# Anyone here have a green home? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [March 5, 2007, 7:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-here-have-a-green-home/394709 "2007-03-05T19:02:46Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Quasimodal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/57b2e6/32.png) [@Quasimodal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quasimodal)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2007, 7:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-here-have-a-green-home/394709/1 "2007-03-05T19:02:46Z")
And what makes it green? I’m mostly interested in solar panels and independent means of energy production. I’m young and have a good job which means if I invest in something like solar panels now, it would pay off down the road. What are your experiences in this area? The best thing I have right now is flourescent lighting. ---
**Author:** ![Can\_Handle\_the\_Truth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Can\_Handle\_the\_Truth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Can_Handle_the_Truth)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2007, 11:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-here-have-a-green-home/394709/2 "2007-03-05T23:49:49Z")
[QUOTE=Quasimodal] And what makes it green? [/QUOTE] The Paint. ---
**Author:** ![Shagnasty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9dc877/32.png) [@Shagnasty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shagnasty)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2007, 12:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-here-have-a-green-home/394709/3 "2007-03-06T00:10:09Z")
You should get [The Mother Earth News](http://www.motherearthnews.com/) and read the stories they have every issue. Much of it is online. I am a libertarian/conservative and a long-time subscriber. Some people try really hard and you can get a feel for what is possible plus the drawbacks. ---
**Author:** ![Baffle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/dec6dc/32.png) [@Baffle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baffle)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2007, 12:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-here-have-a-green-home/394709/4 "2007-03-06T00:28:09Z")
[QUOTE=Can Handle the Truth] The Paint. [/QUOTE] You bastard, you stole my line. ---
**Author:** ![Dunawake](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/85f322/32.png) [@Dunawake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dunawake)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2007, 1:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-here-have-a-green-home/394709/5 "2007-03-06T01:05:52Z")
[QUOTE=Baffle] You bastard, you stole my line. [/QUOTE] Argh, mine too. ---
**Author:** ![Auntbeast](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Auntbeast](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Auntbeast)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2007, 4:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-here-have-a-green-home/394709/6 "2007-03-06T04:54:56Z")
I have a pathologically ungreen home. I’ve been reading up on alternative/energy efficient/whatever building methods such as Earthships, Straw Bale, rammed earth, etc. using things such as solar energy, geothermal warming, passive solar, etc. (I ixnayed the composting toilets portion of that research) Unfortunately, I live in a hot, humid, wet area and most of these things don’t tend to do well in hot/wet. A few links: > **[Earthship Biotecture - Off Grid Sustainable Green Buildings - Earthship...](https://earthship.com/)** > > EARTHSHIP 3 DAYS SEMINAR LEAD BY OUR FOUNDER MICHAEL REYNOLDS$ 500 USD ~ discount applies if you register more than one person REGISTER HERE We are the number one sustainable autonomous design-build company. We build autonomous homes, you can see... [http://www.ourcoolhouse.com/](http://www.ourcoolhouse.com/) > **[I Love Cob!](https://ilovecob.com/)** > > The magical mixture of mud, sand and straw; formed with human hands > **[Insulated Concrete Forms for Amazing Buildings](https://www.quadlock.com/)** > > Insulated Concrete Forms (ICFs) for Amazing Buildings: Cozy, peaceful, safe & durable at LOWER total cost of ownership than traditional construction methods > **[Monolithic Dome construction and specialty textile and fabric products...](https://www.monolithic.com/)** > > Monolithic Constructors, Inc. — or simply, Monolithic — started in 1980 as the first Monolithic Dome builder. Over the years, it expanded into Monolithic Dome Airform manufacturing and equipment manufacturing. Monolithic is the founder and primary... Finding the actual cost of these is rather difficult. As is permitting. I’m looking to buy a few acres now, but I question how many decades it would take for my alternative home to be built. It seems the more radical types exist in areas far away from code inspectors. ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2007, 5:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-here-have-a-green-home/394709/7 "2007-03-06T05:13:29Z")
I have a partial green home. Old 1960 construction, but well insulated. New high RF windows. **6700W of Solar Panels** New High efficiency Oil Burner & Boiler Large use of Florescent and Compact Florescent lighting Outside lights on a well set motion detector to only go on 10 minutes when someone actually approaches the garage. All new appliances are bought for efficiency. A little supplemental heating from a wood stove. A not very efficient Water Heater that I wrapped in R15 insulation to improve efficiency. I will eventually go to a tankless system. Efficient Water taps, low flush toilets and Shower Heads around the house. I mulch and compost all of my grass clippings and leaves. I use no fertilizers except a little lime once and almost no pesticides. The little watering I do is from a well, so the water is recycled. I have 3 separate septic systems that therefore recycle the city water into ground water. I run the Maintenance program for an environmental Water Awareness Boat program for a local environmental group. I store the boat and equipment in the winter. Use of rechargable Batteries whereever possible. 37" LCD panel for main TV that gets the most use. Very efficient compares to CRT, Plasma and Projectors. So not quite a green home, but pretty green. Jim