How Green Do You Want to Be?

This entry deals not with how green is green, but how green do you want to be? Green building and living means different things to different people. Some of the guys I work with regularly call it the "shades of green" discussion. For some guys cutting your power bills by two thirds is enough. Others are interested in the sustainable green discussion, knowing that their home will last for 100 years instead of 20.

Then there's less stuff to the landfill green, I take great pride that my new home sent almost nothing to the landfill in an industry that sends more to the landfill than almost any other. There are discussions on less water wasted green. This can be accomplished by a variety of means, more efficient devices, or by using water more than once, or saving water in the exterior areas of the residence. Lots of people realize that a green home can be a healthier home for the occupants because of measures taken by the builder to keep harmful chemicals removed from materials used to build the home. And then there are those that take certain pride that through the way they construct and live in their homes that they are playing a role in saving the planet.

- Contributed by Mark Bostic of Square One Design Service. Mark is the Immediate Past Chairman of the Green Building Council of Greater Columbia. See more entries from Mark at his blog.