Green homes have been all over the news in the last few years. The benefits of going green with building and remodeling are a huge perk for the environment, which is a given, but now we’re starting to see the long term money saving advantages that home owners can reap by going green as well.

According to a new article in the Calgary Herald, green homes are gaining a ton of momentum as an economic bonus for consumers. Some of the issues before concerned with green homes and money were based on the fact that green building was less common, and therefore, in some ways cost prohibitive.

However, with the recent surge of green minded building products, eco-designers, and green architects becoming more readily available, green homes are not only easier, but less expensive in the long run. Plus besides lowering home running costs, green is becoming a major selling point among many Realtors, so you may be looking at an increased resale value as well. When you add in the eco-tax credits available to home owners who go green, financial benefits of a green home can be substantial.

If you’re brand spanking new to green homes, you’ve got a lot to learn, but it’s not a huge curve. Buying or building any house is tough, why not learn about green homes over traditional? Following are some reads that can help.

• Find the perfect green architect
• Free Green Home Plans!
• Green Building Resources & Green Living Tips

Are you in the market? Have you considered buying or building green?

[image via stock.xchng]

“Mom, you’ve got to stop using paper plates,” the youngster told his mom. “You’re wasting trees and causing trash.”

“He’s really learning about ‘going green’ from school,” the mom remarked.  “They’ve got a big program about saving the environment.”

Many schools are emphasizing the “green” theme, including those where I do substitute teaching.  Youngsters are informing their parents and looking for ways to be green at home.

This is great, as long as it isn’t carried to extremes.  Parents have to take into account cost, time savings, and their lifestyle, as well as environment practices.  Sometimes you also can’t change all at once.  These practices have to be adapted gradually.

What’s going on in your household regarding “going green?” Have your children’s schools joined the “green team” in a sensible manner or to the extreme?

Image: sxc.hu

I recently reviewed two killer off grid home books at RiverWired. Both are so good, I’m going to recommend them as perfect holiday gifts for an eco-friendly pal (or maybe as a gift to yourself).

The books:

Both by Lori Ryker; both delightful; both major eye candy for home lovers. Check out the full reviews:

• Off the Grid
• Off the Grid Homes

[images via Amazon]

So since I recently found my new favorite real estate website we’re going to have to visit at least once in a while. Or at least until we all our own great green abodes.

My green picks of the week include:

This Off-Grid Solar Mountain Retreat Dome Home in Saguache, Colorado. Domes already have that unique flavor going for them. This one is extra special due to that cool offset doorway. Very slick. Plus, I do like the color, which seems to have been kept natural, yet looks sort of orange.

Learn more about this off-grid solar home.

My second green pick this week is…
Read more

Green Homes for Sale! This site rocks. Of course, I can see myself spending WAY too much time browsing and dreaming at the site, but it might be worth it. Some of the homes featured are amazing. Many are a little off the beaten path; both literally and figuratively. I’m actually considering buying a home next year, so maybe I’ll find my house (right - many are a little bit costly). Still I gathered some nice choice homes up for you, just in case you’ve got some spare cash and a love of green hanging around.

This first off grid lake house is what love looks like in structural form. Truly. I swear, if this house had four fewer bedrooms and baths, I’d be moving to Wisconsin - tomorrow. And please note that my ex in-laws even live in Wisconsin, so for me to want this, it must be love, or something like it.

[New Auburn, Wisconsin]

It appears that I could also be happy in Ontario. How cute is this strawbale?!

[Baysville, Ontario]

First a short whine… why have a beautiful quirky off grid earthship with this fence? Why? Moving on, this home is lovely, just so lovely. I’d yank out the fence, but other than that… it’s just great.

Ok, I have to show an interior to make up for the fence - look at this great house on the inside.

[Ridgway, Colorado]

I have to stop here. Too much green home bliss and my head will explode. If you want more I’d check out Green Homes for Sale. You can see more houses plus the interior and land shots of the ones above. The cons are that some people built “green” McMansions (like 2000 ft plus) and they’re on there for sale too - but there are also plenty of delightful greener finds. Also, big perk, since it’s a real estate site, I’m thinking (hoping) that it changes frequently.

Which do you like best? I like the first one. I know the Wisconsin one is big, but it is a B&B and I can’t help myself.  It’s just sinfully sweet.

For the last 2 years, the pilot study rating for residential LEED has been going on. Now the U.S. Green Building Council has the revised residential LEED rating goals and system ready to go. The revised system’s goal is to help architects and designers achieve a whole house approach to green living.

LEED has traditionally been applied to commercial structures - and some don’t think the LEED standards are entirely well thought out. Still, there are obvious benefits if we can achieve green homes, and LEED is offering one checklist for that goal. This is a good tool for consumers especially; although, keep in mind that a home does not have to be LEED certified to be healthy, non-toxic, and earth-friendly - this is just one system for checking these goals.

You can see the revised system below:

LEED for Homes Rating System (opens in PDF)

LEED for Homes Project Checklist (XLS)

You can get the full residential LEED scoop from the U.S. Green Building Council.

What’s more exciting, I think, then the new standards will be all the new houses trying to get the certification. This, I’m sure, will result in some pretty cool architecture - with people trying to build one of the best newly certified homes and so fourth. Like the new home being created for the Museum of Science and Industry, Chicago. They’ll be running a feature exhibit, Smart Home: Green + Wired, May 8, 2008 – January 4, 2009.

PR from the Museum:

“During its 75th Anniversary year, the Museum of Science and Industry will be building a functioning, three-story modular and sustainable “green” home in its own backyard to show case the ways, big and small, that people can make eco-friendly living a part of their lives—and to highlight unique home technologies for the 21st century. Celebrating exciting new directions in sustainable living and spectacular, environmentally-friendly technology, Smart Home: Green + Wired will offer guests guided tours of the 2,500 square-foot home and grounds, located in a park on the east side of the Museum. Guests will be able to view the latest innovations in reusable resources; smart energy consumption; sustainable gardens and green roofs; and clean, healthy-living environments in a contemporary setting.”

It sounds stellar. Best of all, guess who designed the home? Michelle Kaufmann Designs!  Cool, right? Remember West Coast Green?

Read more about the mkSolaire.

Is Offbeat Homes really my favorite blog?

As in blogs I write; not read because that would be a whole other discussion. I think about this a lot because most professional bloggers I know do have more than one blog. I think that there are some pros and cons to playing favorites.

Is it even fair to play favorites? How do you judge one blog over another when content varies so drastically? And what about job stability. How will your other employers like it when you blurt out, “Guess what? My other blog rocks so much more hard core than the one I write for you.”

Yup it surely is a conundrum.

So the title was a misleading fib. Or is it? Let’s just say that IF Offbeat Homes is my favorite I might be able to come up with some reasons why.

1. Because I adore wacky homes, the building process (mostly), and great architect minds impress me so what better way to spend my time than stalking stuff like this:

2. Because cool folks who build amazing homes like the one below are nice enough to tell me about it.

3. Because lord knows what a life without Lego cat churches might look like — in fact, I dread the thought.

4. Because seriously, what could be better than a house built up in a Redwood tree?

5. Because this is my only blog that gets a good bulk of hits from keywords like Dracula’s Castle. Fun! And spooky.

6. Because my peeps from the other Home & Dining channel blogs are the best. They force me to do stuff like this; we discuss meaningful issues like The Great Space Coaster when no one else is around and they let be be mean if I feel like it. What more could you ask of from a blog channel? Honestly I just don’t know.

7. Because green homes are the best and I see lots and lots.

8. Because I get to talk to fun sparkling people.

9. Because life should never ever be dull:

10. Because Offbeat readers rock! They leave the best comments and are the most fun ever.

That might be stuff I’d say IF Offbeat Homes was my favorite blog. But that’s all just hypothetical.

In case you haven’t heard, West Coast Green is coming on full force this year.

West Coast Green, the largest residential green building conference in America recently released it’s full line-up of presenters and exhibits for this year’s show taking place on September 20-22, 2007. The show, which will be held in San Francisco, has two days worth of educational programs for builders and designers in the industry and then allows homeowners in on the final day (wish I could go).

Sadly, I cannot go and I’m guessing this won’t fit into most of your schedules either. So I’m hoping that up until the show, I can bring some of what will be going on to Offbeat readers.

Starting with the mkLotus; designed by Michelle Kauffmann architect of the Sunset Breezehouse and built by XtremeHomes. The mkLotus is said to “feature the most advanced green technology and sustainable materials available on the market.”

I am not a fan of modular homes and I think this one is stunning. I love the colors and the raise on the roof. According to Kauffman’s site some components of the new very green design include:

• “Green “Living” Roof
• Solar Power: This Home Uses 100% Solar Generated Power
• Rain and Groundwater Catchment System: Collected Water is Used for Irrigation
• Gray Water System: Collected Water from Sinks and Shower is Recirculated to Toilets
• Exterior Siding: Low-maintenance, Long-lasting Integral Color Cement Board by Cembonit and FSC Certified Woood.
• High Performance, Energy Efficient Spray-in Open Cell Foam Insulation
• On-demand Water Heater
• Energy Efficient HVAC System”
  

Included green interior components include:

• Sustainable Layout for Maximum Cross Ventilation and Natural Lighting
• Rapidly Renewable Bamboo Flooring
• No-VOC Paint by Yolo throughout
• LED Lighting throughout
• Interior Sliding Door Panels by 3form: EcoResin comprised of 40% Post-Industrial Reclaimed Material

I don’t love the interior as much as the exterior; but I think I’m basing this on the white couch — obviously you’d bring your own furniture in.
One amazing point about this home is that the “Off Site Modular Technology” resulted in 50-70% less waste than if you build a home traditionally on site. Plus the neighbors don’t get mad with all the noise. (home building is very loud).

I love it. If you are going, you’ll get to see this home in person. West Coast Green, Extreme Green Homes, and Sunset Magazine are going to construct one of these high-performance green homes in front of City Hall and the Bill Graham Civic Center where West Coast Green is held.

Additionally, if you’re going, take a camera and send me some shots. Or maybe we should just organize a road trip. I’ll rent a pop-up and a truck and pick you all up along the way. But you’d have to live somewhere between Washington and California. Let’s see I think that leaves what, Oregon. Go Pacific NW!; sorry East Coasties.

For more information and extra photos of this beautiful home visit Michelle Kauffmann designs.

Or so that’s what I hear. Heard, to be exact, last night on the Red, Hot, & Green special on HGTV. I’d like to take this moment to point out that I did list this show as an “Offbeat Hot” last week. Turns out I was right. This show was very cool.

I felt that the show didn’t cover too much in terms of new green ideas per say. There were very few ideas discussed that were new to me, and probably fewer that would be new to the average green builder. What was cool and unique about this show is they highlighted the stylistic trends going on in green decorating. In terms of enticing folks to go green the show packed in a wallop of tips.

Hemp countertops, reclaimed wood and recycled furniture, low VOC paint, sunflower seed boarding, tree branches as curtain rods, and a shower that I was seriously drooling over. I’ve been thinking about this shower all day and I’ve come to the conclusion that before I die I will have one. It was a river rock shower — which many of us have seen before.

Here’s a picture of typical river rocks.

But the folks who built this particular green home had found greens and clear blues and just an overall stunning array of colored stones. Plus they had a great light slate colored grout. I tried in vein to find a picture of this shower to post — but no luck. If anyone knows of a source it’d be cool to let me know.

Another key point the show pointed out was that you have many choices when it comes to the style of green home you might choose.

Here’s one, and…

Here’s another; worried about rain anyone?

I like this one. This house is very cool. It makes up just one house in a neighborhood called Armory Park del Sol in Tucson. After my three year (or so) stint in New Mexico’s blazing summer conditions, I’m the last person to suggest you pack it up and move to the desert. But this neighborhood is so neat. The website gives some information about their homes:

“The solar features of our homes include photovoltaic electric power generating systems and solar water heaters with on-demand water heater backup systems.”

Plus just moving in, makes you eligible for Tuscon Electric Sun Share rebates and tax credits.

They also offer zero energy homes:

“Zero Energy Homes combine energy-efficient construction, equipment, lighting and appliances with commercially available renewable energy systems to provide homeowners with annual net-zero energy consumption.

With its reduced energy needs and solar energy systems, a Zero Energy Home (ZEH) can return as much energy as it takes from the utility company on an annual basis.”

Here’s another view of the neighborhood:

Or you could plunk down a terrifying amount of green to live in these New York located eco friendly condo digs, at the The Visionaire.

The Visionaire website is gorgeous — go take a look. But it does look pricey.

All in all, Red, Hot, and Green did get me thinking about what kind of green style I like and to what level I’d take green in my own home. Didn’t see it? No problem, it’ll be on again on July 1 at 5pm ET/PT.

For those who did see it, what did you think of the show? Discuss. Or you can always just leave a friendly tip about how I can get a river rock shower for a smashing good price.