Buyers and builders alike are realising the benefits of building and buying green. Westmont homes was given the opportunity to demonstrate green building at the 2008 International Builders Show. Owner Jume Rahman says that they do most of those tings already!

There are builders out there and there is an increasing market for green homes. Gopal Ahluwalia, Vice President of the NAHB Reasearch Center, said that results from surveys show that buyers are willing to pay extra ($17,000 more on a $292,000 home) for a house that incorportates green technologies that will lower maintenance and utility costs.

People are becoming conscious on Global Warming and Climate Change

Green Subdivisions are springing up all over the place, Oakland Park on Lake Apopka and Blue Spring Reseve in Clermont. Oakland Park is the first subdivision to receive green certification.

The idea of a green build is a home that minimised te environmental impact of contruction and uses products which are from renewable resources. On top of this homes may use green technology such as low wattage energy saving bulbs, having wood furniture from managed forests, solar heating or electicity.

However as homeowners look to save on energy costs every little helps. Turn off that light, turn down the heating/turn ‘up’ the air con and use the economy cycle on the washing machine and dishwasher and the big one that many people do not recognise…turn those appliances off standby!! Some older appliances use nearly the same amount of energy on standby as they do switched on! All of these things add up to savings for you and for the planet.