Stay Off the Grass

green sustainable landscaping Why are so many Americans obsessed with having so much grass in their yards?

Well, the obsession dates back to the 18^th century when wealthy Americans traveling in Europe came home with visions of rolling English estates in their heads. Even then though lawns were exclusively luxury items for those wealthy enough to afford the labor required to cut them by hand. Most Americans made due with packed dirt and small gardens. This all changed though with the advent of the garden hose and mechanical mower in the late 19^th century. Now the average American suddenly found luxury at their fingertips and rushed to emulate the immaculate lawns of the wealthy.

Today’s lawns are so ubiquitous that few even stop to question why we have them. Many of those with immaculately groomed lawns live in dry or even desert areas where water is scarce and grass would never grow naturally.

If you are thinking about building a new home, you should think about...

Going Green Saves More Than Just the Environment

It is not uncommon for builders and developers to expect to pay an up front premium when they make the decision to equip any new project with energy efficient and environmentally friendly technology. If asked about why they accept this premium, many builders state a variety of motivations ranging from the realization of long term savings, a desire to achieve LEED certification or out of a sincere commitment to environmental protection. However, there are even more reasons why going green really pays.

Still, many stereotypes stand in the way of greater adoption of eco-friendly development. Common consensus holds that green projects may have up to 18% higher up front expenses when compared to standard buildings with little to no energy efficiency improvements. This, in fact, is completely false. Most projects aiming to achieve LEED certification may only have to spend an additional 1% or perhaps not even that much.

Maximizing Energy Efficiency Calls For Planning Ahead

When people think of green buildings, they think of renewable energy, recycling and low flow shower heads, but surprisingly few think of architecture. However, proper architectural planning can play one of the largest roles in the reduction of waste and the carbon footprint of a building. It may also enjoy immediate as well and long term cost savings.

Even before the foundation of a building is laid, a carbon footprint has formed. Much of a carbon footprint can be attributed to energy expenditures related to the transportation and manufacturing processes, which not only add pollution to the environment, but in some cases, additional cost to a project.

Green Commercial Construction Loan is First in Nation

Glendale, Arizona

Community Bank of Arizona announced today that it will be using the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) ENERGY STAR energy performance rating standards as criteria for underwriting green commercial loans. Under the unique program, qualifying commercial development, construction or remodeling loans over $100,000 will receive a half point interest rate reduction. The premise being that the increased cash flow from energy savings both increases a building’s market value as well as improves the owner’s ability to repay the loan. Community Bank of Arizona sees this as...

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