This is a topic I have written about before. Really the Green catchword I find comical. Why? Well putting a word to saving energy is a marketing thing. I think a genius came up with it, as no one could know it could be such a huge growing industry. Now saying this, “Green” is nothing new. We are seeing more eco friendly products but if you look back, you will find that that so called “Green” products have been around for many, many years. I sold a house 15 years ago with solar panels on the roof. When I built my home in 1994, I added R-38 insulation, tyvek wrap on the outside, plastic wrap on the walls, expanding foam anywhere there could be a breach to the outside. I did 12 seer a/c. No one was doing that then. Was I thinking “Green”? No. It was about saving on utilities and what made sense. I was thinking long term. It hasn’t been long that that a/c systems just went to 14 SEER. So I was way ahead of the pack. I didn’t do several things as I thought they were not cost effective at the time. Like foil backing on the roof decking. I wish I had of done that and I was asked at the time. I did the foam sheathing on the outside of my home behind the brick. I did double pane windows. I upgraded those windows recently to the Low E. Huge difference in the heat being blocked from certain rooms! Anyway, my point is don’t get caught up in the hype. Just research and do what makes sense.

I watch a lot of HGTV. It is so funny to see people who constantly ask about new home construction, “Is this Green?” We want a green home! Most really don’t know what it means but they have the money to spend and are willing to spend the extra. To give you an idea how popular the idea is, most builders who are building on strictly “Green” principles as a marketing tool are broke in the Austin area. With a bad economy, people just won’t pay the extra.

You see a lot of these green homes having MDF instead of wood. That is ecofriendly. Wrong! You had better research as a lot of it is made with formaldehyde and leech toxic fumes. You would be surprised to find out how many builders no longer use wood for baseboards in their homes. Saving the enviroment? No. Saving money for themselves as MDF is cheaper to buy. You pay the price. While there might be some manufactured without formaldehyde, you had better ask. Also hardwoods. Some coatings are toxic. Even the glues. Do you think they care? Most don’t and don’t even know. There are just now educational courses on the topic. I am seeing a few here and there. So while it is good to make an effort to be eco friendly, please get your priorities in order. Don’t try to be trendy. Do it because it makes sense. If that load of special wood you are using came from overseas, the cost of shipping the materials alone in both time and energy are probably not worth it. Buy local and close by is the rule. While that is not always easy, if you are serious, you have to rely on yourselves for research. So called experts I am finding are good in some areas and not good in others. There is lots of false information floating around.

So the next time you see buyers saying they want “Green” on HGTV, just smile. Know they just helped to market some products for many companies. Some good, some bad. I also will say I am not an expert. I have almost 20 years in the Real Estate industry and have watched a lot of homes being built. I have studied and keep up with trends and am right on a lot of them. Eco friendly is here to stay, but don’t be so quick to jump on the bandwagon just for the feel good or bragging rights. In the end it is about saving money which in turn does a small part to help save the enviroment.

Last is Organic products. Beware. There have been many companies use the label that aren’t really organic or can technically be called organic. This is something I will save for another topic. I will say though, that as a family we do buy a lot of organic goods but we are picky about what we do buy. You don’t do this to save money though so it isn’t like being “Green” with your home and lifestyle. It is a health choice.