What is a green home?

A green home uses less energy, water, and natural resources, creates less waste, and is healthier for the people living inside.

Some helpful ‘Green’ terms:

ENERGY STAR - a joint program of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Department of Energy helping us all save money and protect the environment through energy efficient products and practices.

Green Globes - The Green Building Initiative™ has been working with local home builder associations across the country to develop locally-relevant green building programs. These programs help builders develop homes that can help reduce your energy bills, provide a healthier living environment for your family all while being considerate of the environment.

Chicago Green Homes - The purpose of the Chicago Green Homes Program is to encourage residential builders, developers and homeowners to use technologies, products and practices that will provide greater energy efficiency, provide healthier indoor air, reduce water usage, preserve natural resources, improve durability and reduce maintenance, and reduce waste and pollution.

FSC - Forest Stewardship Council is a non-profit organization devoted to encouraging the responsible management of the world’s forests. FSC sets high standards that ensure forestry is practiced in an environmentally responsible, socially beneficial, and economically viable way.

VOC - Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are emitted as gases from certain solids or liquids. VOCs include a variety of chemicals, some of which may have short- and long-term adverse health effects. Concentrations of many VOCs are consistently higher indoors (up to ten times higher) than outdoors. VOCs are emitted by a wide array of products numbering in the thousands. Examples include: paints and lacquers, paint strippers, cleaning supplies, pesticides, building materials and furnishings, office equipment such as copiers and printers, correction fluids and carbonless copy paper, graphics and craft materials including glues and adhesives, permanent markers, and photographic solutions.

EEM - Energy efficient mortgage makes it easier for borrowers to qualify for loans to purchase homes with specific energy-efficiency improvements. Lenders can offer conventional EEMs, FHA EEMs, and VA energy rater must test the building and the potential energy savings can then be rolled into the buying power.


What is a green home? A green home uses less energy, water, and natural resources, creates less waste, and is healthier for the people living inside. Some helpful ‘Green’ terms: ENERGY STAR - a joint program of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Department of Energy helping us all save money and protect the environment through energy efficient products and practices. Green Globes - The Green Building Initiative™ has been working with local home builder associations across the country to develop locally-relevant green building programs. These programs help builders develop homes that can help reduce your energy bills, provide a healthier living environment for your family all while being considerate of the environment. Chicago Green Homes - The purpose of the Chicago Green Homes Program is to encourage residential builders, developers and homeowners to use technologies, products and practices that will provide greater energy efficiency, provide healthier indoor air, reduce water usage, preserve natural resources, improve durability and reduce maintenance, and reduce waste and pollution. FSC - Forest Stewardship Council is a non-profit organization devoted to encouraging the responsible management of the world’s forests. FSC sets high standards that ensure forestry is practiced in an environmentally responsible, socially beneficial, and economically viable way. VOC - Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are emitted as gases from certain solids or liquids. VOCs include a variety of chemicals, some of which may have short- and long-term adverse health effects. Concentrations of many VOCs are consistently higher indoors (up to ten times higher) than outdoors. VOCs are emitted by a wide array of products numbering in the thousands. Examples include: paints and lacquers, paint strippers, cleaning supplies, pesticides, building materials and furnishings, office equipment such as copiers and printers, correction fluids and carbonless copy paper, graphics and craft materials including glues and adhesives, permanent markers, and photographic solutions. EEM - Energy efficient mortgage makes it easier for borrowers to qualify for loans to purchase homes with specific energy-efficiency improvements. Lenders can offer conventional EEMs, FHA EEMs, and VA energy rater must test the building and the potential energy savings can then be rolled into the buying power.