Benefits of Going Green

Building the Green Communities way offers a wide array of benefits for building
developers, investors, residents and the environment, leading to healthier homes and
communities, lower energy and water costs, and a protected environment.
Healthier Homes and Communities
Housing conditions are important factors influencing health. Green design and building
practices can create healthier home environments through better indoor air quality and
healthier building materials.
Lower Energy and Water Costs
Buildings are better performing, cutting utility costs for owners, residents and building
managers.
A Stronger Environment
How and where we build has a huge environmental impact. Buildings account for 38
percent of annual carbon dioide emissions, 3! percent of both raw materials waste and
landfill waste and "# percent of potable water consumption. $nvironmentally responsible
site planning and development, along with energy% and water%efficient buildings can
ma&e a positive contribution to environmental protection,
More Sustainable Cities for Our Future
'ayors around the country are advancing bold visions for ma&ing their cities more
environmentally sustainable
(http)**www.greencommunitiesonline.org*green*benefits*cities.asp+ through strategies to
reduce greenhouse gas emissions, manage water and energy resources and create more
livable communities. $nsuring new and eisting buildings , for all residents , are healthy
and efficient should be a &ey strategy for any green city. Benefits of Going Green)
-or developers and owners
(http)**www.greencommunitiesonline.org*green*benefits*developers.asp+ %
developers and owners gain a competitive edge in a mar&etplace that is
increasingly demanding healthier, higher%performance affordable housing.
-or investors and lenders
(http)**www.greencommunitiesonline.org*green*benefits*investors.asp+ % investors
and lenders reap the good will and positive public relations of association with a
movement universally perceived as right for the times.
-or residents
(http)**www.greencommunitiesonline.org*green*benefits*residents.asp+ % housing
conditions have long been seen as important factors influencing health. Green
design and building practices can create healthier home environments through
better indoor air quality and healthier building materials.
-or the $nvironment
(http)**www.greencommunitiesonline.org*green*benefits*environment.asp+ % green
housing reduces development impact on the environment and increases
sustainability in housing.
". Breathe easier. .ollution can enhance asthma and allergies. /t is also lin&ed to
lung cancer. Going green can help clean the air space, and improve your ability to
breathe.
#. Heart healthy. 0ome of the particulates in the air that come from pollution
caused by fossil fuels can actually contribute to heart disease and other cardiac
issues. 1educing pollution with greener energy practices can actually help your
heart.
3. nfe!tious diseases. 2he spread of infectious diseases can be eacerbated through
global warming as the by%products of our energy use are released. 3ou can help
slow the spread of pandemics by reducing your energy use.
4. "edu!e a!id rain. .ollution from industrial energy use, as well as home energy
use that creates increased demand, can cause acid rain. /ndeed, since the
implementation of the Clean 5ir 5ct, the incidence of harmful acid rain has been
reduced.
6. Let in the sun. /nstead of relying wholly on artificial lighting, you can let in the
sunlight. 7pen your shades and let natural lighting help you reduce your energy
needs and let the sun8s health benefits help you. 9atural lighting helps your
calcium absorption, and there have been studies done on the helpfulness of natural
sunlight on your mental health and mood.
:. Wor#er deaths. $nergy production with fossil fuels results in hundreds of wor&er
deaths each year. 7il rigs and coal mines are notoriously unsafe and damaging to
wor&er health. /ncreasing green energy use could mean that ;obs in safer, healthier
environments could replace the dangerous and dirty ;obs related to fossil fuels.
Changing $our %rans&ortation Habits
2he way you get from point 5 to point B can have an impact on your health. Changing
your transportation habits can actually help you improve your health, in addition to
reducing the pollution that harms the $arth.
<. "ide your bi#e. 1iding your bi&e to wor& can provide you with good eercise.
2his eercise can lead to increased heart health and a number of other benefits,
including weight loss.
8. %a#e the bus. /f you are not quite up to riding your bi&e to wor&, you can ta&e
public transportation. 2his will cut down on pollution, and it will give you some
eercise as you wal& to and from your stops.
=. Meet other &eo&le. 0ocial interactions can help us stave off depression. 3ou can
improve your mental health when you interact with neighbors as you ride the bus
or carpool.
"!. n!rease your &rodu!tivity. 'a&e the most of your commute with public
transportation. 2his can help you get more done on the commute, since you won8t
be driving. 5nd when you are more productive, you have more time at home to
rela and be with your family, allowing you stress reduction and increased mental
wellness.
"". Wor# from home. /f your company will let you, you can reduce pollution by
avoiding a commute altogether. >or&ing from home can put you at ease, save you
time, and prevent you from being eposed to unhealthy air.
"#. En'oy nature. Bi&ing or wal&ing to the bus stop can give you an opportunity to
interact with nature. Being outside, and seeing plants and small animals can
actually help improve your health. Contact with nature can enhance mood, reduce
mental fatigue and increase concentration.
Buying Lo!al Food and Avoiding (re)(a!#aged Food
/n addition to activities that can reduce pollution directly, going green can be done
through how you eat. 3ou can increase your health by choosing foods that are greener,
and by buying local foods.
"3. Avoid &esti!ides. .esticides on foods that are not certified organic can cause
sic&ness and other health issues. >hen you choose produce that is organically
grown, it is better for the environment, and for your health.
"4. Stay away from &re)&a!#aged foods. 9ot only do pre%pac&aged foods use
materials and energy, but they are often full of ecess sodium and sugar and
empty calories. 5voiding pre%pac&aged foods not only helps the environment, but
it can also help you improve your health by reducing your inta&e of things that
cause obesity, heart disease and cancer.
"6. *rin# non)bottled water. Bottled water uses resources and energy. 5dditionally,
chemicals from the plastic bottles can leach into water and cause health problems.
?rin& more water, but get it filtered from the tap and ma&e use of special rated
reusable water bottles.
":. +et &rodu!e lo!ally. 7ne of the best things you can do for your health is buy
local produce. .roduce from far off is often pic&ed before it is ripe. 0ome studies
suggest that allowing produce to ripen on the plant increases its nutrient content.
"<. "edu!e meat !onsum&tion. 2he amount of energy used to bring meat to the table
is rather large, and contributes to pollution and environmental degradation.
5dditionally, the over%consumption of meat can lead to health problems in
humans. Cut bac& your meat consumption to something more moderate, and you
will see a reduction in heart disease, obesity and other health problems.
"8. Wild !aught and free range meat and fish. >ild caught fish and free range
chic&ens and grass%fed cows are usually raised with more environmentally
sustainable methods. 5dditionally, organic meat and eggs are often not infused
with hormones, while having an increase in some nutrients. 2his can contribute to
your health, by helping you avoid chemicals and hormones, as well as create
leaner meat that is healthier.
Household (rodu!ts
>hat you have in your home can impact your health. 'any of the products and
chemicals we use in the home are not only bad for the environment, but also harmful to
our health.
"=. Avoid harmful fertili,ers. >hat you put on your lawn can affect your health and
the health of the environment. 1ain can wash the chemicals into the water supply
and they can seep into the ground. 5dditionally, if you are not careful, you can get
the chemicals on your body and in your food if you get your garden. @se
environmentally friendly fertiliAers, or use organic means, such as mulching, to
help &eep your lawn healthy.
#!. Sto& using harmful inse!ti!ides. Bi&e fertiliAers, insecticides can cause health
problems. 3ou can increase your health C and your children8s health C by
stopping the use of these insecticides. 2here are recipes for environmentally
friendly insecticides, and other products that can help you control pests.
#". Clean with healthier household !leaners. 'any cleaning products that you
purchase at the store have harmful chemicals. 2hese can cause headaches,
respiratory problems and enhance other health issues. 3ou might notice a
difference when you stop using these chemicals and replace them with non%toic
household cleaners, some of which you can use at home.
##. Consider your &aint) 'any paints release compounds into the air of your home
that can be harmful. Choosing high%quality paint for your home8s interior, with a
low%incidence of volatile organic compounds can help you reduce headaches and
breathe easier.
#3. -se different dia&ers. 2here are estimates that viruses can live in disposable
diapers up to two wee&s. 0anitation can be a real issue. 5dditionally, infections
and diaper rash can affect the health of you baby. @sing cloth diapers instead for
most needs can reduce environmental impact and help the health of your baby.
#4. Be wary of &lasti! !ontainers. 0ome studies suggest that contaminants found in
some plastics can cause fertility issues and other health problems. 0toring your
food in these containers can be damaging to your health, ;ust as their production is
damaging the the environment. @se environmentally friendly containers for food
storage and reduce harmful effects to your health.
#6. $our finan!ial health. -inally, going green can be good for your wallet. 3ou can
save money by ma&ing your own household products, as well as save money on
transportation costs when you adopt green practices. 5nd, of course, when you are
physically healthy, you save money on insurance and medical epenses.
#:.
./0 Finan!ial Benefits of +oing +reen
/8ve mentioned before that we started down the green path to save money and boy, has
that wor&ed for usD 7n our new site, -amily .rofits, you can read about how we have
paid off more than E8!,!!! in credit card debt and the ma;ority of our E"!!,!!!F student
loan debt, all while wor&ing in the nonprofit sector. By ta&ing to heart the green mantra
of 1educe, 1euse, 1ecycle and paying particular attention to the order of those three 18s,
we were able to focus our salaries on paying off debt rather than ma&ing another run to
the mall.
>hile companies and advertisers want you to thin& that going green is epensive, the fact
is that reducing consumption is the greenest thing you can do. @sing less energy, less
gasoline, and less stuff is much more green than any eco%friendly product.
.10 Environmental Benefits of +oing +reen
>hile it is clear that there are wide%spread environmental benefits to going green, what
we has surprised us is how quic&ly our immediate environment improved. 0everal years
ago we moved into our current home. Based on the items left in our shed and garage, the
former owners used several pesticides and herbicides on the yard. >e haven8t used any
(there are those financial benefits againD+ and the amount of wildlife in our yard has
grown incredibly. >e8ve gone from only seeing a few birds to seeing lots of birds,
possums, tarantulas, liAards, sna&es, squirrels, and hummingbirds.
5long the way we8ve added native plants to portions of the yard and those have attracted
monarch butterflies, hummingbird moths, red wasps, garden spiders, ladybugs, and some
bees (though we hope to see more bees in the future+.
/n ;ust four years, this property has shifted from a fairly lifeless Aone to one that is much
more biologically diverse. 'ost of that shift occurred because we simply left the land
alone and didn8t poison it. >e marvel when we thin& of how much it could have changed
if we had &nown more when we moved in four years ago.
.20 Health Benefits of +oing +reen
By cleaning with homemade cleaners and carefully disposing of haAardous household
waste, we removed many toic items from our home very inepensively. By eating
organic, local produce available through a C05 and avoiding plastic in our &itchen, we
are ingesting fewer pesticides and harmful chemicals. 5nd we have seen the difference in
our health.
1ichard used to get show stopping migraines on a regular basis. 2hose have ceased. /
used to get a sinus infection several times a year. 2hose have also ceased. >e feel better
than we did when we first met, even though we are now ten years older. 2hat is a true
benefitD
.30 (arenting Benefits of +oing +reen
5lthough our family approaches going green together (thus our taglineD+, / was really
surprised by the parenting benefits of going green. 'a&ing our life more eco%friendly has
allowed us fabulous opportunities to tal& about important concepts li&e sharing or ta&ing
turns in a real world contet. $mpathy, patience, and thoughtfulness C s&ills that parents
want their children to have C get lots of practice when going green.
/8ve also treasured the opportunity to slow down and eperience nature with my children.
2here is an amaAing world all around us. 2a&ing the time to see it and tal& about it with
my children has been incredible.
.40 %ime Management Benefits of +oing +reen
>hen we thin& about how our wee&ends used to be so rushed, we wonder how we
maintained that pace for so long. >e used to rush from store to store, running our errands
and preparing for the wee&. 2here were groceries to be bought, drycleaning to be dropped
off, items to be purchased. / get tired ;ust thin&ing about itD
9ow 0aturday mornings usually start with buttermil& panca&es, made from scratch. (2ry
5lton Brown8s recipe , it is our favoriteD+ >e hang out reading library boo&s or playing
games. /f it is a nice day, we wor& in the yard while the girls play. 9o more racing from
store to store for usD
5nd less stuff inside our house means less to tidy up and less to clean. 1educing our
consumption has given us more time in several waysD
.50 6ational Se!urity Benefits of +oing +reen
/8ve had the good fortune of wor&ing with military personnel and have seen first%hand
how much they and their families sacrifice. 2he @nited 0tates8 dependence on foreign oil
is nothing less than a national security threat. 5nd for our troops overseas, maintaining
access to fuel is a life threatening ;ob. 5ccording to G.entagon Boo&s at Green 7ptionsH
2he sta&es are high, with the army estimating that reducing fuel consumption by ;ust one
per cent translates to about :4!! fewer soldiers in fuel convoys, a favourite target of
insurgents in /raq and 5fghanistan.
Bots of people tal& about supporting our troops. 7ne very tangible way of doing so is
reducing our dependence on foreign oil.
.70 %a8 Benefits of +oing +reen
/n #!!=, there are some serious ta benefits for going green, many of which etend
beyond this year. 2here are federal ta credits for items that improve energy efficiency in
homes, such as approved windows, doors, insulation, and HI5C units. 0ee the bulletins
issued by the /10 on Credit for 1esidential $nergy $fficient .roperty and 9onbusiness
$nergy .roperty for more information. 2here are also federal ta credits for hybrid and
electric cars. 5nd the details on rebates for energy efficient apliances will be announced
soon.
". Biving green is better for our planet
#. Going green increases the chance that our children and grandchildren will have a
clean and healthy world to live in
3. 7nce initial costs are paid, living green is etremely inepensive.
4. Going green is a great lesson to teach your &ids.
6. 9o more guilt over the eco%irresponsible things you &now that you8re doing
J Bearning to use our natural resources with respect to how finite they are will serve
future generations and prolong the amount of time that the earth will continue to sustain
life. 9o matter how you view the worldKs resources, the one thing everyone can agree on
is that natural resources do not eist in limitless supplies.
J Creating new environmentally friendly products and refitting the world with such items
will create ;obs. Lobs in new technology sectors have traditionally been high paying.
Going green is good for wor&ers, and therefore good for the economy.
J 9ecessity is the mother of invention. >hen laws limit people, human ingenuity finds its
foothold and invention ta&es the place of convention. >ith the introduction of new laws
that force companies to find green alternatives come up with inventive plans that increase
productivity, quality, and in some cases even revolutioniAe the way we do things.