Field Guide to Green Homes & Green Mortgages
(Updated Nov. 2007)
Interest in all things green has soared - with home buyers, sellers, builders and REALTORS® a large part of the movement. Once foreign-sounding terms like carbon footprint, living off the grid and photovoltaics have become part of our vocabulary. Fortunately it's getting easier and less costly to live in a green-ish home. Find out the latest trends and resources as well as information on green mortgages. (D. Foligno, Project Coordinator)
Contents:
The Greening of the Housing Market | Green Home Demand | Green Mortgage | The Latest in Green | Green Quizzes & Cartoons | Websites | eBooks & Other Resources
Green Home Features
Solar energy
Environmentally-sound materials
Energy-efficient appliances
Recycled & Locally-sourced materials
Rain water collection
Drought-resistant landscaping
Natural, chemical-free insulation
Low-flush toilets
Natural cleaning products
Source: EcoManor.com
The Greening of the Housing Market 
Ideas on enviro-conscious apartment living , (World Changing.com, Oct. 5, 2007).
Building green for less , (University of Wisconsin, Aug. 2, 2007).
The challenge of existing homes: Retrofitting for dramatic energy savings , (Building Green.com, July 2007).
Want a green house? Prepare to be confused , (MSNBC.com, May 7, 2007).
'Green' project looks for housing market niche , (Show Me News.com, Mar. 11, 2007).
Is 'going green' worth the cost? , (CNN Money.com, Jan. 2007).
The relationship between home energy costs and energy-related remodeling activity , (Harvard Joint Center for Housing Studies, June 2006).
Solar power making affordable homes cheaper , (CBS4Denver.com, Mar. 2006).
What are energy star qualified homes? , (Energy Star.gov)
Green Home Demand
'Green' homes enliven slumping housing market , (Orlando Sentinel, Sept. 23, 2007).
Go green! , (Texas REALTORS®, Aug. 2007).
REALTORS® pushing Iowa housing market to go green , (Des Moines Register, Apr. 17, 2007).
In a down housing market, green demand exceeds supply , (NBC News.com, Apr. 16, 2007).
Eco-savvy selling, (REALTOR® Magazine Online, Sept. 1, 2007).
Does that house come in green? , (CNET News.com, June 21, 2007).
The green home of their dreams, (New York Times, June 17, 2007).
Energy efficiency pays, (Tierra Grande/Texas A&M, Apr. 2007).
Project green: this ecofriendly house, (Newsweek, Feb. 2007). Q
Homes going lean, mean and green, (CNN Money.com, Aug. 2006).
It pays to be green home, (National Real Estate Investor, July 2005).
Time for marketing and sales people to go green, (Seattle Journal of Daily Commerce, Mar. 2005).
Green Mortgage
'Green' house effect: Use an energy efficient mortgage to build dream eco-friendly home, (Desert Morning News, Sept. 22,2007).
Next for mortgage lending: green mortgages, (The Panelist.com, Sept. 14, 2007).
Going green to save some green, (Wall Street Journal, Sept. 12, 2007). Q
Go green with your mortgage, (CNN Money, Nov. 2005).
HUD's energy efficient mortgages program, (HUD, Feb. 2005).
Financing energy efficiency through "green" mortgages, (Sustainable Business, 2005).
Energy efficient mortgage brochure, (Fannie Mae).
Energy efficient mortgage home owner guide, (Federal Consumer Information Center, 2002).
The Latest in Green
Information Central's Green PowerPoint presentation, (Field Guide to Green Homes & Green Mortgages/REALTOR.org, July, 2008).
What's new on the green scene, (REALTOR® Magazine Online, July 1, 2007).
The $4 million Wired Living Home is both high-tech and green, (Born Rich.org, June 26, 2007).
Turbine turbulence: How to fix U.S. wind power , (Popular Mechanics, May 17, 2007).
Off the grid or on - solar and wind power gain , (USA Today, Apr. 12, 2006)
Green kitchen remodel, (Kitchens,com, 2006).
Green Quizzes & Cartoons
The "Unsustainables", (Sustain Lane.com, Jan. 2007).- Green cartoons.
Green Quizzes, (Nat. Geographic Green Guide). - Test your eco IQ! -- Kitchen ; Living Room ; Bedroom ; Bath
Carbon Footprint Calculators, (Greener Choices). - Test your impact on the environment.
How green is your family's home, (BabyZone.com).
The adventures of KABMan, (Keep America Beautiful). - Superhero for the environment and defender of natural beauty! (Click on "Movies")
Websites
LEED® Pilot Rating System, (U.S. Green Building Council, Jan. 2007). Includes LEEDS® certification checklists.
Fossil free by 2033, (Community Environmental Council, 2007). - 7-step program to wean communities off fossil fuels.
Cost of Green Revisited, (Davis Langdon, July 2007). - Study suggests little cost difference to build "green".
Energy Star, (Environmental Protection Agency, 2007).
Federal Tax Credits For Energy Efficiency, (EnergyStar.gov).
16 Ways to Green Your Home, (U.S. Green Building Council). - Brochure.
Electronics Reuse and Recycle Center, (Consumer Reports). - Green options for retiring old electronics.
Global warming survival guide, (Time.com, 2007).- 51 things we can do.
LEED rating system for homes, (U.S. Green Building Council, Apr. 2005).
NAHB green home building guidelines, (NAHB.org, 2006).
Minnesota green affordable housing guide, (University of Minnesota).
EPA green building homepage, (EPA.gov).
HUD Energy-Efficient Mortgages Program, (HUD.gov).
Green Home Makeover, (National Geographic Green Guide). - 'Greening' options for every room.
eBooks & Other Resources
eBooks.realtor.org
The following ebooks and digital audiobooks are available to NAR members:
Green cities (Mobipocket)
Land use law for sustainable development (Adobe eBook)
Books, Videos, Research Reports & More
The resources below are available for loan through Information Central. Up to three books, tapes, CDs and/or DVDs can be borrowed for 30 days from the Library for a nominal fee of $10. Call Information Central at 800.874.6500 for assistance.
Green buildings pay, (Spon Press, Washington, DC: Sustainable Buildings Industry Council, 2003). NA 2542 G72
Green building guidelines, (Washington, DC: Sustainable Buildings Industry Council, 2003). HD 255 Su8
Natural Home Heating: The Complete Guide to Renewable Energy Options, (Chelsea Green Publishing Company, 2003). QC 73.8 P15
Field Guides & More
These Field Guides and other resources in the Virtual Library may also be of interest:
Field Guide to Commercial Green Buildings
Technology Report: Solar Nanotechnology
>> Have an idea for a new Field Guide? Click here to send us your suggestions!
The inclusion of links on this Field Guide does not imply endorsement by the National Association of REALTORS®. NAR makes no representations about whether the content of any external sites which may be linked to this Field Guide complies with state or federal laws or regulations or with applicable NAR policies. These links are provided for your convenience only and you rely on them at your own risk.
