WHAT DOES GREEN MEAN?While there are a variety of sub-sections under the green umbrella, everyone agrees that green means limiting the size of your carbon footprint. Recycling materials, generating sustainable energy, and putting an end to pollution are all green ideas that are equally important. In addition, being space-conscious and doing more with less is a common theme. Rooftop gardens are prime examples of green home living, which leaves more ground space for nature and water storage.NOTABLE GREEN HOMES WITH MINIMAL FOOTPRINTSThese two amazing homes lead the way toward public awareness of the ecological concerns facing our planet today:o Zero House - This self-sufficient kit home is manufactured off-site, shipped to the consumer's property, and it costs less than 400,000. Homeowners revel because outside utilities are unnecessary thanks to solar power collection and storage. Furthermore, household waste is automatically converted to garden compost.o Bellwether of Belvedere - This home uses solar cells, a high-tech boiler and hyper-insulated roofing to create more energy than it consumes. It makes generous use of repurposed and sustainable materials, but looks extremely contemporary instead of looking second-hand.FROM ECO-ROOFS TO GROWING FOODMetal roofs are becoming more popular with the shift towards green home building. This choice is very durable, wholly recyclable, and comes in light reflective colors. However, for longevity, clay and slate tiles make superb green roofs. This type of roofing often lasts 100 years or longer. Some of the greenest homes on the planet are topped with salvaged tile roofing.Today's greenest homes maximize the ecological value of their ground space by making sure outside space is not wasted. Many homeowners raise their own food on their property, and if space is at a premium, they grow crops on their roofs. Going green means saving money and natural resources as well as being good stewards of our earth.
