If you were looking at real estate ads and saw one that said “green homes for sale,” you may at first wonder why someone would have a listing indicating the color of their home. This is not what this type of ad means. It is just stating that the houses for sale are eco-friendly and energy efficient. Green homes for sale are being built in an effort to reduce the carbon footprints we leave behind.

When you buy a green home, it will contain some or all of the following eco-friendly features.

• Fiber cement siding

• Alternative energy system such as wind and solar

• Recycled building insulation

• No stains or paints VOC, which stands for Volatile Organic Compound. It is any compound that is carbon based and vaporizes at standard room temperature. Some of the most frequent are formaldehyde, acetone and methane.

• Hot water heating with solar energy

Even if you don’t live in a green home, there are things you can do to increase your energy conservation. You’ll even help contribute to saving our environment. Converting your home to a green home can help reduce the overall warning and save the homeowner money. It will significantly improve the environment and require little effort from the homeowner.

making a green home

• Instead of using standard incandescent bulbs, start using compact fluorescent bulbs (CFLs). When you switch to CFLs, you can save over a hundred dollars a year. You can find these lights in the same aisle as regular bulbs, but they are a bit more expensive. In the United States, if all homes switched to CFLs from the type of light bulbs they were using, there would be a trillion pound reduction in greenhouse gas emissions.

• Install a thermostat that is programmable: With this type of thermostat, the homeowner can program the thermostat so that the air conditioning or heating is off when the homeowners are not home. The programmable thermostat can be programmed to cool or heat your home shortly before your homeowner arrives. This change could save the owner ten percent or more in heating and cooling costs.

• Plug air leaks: This will help the homeowner save money and practice conservation. You can do this by installing weather stripping, preventing the temperature in your home from fluctuating rapidly, and sealing windows properly to stop drafts.

• Energy Star® Qualified Appliances: These reduce the amount of electricity needed to operate them, so they have less impact on the environment. They will also save on your energy bill.

If you are buying a home, choose energy efficient green homes for sale.