You went to a firm that practices green architecture (such as we do) you went to a builder who also is well versed in green building practices, and you did the planet a favor by going as ‘Green’ as you could on your home…. I want to congratulate you; I think you made a wise choice, but what next?

I would like to take just a moment to talk about what the next step in the eco-environmental movement should (at least in my mind) be. The next step needs to be using your land wisely, if that means your 5 acre lot, your half acre lot, or rooftop loft there are things and ways to make it pay.

I think everyone (yes I said everyone) should have a garden of some sort. You can plant herbs in a small pot in your window sill, or you can plant a full fledged garden…just plant something. With the economy in chaos and the price of food and gas rising regularly I feel it is wise to be as self sufficient as possible.

Trade in those flower beds for colorful and decorative vegetables….I would like to state here that I try to practice what I preach and this year we have swapped out our 7 flower beds for herb, and vegetables. I might also add that they are just as kept, and tidy as the flower beds, but instead of begonias growing this year we have corn, and squash!! Choose plants that will compliment your yards layout, and be sure to plant things you will use and eat!

We also converted and old shed into a chicken coop…. We currently have 9 chickens (6 of which lay eggs every day) and we have not had to purchase eggs in nearly 6 months. It has been an adventure, overall rewarding (but not without its challenges).

In conclusion to this brief post, I just think that we all need to be doing whatever we can to be as self sufficient as possible. We need to look at going ‘Green’ as a lifestyle change, not just a fancy term to use when building your new home. Get creative, and really use all of your recourses to the best of your ability.

We came across another great article from MSN Real-estate…this one is about green roofs. For those who don’t know what they are, a green roof is a rooftop garden, or rooftop green space. The concept is really good, and it is a sustainable practice that has been used for thousands of years. It is now gaining popularity in bigger cities, but can be used anywhere you have a flat roof (apartments, business buildings etc.)

Here is a little piece of the article (by Damon Vanderlinde and Steven Peck of the Daily Green).

What is a green roof?

• A green roof is an extension of a new or existing roof that has:
• A high-quality waterproofing and root-repellant system
• A drainage system
• Filter cloth
• A lightweight growing medium
• Plants

Green-roof systems may be modular, with drainage layers, filter cloth, growing media and plants already prepared in movable, interlocking grids. Or each component may be installed separately.
Green-roof development involves the creation of “contained” green space atop a human-made structure. This green space could be below, at or above grade. But in all cases, the plants are not placed in the ground.

Check out the entire article here…and as always, let us know what you think!!

13 amazing facts about green roofs