How much time do you think you spend inside?  Before you answer, think, because the numbers can be more shocking than you think.  About a third of our time inside is spent sleeping. Another 40 to 50 hours a week is spent going to school or work inside. In the evenings, we spend most of our time inside cooking dinner, watching television or just hanging out.  Most of our recreation is inside: going to the movies, out to dinner, shopping. After you stop and think about it, you realized it sounds about right that we spend 90 percent of our time inside (Overshiner).  If we spend most of our time inside, it would make sense to get the most out of our homes.  Instead of soaking up resources during everyday activities, our living spaces can help us cut down on environmental determents as we go about our normal lives.  If every single human lived the way the average American does, we would need five planet earths to safely sustain humanity (Townson).  There are a limited number of resources and everyday they are being taken advantage of and wasted without any thought. A change in lifestyle many not be completely necessary for most Americans, maybe just a change in the places we are living.  The Zero Home is a 4,300 square foot house located in northern Utah that produces every drop of energy it uses.  "Advanced framing techniques, sophisticated insulation, air sealing, tight ducts, and air barriers all work together to control air and moisture flow and keep the Zero Home's utility bills as low as possible," explains the zero home designer. The single-family residency is a beautiful modern structure that is equipped with features that allow it to sustain itself without any help from outside sources and at little to no cost.  This is an extreme example of a "green home" but it represents the advances that residential homeowners could be making towards more ecological living.  A green home uses less energy, water, and natural resources; creates less waste; and is healthier and more comfortable for the occupants.  Around the globe society is experiencing a green revolution where more and more individuals are interested in conserving resources and reusing discarded materials. Construction companies have begn to realize that there is a certain attractiveness to homes that were labeled as "green".  New technologies and green building processes are being developed at a rapid pace and energy efficient building is on the rise. The construction of homes and everyday life within them contributes to several environmental determents. To meet larger sustainability goals, humanity must consider more ecofriendly options. In a society focused on concerns with conservation and preservation, different aspects of green building should be considered by all homeowners.  

When I was only a few years old, not yet in grade school, my father decided he was not happy with his job and he quit.  He decided he wanted to build my mother her very own dream house, and he did just that.  A large and beautiful house just as she imagined; this house also had many attributes that considered it "Green."  The house was 54% lower than a standard new home and had many water conserving appliances. The house was also made with many recycled materials such as locally sourced hardwood floors and local fiber cement siding.  There were many more incredible tributes that were implemented into my fathers first green home and there were also many improvements to be made.  Thus began my family's green building company, Banister Homes Incorporated, which constructs energy efficient homes all throughout the Charlotte area.  My dad and uncle are the company presidents and head contractors, my mom is the real estate broker and director of design, and my aunt is a LEED accredited professional and director of marketing and sustainability who handles the main green aspects involved in the building process.  Ever since I was young, my family has moved around Charlotte building our own energy efficient homes right next to each other.  Because I grew up with this family background, I have chosen to advocate green living and take a closer look behind the important aspects that can apply to all residential homes.  

Companies across American are turning towards more environmentally concise building and living efforts in order to appeal to more homeowners. Many different aspects of a home can help define the house as green, or environmentally friendly.  Some of the environmental building items in green home projects include passive solar heating, rainwater collection and usage systems, spray foam insulation, low VOC paints and finishes and various other conservative features.  In an interview with Kathy Spence, a LEED accredited professional for Banister Homes, more information was revealed about the numerous additions to a home that can make it more environmentally friendly.  Kathy also disclosed more information about what it means for a house to be LEED certified.  "LEED for Homes is a voluntary rating system that promotes the design and construction of high performance green homes," Spence said, "Benefits of a LEED home include lower energy and water bills; reduced greenhouse gas emissions; and less exposure to mold, mildew and other indoor toxins." The LEED Rating System is the nationally recognized standard for green building and certification recognizes and rewards builders for meeting the highest performance standards.  It also gives homeowners confidence that their home is durable, healthy, and environmentally friendly.  The National Home Builder's Association has launched a national standard for green home building that includes verification by an accredited third party.  The National Green Building Standard has become an American National Standard but LEED certification is recognized by most green building companies as the highest quality of environmentally conscious living.  

Once a home has been labeled as green, such as the one just described, and has received all the credentials it deserves, residents can begin noticing the numerous benefits that come with an environmentally friendly home.  A main advantage that consumers will notice is the money saved on frequent utility bills.  There is a large initial investment that comes with some green features, but homeowners need to understand that they will break even in the end.  A green feature such as solar panels can cost no more than $10,000 to purchase and install in any residential home but in ten years that money can be saved through low eclectic bills.  Instead of paying for expensive energy providers to power a home, free electricity can be generated from the sun. What homeowners fail to realize is that a green home is on average only 5% more expensive that a regular home (Spence).  Regular home features such as insulation, crawl spaces, windows, and water heaters can all be upgraded in order keep utility bills lower. By implementing spray foam insulation, sealed crawl spaces, low airflow windows, and tank-less water heaters, homeowners conserve resources and dramatically reduce their energy payments.  These are the basic features of a home that can label it as green and they are far cheaper than many individuals fail to realize.  Some homeowners may argue that a green home is still not worth the cost it takes to implement the features.  In a basic green home, with the features I just listed, a resident will be paid back through bills on no more than 6 years on average.  Even if you don't like the environment, you will still like a 6-year payoff. (Spence).  This gives a homeowner at plenty of time to reap the benefits of their environmentally friendly features.  Other environmentally friendly home features work in similar ways by repaying the investor for their initial purchase.  After they are reimbursed, homeowners are simply saving extra money for themselves.  Not only can individuals feel good about helping the environment and conserving resources, but also they can save money while doing it.

The many features of a green home are beneficial to the homeowner in more ways than one.  Reimbursement for the initial purchase of an energy efficient product is only one positive aspect of building a green home.  Because green building is becoming more popular in todays society, the retail price for an ecologically conscious house dramatically increases. Leslie Eskildsen is a real estate agent in Orange County California who wrote an article called "Pricey upgrades add little to a home's value" (Eskildsen). Although the title seems misleading, a majority of her article breaks down different advantages in a house that could make it seem more attractive to a buyer.  This article does not fully support my case, but I have selected portions of it that elaborate on the positives of green homes. Eskildsen explains "You are likely to tip buyers your way if the choice is between your house, with multiple added features, versus another similar house without added features" (Eskildsen). This shows that homeowners with the more desired appliances are in favor of receiving more money for their home and they have a better chance of selling their house.  A downside to green appliances is the expensive cost of buying them but if you were to sell your house, the added cost of the green features could, again, be paid back.  In the scholarly article "Green Building Incentives: A Review." The author writes "The appeal of the market prospects of green buildings is persuasive for project owners, especially owner-developers, focused on profit making. Also, the literature findings revealed that green building is in the owners  interest in helping their business to prosper" (Olubunmi).  This article describes studies conducted by researchers that have proven the increased appeal to a green building.  

Just like people, no two houses are the same; there is some detail that sets one home apart from another.  When considering a new home, one with features that save both money and the environment stand out above the rest.  A time of innovation and technological advancements is spreading across America and there is an excitement for all things green.  Another advantage to owning an energy efficient home is the luxury feel of owning some of the more "high end" green products.  In various communities, there can be an unspoken competition between neighbors to see who owns the nicest products, such as a new grill or a new car. But for some, owning the newest groundbreaking green living product is what dominates the district.  Journalist Steven Morris describes in his article, "Welsh Home Installs UK's First Tesla Powerwall Storage Battery" a device that can be installed in a home in order to collect and save energy that has been collected by solar panels.  Great progress has been made recently in the field of energy consumption due to the Tesla Powerwall, that Morris describes as, "a cutting-edge bit of kit that the makers say will provide a missing link in solar energy" (Morris).  The article describes Welsh homeowner Mark Kerr who is the first European to own the Tesla Powerwall in his simple, energy efficient home.  Because Kerr invested in this new product, not only will he receive cost benefits, but also popularity though his community as an environmental activist.  Morris also says in his article "It's like people who have an iPhone wanting an Apple Watch" (Morris). Consumers of this era are fully interested in shiny devices that they can show off and brag about to their peers.  The ongoing green revolution will only increase the popularity of these luxury items, inviting more and more citizens to do their part in conserving resources.

The field of green building is fairly new and growing and a majority of the products implemented into homes can seem expensive or improbable.  Also, some homeowners may not see their house appropriate for energy efficient appliances due to the age of the house or the geographical features surrounding it.  What all individuals need to understand is that environmentally friendly features can be implemented into any home and it does not have to be expensive.  There are hundreds of products or building techniques that a home can adapt without spending an excessive amount of money on a flashy product. In John Patrick Pullen's article "Should You Put Solar Panels On Your House?" he advocates the instillation of new solar panels in homes all across America.  He neatly defines the process of obtaining and maintaining them throughout his informative article and he explains solar panels in a way that makes it seem as though anyone could own them.  Pullen says, "We have reached sort of a tipping point here with solar being very affordable, being reliable, and a clean energy source"  (Pullen).  Installing solar panels has become a much popular trend over the past couple years; now they only takes a few hours to install as apposed to a few days.  Solar Panels also don't have to be placed on roofs, now they can be set up in lawns or in places that will capture more sunlight.  The options for the different types of solar panels are also increasing as new technology is developed.  This is just one example of a green building product that is becoming more affordable and more convenient.  It seems as though in the near future it could be possible for every home to represent some aspect of green living.  

As mentioned before, the United States is experiencing a green revolution, where efforts to conserve resources and reduce the average carbon footprint are greatly increasing.  The field of green building is greatly increasing and everyday more eco-friendly products are being developed for residential use.  Some products are making their way out of the homes and into the streets for complete public use.  "Solar FREAKIN' Roadways!" is an entertaining and informative video that creatively explains a new invention called Solar Roadways.  These are large solar panels that cover roads, parking lots and sidewalks and collect energy from the sun; the panels are also made with recycled glass material.  These panels not only generate electricity but they also are equipped with LED lights that can be programed to display road markings and traffic signals.  The panels also heat up in the winter to reduce ice on the roads and they are outfitted with pressure sensing features that can warn drivers from obstructions in the roads (Brusaw).  There are many other amazing innovative features involved with Solar Roadways that are explained in the well-organized video.  This incredible invention is just one large example of the astonishing improvements behind conservation efforts.  Imagine a world where entire cities, homes and streets, are actively reducing environmental determents through new technologies.  Some larger effort must be made to make sure that the human race does not use up all the resources provided to us on earth.  

Large changes to the everyday lifestyles are not going to be made overnight. It will take a lot of time and effort in order to achieve the goal of preserving the earth while still sustaining the human race.  As mentioned before, there are a few setbacks involved in implementing green building in all homes.  Price seems to be the main factor for most homeowners.  Green building is generally linked to expensive products for homes but with the right education, people can understand that this is not always the case.  There are different products for all homes and for people of every economic status.  You do not have to be rich to save the environment.  

Aside from some expensive prices, another unfortunate component of green building is companies that may misinform customers about their energy efficient products.  In the complicated world of construction there are many manufacturers that will try to sell their product to contractors so that they will integrate them in the next home they build.  For green builders, other companies may try and pitch products they claim are environmentally friendly when in actuality they may only consist of a very small percentage of recycled material.  It is important that a green construction company is able to decipher which products actually help the environment and which products claim to be green in order to make more money.  Sometimes the most flashy or appealing product is not as safe as the less attractive merchandise.  I believe that construction companies that do not share truthful information about their products should be should be perused with legal action.  It should not be lawful for a company to exaggerate on a product of such importance to a customer who has limited knowledge of what they are purchasing.  The green building companies that consumers can trust are those that are LEED certified.  Since this is the highest status for any company that wants to brand themselves as green, other competitors who are not as qualified have must the extra steps to ensure maximum conservation.  

One final flaw behind the implementation of eco-friendly features in homes is the problem of lazy homeowners.  Everyday, people can come across reminders to do their part and reduce, reuse, and recycle. We see adds on television or on the Internet reminding us to take care of the earth we live on.  The problem lies behind the individuals who sit back and continue their wasteful lifestyle and assume that those around them are doing their part, so they don't have to.  Have you ever dropped something on the ground assuming someone else will pick it up? Or left the water running unattended without thinking about what it could actually be used for?   Everyone is guilty of some form of wastefulness but assuming someone else is doing his or her part so that you don't have to is a big problem.  If a neighbor were to install rain water basins to collect extra water for their home, that may not mean the same needs to be implemented into your own home, but doing as much as possible for yourself can benefit society as a whole.

As you can see, there are many conflicting aspects behind environmentally friendly building.  Green building can save homeowners money, increase property value, boost social statuses, and of course help save the environment.  Unfortunately some products can be expensive and misleading, causing many uneducated homeowners to ignore the possibilities of eco-friendly upgrades.  I believe that all homeowners should be educated by construction companies about the possibilities of green building for their own homes.  The National Home Builder's Association should require some aspect of instruction on energy efficient home improvements.  Teaching all homeowners about these possibilities could lead to worldwide improvements in heath for both humans and the earth.  If action is not taken soon, our environment will increasingly weaken due to the luxurious lifestyle of the average American.  A journal from an observer in the UK states that, "In a damning condemnation of Western society's high consumption levels, it adds that the extra planets (the equivalent size of Earth) will be required by the year 2050 as existing resources are exhausted" (Townson).  The report, based on scientific data from across the world, reveals that humans have destroyed more than a third of the natural world over the past three decades (Townson).  It is frightening to think that in only a few decades, our earth can no longer comfortably sustain the human race and drastic measures will have to be taken.  I believe that we are silent to this issue because we choose to ignore the lack of resources and continue living carefree.  Actions need to be taken in the right direction and Green Building can help immensely.  If we want to have a stable planet to build our homes on, we should do a better job of taking care of it. 

