Benefits of Green Living

It may surprise you to learn that the air indoors, where we spend typically 90% of our time, is often less healthy than the air outdoors. This is because of the way our homes have been constructed in the past. Old construction practices did not emphasize air movement, moisture control and temperature control — the factors that determine indoor air quality.

Health and Comfort Benefits

Living in a green home feels better and is better for you. Many people report enjoying deeper, more restful sleep because, among other reasons, they are breathing clean, filtered air. They also experience:

• Relief from too-dry air, including dry sinuses, flakey skin, chapped lips and static electricity
• Relief from too-humid air, including sticky-feeling skin, damp clothes, frizzy hair and condensation
• Fewer allergy symptoms because pollen and other allergens are kept out, and mold and mildew are much less likely to grow
• Quieter, more peaceful surroundings because insulation techniques block out the sounds of traffic, garbage trucks, loud neighbors, barking dogs and other disturbances
• Even heating and cooling throughout their homes with few, if any, drafts and hot or cold spots

Time- and Money-Saving Benefits

Another surprising aspect of green living is how much cleaner your home becomes. Using clean-air green building techniques saves you time every week because you will dust, sweep or clean mold and mildew far less frequently.

In addition, you will spend less by:

• Not paying to heat and air condition the air outside because your “building envelope” is intact
• Enjoying the additional cost-benefits of energy-efficient heating and cooling systems
• Making sure your appliances can operate most effectively — for example, your refrigerator and clothes drier are more efficient when they’re not working to overcome overly moist air.

Environmental and Community Benefits

Green building and living positively impacts the environment as well. For example, green practices:

• Conserve energy
• Make a less destructive “footprint”
• Use recycled products during building rather than new products, when possible
• Assure job site recycling, such as grinding scrap wood for mulch and extra bricks and tile for gravel
• Keep your money in the local community by spending on improved home construction, resulting in lower energy bills.