I am creating this site to provide homeowners with information to reduce the use of the earth's vital and limited resources. I feel that this can be a win win for the home owner the earth and a legacy to our children. At the end of the day we as homeowners and tenants of the earth will not have a choice, with ever increasing demand and shrinking resources we will be forced to conserve. As an example here in Central florida the government will be "he;ping" by dramatically increasing the cost of water to the home owner, but is this enough? The oil cartel are doing a fine job of pushing us (as a country) to conserve power but our country will not see these changes for several years. Can we afford to wait? What can we do now as individuals?
When I bought our first house here, in Florida, I was appalled at the amount of water that was required to water the lawn, just to keep it green. I set out to reduce the amount of water I was using. The first and easiest thing was to get a water gangue and shut the sprinkler system off when we have enough rain. I then started reading about my lawn and the best methods to conserve water. But not good enough! As I walk through the neighborhood I see sprinklers running, after and sometime during a rain shower (and all the homes come with a rain shut off.) So I for one am not convinced this waist of water will stop even with price increases.
Through my business I have come across "Green Builders" and have gotten interested in the various techniques they are trying to use. However for us that have pre Green Homes we will have to make them as "green" as possible with what we have to work with. On the bright side up and coming technology and the growing interest in green will make this a reality - sooner rather than later.
I will be sharing what I find on this site, with links, reviews and products as I find them.
The first step in addressing any problem is awareness.
FEMA Water Conservation Tips
Florida Solar Energy Center (buildings page)
Florida Solar Energy Center (main page)
Florida Solar Energy Research & Education Foundation
Florida Solar Energy Industries Association (List of Licensed Solar Contractors)
Florida Department of Environmental Protection - Energy Office (Rebate Information)
Florida Energy Star Homes
Florida Energy Ratings
Efficient Windows Collaborative (Window Ratings)
Florida Gulf Coast University Green Building Project
Florida Center for Construction & Environment
Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences
1000 Friends of Florida
U.S. Green Building Council
Green Design Resources for Georgia and Florida
Builders Environmental Guide
Oikos Green Building Source
Environmental Building News
Sustainable Sources
Residential Energy Services Network (RESNET)
National Energy Raters Association
Energy Efficient Building Association
Green Building Concepts
Home Building Concerns
eBuild
Eco-Smart
Envirosense
Habitat for Humanity's Environmental Initiative
Green Building Resource Guide
Sweets Green Products Collection
Southern Waste Information Exchange (SWIX) Recycling Clearing House
Green Building Information Council
The Center for Environment and Business on the Web
Sustainable Business Network
Center of Excellence for Sustainable Development
Plastic Resource
Healthy Living Foundation
Florida Regional Resources
GreenBrevard.com
GreenFtLauderdale.com
GreenOrlando.com
SustainableSarasota.com