I now realize there are people who think they understand what xeriscaping is, but they don’t. Be careful where you get your green advice; it’s worth doing your due diligence.

Politically Green, But Not Necessarily Correct

• Use wood alternatives or FSC-certified products

A lot of people get confused about using wood alternatives. They think, ‘OK, lets put in Styrofoam and concrete wall systems.’ The problem with exotic wall systems is you end up spending a lot of money on something that doesn’t accomplish much, especially in warmer and more moderate climates.

Instead, if you’re remodeling or adding on a room, put in a 2×4 framed wall and spray foam inside the walls to make it very tight. The result will be very buildable and very adaptable. Wood is not a four-letter word; most lumber companies got smart and now sustainably harvest their wood. So you don’t necessarily have to use wood alternatives to build or remodel a green home.

• Explore alternative energy sources

As much as I realize there’s a place for solar and wind energy, from a home owner’s perspective, it’s pretty esoteric. It’s way out there in left field. Do things that make you use less energy; those do the most good for the environment.

Look at it this way. Let’s say the light above your head is a normal 75-watt floodlight. We’ll switch it out with an 18-watt fluorescent, which is roughly equivalent in light output. That one switch will save a quarter-ton of coal from being burned at the Fayette County power plant every year.

And think about the emissions from that power plant. They blow in Austin’s direction, because they’re coming from the southeast. That one light bulb switch affects the air pollution in our community, the air we breathe, global warming and, if nothing else, (the coal emissions are) enhancing the greenhouse gas effect.

Save energy before you look into alternative energy sources. Solar panels are a good thing, but they don’t address the real issue, which is to reduce consumption. Remember: It’s cheaper to reduce energy consumption than try and become your own power plant.

Copyright © 2008 | Distributed by Noofangle Media

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