and use of solar panels. The initial out-of-pocket expenses for these solar panels can be jaw-dropping, certainly, but there are many homeowners who run their entire house on solar energy, paying nothing or next to nothing to the utility companies.

There is some upkeep with batteries and the like, but when the home goes on the market, the selling point of being able to supply a significant portion of the house's power through solar energy, the savings can add up very quickly.

Wind energy

Just like solar panels, wind turbines can be an asset for many homeowners, especially those who live in high wind regions. Wind turbines for home use can be small and unobtrusive, and many are even ornamental in nature so that they fit in with the natural surroundings. In most cases, the wind turbines won't produce as much energy as solar panels, but any savings adds to inherent home values and the homeowner's pocket at the end of the day.

Going green doesn't have to be a major expense. In fact, simply changing out traditional incandescent light bulbs with new CFL lights can increase savings and add a selling component to the house.

Eco-Friendly Steel Buildings For Environment Purposes

There are many reasons that some people choose to construct steel buildings for environment purposes. This type of building is far more eco-friendly than the structures of the past. From the actual eco-friendly nature of the ores that are used, all the way to the actual construction process, these structures are kind to the planet. This article will be explaining this much further detail.

The actual nature of the ores that are used in these structures is one of the factors that help to make these structures so environmentally friendly. These ores can be melted down and reused for other purposes if a building has to every be disassembled. Any type of recycling like this is great for the planet, especially when one considers that the materials could be recycled into another similar building.

A lot of older structures from the past have always been made from wood and brick materials. The bad thing about these materials is that they wind up in a landfill if the building is every disassembled. The average consumer's household garbage is enough of an issue; having an entire building wind up in such fills only makes the problem much worse.

The type of insulation that is typically being applied to these structures is far more eco-friendly than insulation alternatives of the past. A lot of structures from the past utilized fiber glass insulation. The processes involved in creating and transporting fiber glass are all very hard on the environment. A simple and light weight reflective material is used for insulating the type of building being discussed here.

The fact that these structures are constructed much quicker also lends to them being a more environmentally friendly option. Anybody that is even vaguely familiar with the construction process might already know that this process is hard on the environment. A lot of energy is being burned by many parties involved, and this takes place until the process is completely finished.

A lot of the materials that are used to create these structures have been pre-fabricated into ready to go parts by the company that is selling the. Just think of all the materials that have to be cut on a traditional job site. Traditional construction sites are typically over littered with left over materials that lie about. When these are thrown away they wind up in a land fill.

It is also very important for people to consider how much more cost effective these solutions are when compared to traditional structures. It never hurts to save a little money while being kind to the environment. This cost effective nature combined with the eco-friendly nature of these structures is likely to make them the wave of the future. This is starting to occur already.

By now, the reader should be well aware of the many reasons that some people choose steel buildings for environment reasons. It is very hard to find a kind of structure that is as friendly to the earth as this type. The fact that they go up much quicker and do not cost nearly as much is also very attractive to many people.

Risks of Having a Rooftop Garden

The main reason people are scared of rooftop gardening is that they think it would be so expensive. This just is not the case. Especially if rooftop gardens are included in the budget prior to constructing the building. In comparison to the price it takes to actually construct these buildings the price of the rooftop gardens will be a bargain. Most of the buildings in Seattle with rooftop space are multi million dollar facilities.

Some of these buildings actually reach into the hundreds of millions of dollars so building a garden on the roof would only be a tiny fraction of the price. At Seattle University the price of the flat screens in dormitories is greater than what it would cost to plant extensive gardens on all those roofs. There are just so many benefits of the rooftop gardens that it would be silly to think of it as an unsound investment. It would be possible to plants thousands of square feet of garden space for a mid four figure investment. Consider a hundred million dollar condo high rise.

If they were to spend ten thousand dollars creating one of the most extravagant rooftop gardens to date that was open to the people living there it would surely increase the value of their building substantially. How much is hard to say but in terms of return on investment building that garden would be a no brainer. Another benefit of spending the money to build a garden would be the media attention it would attract. In comparison to spending money on advertising the gardens would seem cheap.

There are some other reasons that hold people back from planting rooftop gardens. Sometimes the structure of the building is just inadequate to support such a weight. Other rooftops may not have access or proper draining. Although not completely necessary it is much easier to build a garden on a flat surface. Having a upside down V shaped roof is a holdup for most residential housing.

Home Builders - What Is a Green Home?

In this day and age everyone is trying to do their part to make sure that they are trying to protect the environment. We all know that this world's resources are only depleting and the quality of air is only getting worse. We must conserve this world for the generations after us and insure that the earth's resources last as long as they can, all while making sure that the quality of life stays the best that it can possibly be. One way to help make this happen is by living and owning a green home. A green home is a quality home that helps you save money and keep your way of living as best as it can be.

A few key ways that a green home works is by helping to save energy, time, and money. A green home is designed to increase the efficiency off all the appliances in your home. They help by increasing the productivity of the amount of water you use as well as making sure that all the energy you are using is being used to its full ability, and not being wasted. All these things are able to help you save money by using less and producing more. This is one of the most important things about having a green home. It is important to conserve the resources that we need the most to make sure that they will be there for generations after us, and to save money while doing it.

Another thing that makes a home into a green home is by insuring that the air inside your home has the best air quality possible. Having the air in your home be as clean as possible enhances the overall livability for you and your family. Having this kind of overall air cleanliness reduces things in the air like pollutants, which will only spread things like allergies and sickness. Clean air inside your home reduces all these things and also improves the ventilation throughout your home. This helps you and your family to breathe as easy as possible, and keeping them healthy as well.

New Homes - Why Buy a Green Home?

There are many factors that go into buying a new home. What is your price range, what neighborhood, how many bedrooms, and the list goes on and on. One thing that definitely shouldn't be overlooked is the possibility of moving into a green home. There are many reasons to move into a green home.

One reason to buy a green home is because we must conserve our planets resources for generations after us. Year after year our planet's resources are depleted until eventually we will have no more resources at all. The air will get dirtier and harder to breath and we will be forced to deal with it. That is why buying a green home is such a good idea, conserving this world for the generations and generations after us. After all we all know that the planets resources can't last forever but we can all do our part to try to get it to last as long as possible. And buying a green home is just one more way to make that happen.

Another reason that buying an environmentally friendly home is a good idea is because of the savings that are possible by owning one. A green home can increase the efficiency of both the energy you use as well as the water. Making the appliances you use, use less energy to run them and also use less water to get a job done that would have originally used more. Increasing the efficiency of the power and water you use means that you will use less in the long run and over time there is thousands of dollars of money you can save by increasing the efficiency of your utilities.

One more reason that buying a green home is beneficial is that it gives you a peace of mind that you are doing something for the environment. Knowing that you are conserving resources and helper to keep the world a cleaner place can be something great that you can take pride in. You can also take pride in knowing that you are also providing a safe and environmentally sound place for you and your family to live in.

Foundations Of Conservation

The topic of this article is conservation of energy in residential buildings. When we talk about conservation we are not talking about little things like turning off the lights when we leave a room. We are talking about big things like the conservation principles of energy and matter that preserve our universe, the process of homeostasis that sustains the conditions for life on our planet, the laws of thermodynamics that order the distribution of energy in our universe, and the environmental processes that distribute the nutrients of life to every living creature on board. These principles and processes tell us how this planet conserves and recycles both energy and life.

Our choice is to either cooperate with, or oppose these laws. When we oppose, we are in a zero sum game against nature that we will lose. Buildings that cooperate with the 2nd law in particular, will collect energy, while those that oppose it will disperse energy.

Earth is an energy capture devise that maintains an average surface temperature of 59*F, converts energy into its many different forms,and is the only known conservatory for life. She is our perfect model of how to collect, convert, and conserve energy.

Buildings can be designed to replicate the activity of the planet in order to collect and convert energy that can be conserved and recycled exactly as the planet does. Buildings can be designed to conserve and recycle, rather than consume and disperse energy.

The dominant ordering principle of our world, however, is the consumer economy. That is the matrix of our thinking, the index our vocabulary, and the most popular reality. The American home, automobile, and lifestyle are designed to burn energy as quickly as possible. Buildings turn tricks for the electric company by violating all of the principles described above. But the passive conditioning techniques that were abandoned because of the energy glut can be reinstated. The physics is still valid, and the practice is still common throughout the world.

Our species has attained escape velocity from Planet Earth, and hearsay has it that some will be moving to Mars soon. A few more have moved back off into the woods and "off-grid", but most people aren't that tough anymore. For those leftovers that are still looking for a way out of a world that is pretty well both paved and electrocuted, there is the path of conservation that is based in equilibrium state conditions for energy. This is the The Way of the natural world.

The organizational principle of any species is energy. Our species is energy poor! We think we don't have enough when in fact we have too much. We convert all of our resources into electricity because of its convenience. We have exceeded our energy budget, overextended our populations, and upset planetary homeostasis. We can reduce our electrical dependence by eliminating the need for air conditioning in rural low-rise homes.

Knowledge is one of our most precious resources. As expected, it is managed by those that manage the means of production. The reality that we know is as manufactured as any other product on the shelf. Product availability is determined by profit curves rather than by what benefits the people or the planet.

Rio Ferdinand's Green Home

Footballer Rio Ferdinand is building a green home with the smallest carbon footprint possible. He has purchased a two acre plot on the border of Kent and southeast London, just a few miles from the London estate where he spent his childhood. The house will be around 12,000 sq ft in size and will incorporate cutting edge green technology and he hopes that one day the home will be his permanent base for his family once he retires from the game.

Rio Ferdinand is ambassador for the energy company E.on,they sponsor the FA Cup and encourage householders to reduce their energy use which will not only help the environment but also save money for their customers. Ferdinand explains that whilst he was having meetings with E. on advisors he learnt about energy-aware projects that they were involved in and so the footballer decided to incorporate these into his house building project. Once involved he describes himself as being a convert to green issues, the advisors that he had met worked alongside the project manager for his house to incorporate green technology into the build.

Ferdinand had photovoltaic cells instead of solar panels on the roof, low energy lighting and green roofs grown from sedum plants. The house is thought to be a traditional Georgian farmhouse style at the front and more contemporary detailing at the back. It will have a swimming pool,triple garage and of course a gym but will be kitted out with the best energy-efficient technology that money can buy.The house will have ground source heat pumps; they will draw warmth from the earth and will be used to heat the house. People who have used this technology before have mentioned how dramatically their heating bills fell once installed. The windows will be very large in the house and will be coated with a reflective film, the purpose of this is to stop heat escaping in the winter and in the summer it helps to cool the house. The house will have a combined heat and power system whereby homeowners can sell excess power that their home generates back to the national grid. The large gardens will be watered using large tanks which harvest rainwater.

As Ferdinand became more aware of energy saving ways he adapted his Alderley Edge home to incorporate more green technology too. He has installed electricity monitors and energy light bulbs and has had his Manchester restaurant Rosso have the green once over too. Simply by becoming more aware of the green technologies has made adapt his homes to a greener way of living. Even if you don't have a footballers salary there are changes that everyone can make to make their home that much greener.

Saving Green Space Bad for the Environment?

Real estate developers have long been criticized as a threat to the environment and, many times, for good reasons. Suburban sprawl has certainly destroyed many open, green spaces and natural habitats. Forests have been cut down in exchange for big box retail and rows of overpriced McMansions. But, when it comes to urban development, there are examples where saving green space can do more harm then good.

Recently, the City of Philadelphia has begun to auction off many of their surplus properties. The economic picture for the City of Brotherly Love looks dim, much like the balance sheet of every major city in the country. Budgets are in the red, and promises made to pensions, medical care, and bloated payrolls will keep cities losing money for many years. So, it seems natural for Philadelphia to begin a process of selling real estate. However, many times, vacant lots owned by the City have been used by neighborhoods as parks where children play and events are hosted. For this reason, many residents are upset, and rightfully so, that developers may get there hands on these properties and quickly destroy green spaces.

Although one can certainly understand neighbors fighting against further development and preserving open green spaces, there are several larger issues to point out - both environmental and economic. For example, it is important to keep in mind that urban development is a greener option in and of itself. The more density there is in urban areas, the less suburban sprawl. That means more public transportation and less gas consumption. Smaller townhomes often use far less resources than larger suburban developments. In other words, keeping urban spaces open and green pushes development further outward into the suburbs where resources are utilized less efficiently.

Philadelphia is one of the most spread out cities and one of the biggest reasons is that for so long no one was able to build higher than William Penn's hat on the top of City Hall. This caused less density in the City, less population, less businesses, and less tax revenue. Although this law was finally repealed, the City is still trying to catch up and bring businesses back into Center City. Less density and development has hurt Philadelphia economically and made it tougher for the City to compete for jobs.

All economic decisions have tradeoffs and keeping these spaces open is really just causing another space somewhere else to get developed and suburban sprawl to continue. We should be embracing housing demand in urban areas because, in the larger picture, it is more sensible for cities economically and better for the environment.

Daybreak Homes - More Than Green Living

We live in an era where residents have a choice on how they want to live and where. South Jordan is located in the beautiful Salt Lake Valley, Utah, along the banks of the Jordan River. It is an ideal location to raise a family and have a peaceful future. Only a few miles away from Salt Lake City, employment is plentiful and the crime rate is low.

South Jordan is the perfect spot to build an award-winning community. Daybreak homes are different than traditional living quarters as they are healthier, greener and equipped with advanced technology. These features allow home owners and their families to maintain an easy and convenient lifestyle. It is a nature lover's paradise, yet with shopping, restaurants, and all modern amenities nearby.

When you are interested in buying one of these top-of-the-line Daybreak homes, contact a Realtor. Tell your real estate agent exactly what you prefer in a home. This includes:
• Size - How much room do you need? Are you a single or do you have a family?
• Features - How much comfort do you want? Some Daybreak homes are so advanced they practically supply maintenance-free living.
• Location - Where in the community do you want to live?
• New or used - This community is still expanding, which means that you have a choice between buying a property that is for sale, or making plans for a brand new residence.
• Price range - The cost for Daybreak homes varies. Tell your Realtor how much money you intend to spend.
• Financing - Can you arrange for your own financing, or do you need help to find a mortgage lender?

The more information you provide your real estate agent, the quicker you will be living in a community where your presence still has value.

Flexible Growth Medium - A Hydroseeding Contractors Perspective

For many hydroseeding contractors and erosion control specialists the development of Flexible Growth Mediums could just be the next big innovation; hydroseeding contractors can now hydraulically apply an erosion control solution that outstrips the performance of other techniques, offering superior results whilst achieving major labour savings.

FGM's are at the cutting edge of soil erosion technology, bettering the performance of high quality Bonded Fire Matrix products and erosion control blankets. This has strengthened the position of specialist hydroseeding contractors in the soil erosion marketplace, who can now use the hydroseeding equipment they already own to carry out market leading erosion control works.

For hydroseeding contractors and clients the major benefits of this new technique include.

• Effective application-bonds directly to the soil
• Stellar erosion control-99% effective in major testing laboratories
• rapid turf establishment-vegetation can grow eight times faster than bare soil and twice as fast as blankets
• Quicker to lay and lower installed costs than blankets
• Seduced soil preparation required
• Safe for wildlife-no nets, threads or staples to snare wildlife or become caught in mowing equipment

Once a hydroseeding contractor has applied FGM it effectively acts to seal off the soil from the impact of rain and concentrated flows, to out performing erosion control blankets in rainfall simulation tests. Once applied the FGM is able to hold on to water and maintain air space, this results in superior and accelerated growth.

A combination of Thermally Refined® wood fibres, crimped man-made fibres and performance-enhancing additives form an interlocking matrix that creates air space and water-absorbing cavities to accelerate germination, reduce the impact of raindrop energy and minimize soil loss once hydroseeding is complete. After hydroseeding Water-resistant tackifiers and flocculants chemically bond the matrix to the soil surface, absorbing water and enabling superior vegetation establishment. Some FGM's are able to achieve 98% effectiveness just 2 hours after hydroseeding and are proven to be 99% effective once cured.

As with BFM's, Flexible Growth Mediums hydraulically using a range of hydroseeding equipment. This hydraulic application carries all of the cost saving benefits of hydroseeding and BFM products by keeping labour and ground preparation requirements minimal.

Recently Profile Products has introduced the new Flexterra high-performance, flexible growth medium (HP-FGM). This is designed to be used by hydroseeding contractors and is capable of achieving 600-percent greater initial seed germination and more than a 250-percent greater biomass than its predecessor, whilst being totally biodegradable.

The original Flexterra FGM, initially set the standard in the market and it was widely used by hydroseeding contractors; It led the march towards hydraulically applied techniques that could be delivered using hydraulic machinery.

Tests following EPA protocol concluded the product is completely safe for aquatic and terrestrial life forms and after hydroseeding it immediately bonds to the soil surface to reduce turbidity of runoff for up to 18 months.

Green Housing and REAL Wellness: An Attractive Pairing

If REAL wellness ever takes hold, it will affect all manner of environmentally friendly choices, not just decisions connected with physical and mental well-being. REAL wellness is about quality of life. Thus, REAL wellness enthusiasts are likely to be responsive to opportunities for acting responsibly and creatively toward the environment. The ethic of REAL wellness includes respect for The Commons.

My urban planning background makes me alert and responsive to that part of futurism that deals with the land use, open space, ecology and designs for living. An area of special interest is the evolution of the home in response to environmental crises, changes and challenges. In a REAL wellness world, the home of the future will have to be transformed into an environment created for sustainability, energy efficiency, optimal nutrition, family fitness organically attuned to nature. The trend in this direction is already evident: despite the weak economy and a stagnant building sector, green construction is already evident in the construction industry.

Our homes might not look like contemporary plant-friendly, glass-domed arboretums in our lifetimes, but they must become a great deal greener than they have been in centuries since the Industrial Age came about. It's time to rethink our living spaces, given the impact homes have on the ecosystem. The electricity, heating and water consumed by housing is enormous. One estimate (the U.S. Energy Department) puts the percentage of energy consumption and greenhouse-gas emissions for private housing at 39 percent. The size of our homes is also critical - all green thinking favors compact housing that is small (at least when compared with so many of the Mc Mansions of the urban wealthy) but does not feel small or constrained. Of course, other things (e.g., energy efficiency, resources used) must be equal or superior environmentally in the smaller unit, plus size will have to increase with additional occupants. In Key West, Florida, The Blue City Waves of Change initiative exemplifies many promising sustainability trends in housing. Given their location, these homes are specifically designed in disaster-resistant fashion. This is a vital consideration in coastal and other areas of the US and around the world, given the onset of climate change and rising disaster insurance costs. The Blue-Green building plans are rated by FEMA as near absolute protection.

This means they are tornado proof, insect proof, fire proof, earthquake proof and capable of withstanding hurricanes up to 300 mph. (Let's hope the builders used the equivalent of #4 rivets, not those cheap #3 rivets that Harland and Wolff of Belfast, Northern Ireland used to build the Titanic quickly and at reasonable cost, which fatally compromised quality and is now seen as the cause of the rapid sinking of the Titanic.) To learn more about Key West's Waves of Change, click here.

Recently, The Wall Street Journal asked architects to participate in a futurism exercise to design an energy-efficient, environmentally sustainable house without regard to cost, technology, aesthetics or the way we are used to living. What a neat idea. Designing for REAL wellness-oriented inhabitants to live in such housing was not a criterion, but the criteria that were assigned made resident health a key factor for participating architects and students. (See Alex Frangos, The Green House of the Future, The Wall Street Journal, April 27, 2009, P. R1.) The results of the brainstorming provide a sense for what might well evolve as new norms for housing come into play. Imagine homes with some of the following features:

* A garden façade. Plants that give shade and cooling and special housing surfaces that capture condensation for water use, decreasing reliance on wells that drain aquifers or municipal systems that lower lakes and other reservoirs.

* Spatial layouts conducive to work. This is key to energy efficiency in that work at home reduces, if not eliminates, driving - a huge energy-consuming custom.

* A rooftop reservoir that collects water and keeps the building cool and windmills that generate energy.

* Homes that emulate a characteristic of trees, wherein the surface contains a photosynthetic layer woven into the fabric of the exterior that captures sunlight.

* Design features that heat water and generate electricity, create oxygen and thereby offset any carbon produced elsewhere in the home.

* Gardens on walls. The plants not only nourish inhabitants; they offer shade and cooling and absorb heat more effectively than wood, brick, stucco or glass.

* Prefabricated stacked containers that allow uniformity of quality control and mobility for the homeowner.

* Ponds stocked with fish - the kind of fish people consume (e.g., tilapia), not just look at (e.g., goldfish).

* Structural features that convert sunlight into energy and carbon dioxide into oxygen. One striking possibility is a "biomorphic" outer surface material designed to function like reptile skin. It adapts to conditions - in bright sun, it turns dark and insulates; on dark days it allows light to absorb maximum radiance and heat.

* Attractive and functional design features (e.g., curved roofing) that facilitate shade in order to reduce the need for such energy drains as air-conditioning.

* Self-cleaning glass with special coating that uses ultraviolet sunlight to break down organic dirt which is washed away by rainwater.

* Self-repairing paints, glass and cladding - all infused with microscopic capsules of color that break open and automatically repair scratches and other damage.

* In lieu of wood or metals for upright framing, lightweight, environmentally friendly carbon tubes are utilized.

One of the most striking changes will be in heating and cooling sources. The homes of REAL wellness-oriented homeowners are likely be warmed by ground-source, heat-pump exchange systems. The temperature of the soil is relatively constant, so heat can be drawn in winter, cooled in summer.

As with most of the changes noted above, these systems exist, but technology advances are needed to bring costs within practical levels. One of the designs using new green technologies foresees a construction industry able to produce homes wherein nearly everything used therein is reconstituted and recycled. The illustration noted is a home like a tree. In the forest, a fallen tree biodegrades. In the home, as with the tree in the forest, building materials could be reused or, capturing the green spirit, returned to the Earth.

These features only begin to describe possibilities based on current uses and expanded technologies within range of feasibility. Our REAL wellness lifestyle passion does not operate in a vacuum. Those of us with a commitment to a cleaner environment, to safeguarding natural resources, to mitigating climate change, to protecting endangered and other species (including our own), to planetary citizenship, to saving the oceans and to all that is needed for restoration, sustainability and preservation will welcome the kind of advances described. It does not take a great stretch of the imagination to connect such awareness to our prospects for continued and expanded happiness, meaning and purpose and all the rest associated with quality of life for all people, everywhere.