"green" homes

just to clarify WHY green homes are good. and when i say green i mean building houses that use alternative materials, such as clay, straw, stone, adobe, recycled materials, and natural local materials that minimize transportation, and just generally more mindful building practices.

here are some obvious benefits:

1. toxin free
2. healthier -less mold and mildew-less doctor visits
3. 40 to 50 % less energy usage than standard homes - significantly lower bills
4. use of wind, sun, biomass, and geothermal energy (sustainable)
5. water conservation
6. drought-tolerant and durable, less repairs
7. use of rapidly renewable resources (unlike lumber)
8. less waste in building process
9. natural ventilation
10. value of home rising as market demand for greener home rises - soon will also cost less to insure
11. more comfortable, more aestetically pleasing and more unique than standard homes on market

here is one expert's list of goals of building green, or as he calls it "sustainable architecture":

1. think small
2. heat with the sun
3. keep your cool
4. use renewable energy
5. conserve water
6. use local materials
7. use natural materials
8. save our forests
9. use recycled materials
10. build to last
11. grow your food
12. store your food
13. share facilities

if you are interested in this guy, kelly hart, or his lovely home and his wife and their llamas and all their good ideas about sustainability, check out here:
www.greenhomebuilding.com

their home is 2 bedroom, 2 story, 1230 square feet. it is indeed possible to make a livable, lovely, homey house in an earth friendly way. we need to BREAK THE MOLD> no more ugly cookie cutter houses. no more fake synthetic stuff like my disgusting kitchen floor. no more wasteful use of lumber. no more mindless thoughtless careless living.

in our future community, hybrid houses are welcome. but attention to simple guidelines about sustainability will be necessary and also beneficial for all. that is one of the points i think of our village, to quiet our impact on this wondrous planet and to live in harmony and respect with the earth at least to the best of our ability. we are alive, we have needs, we obviously can't be perfect. but we can do our best and try to find a better way to live and have fun doing it. check out mudgirls for inspiration; they are women who build natural structures: www.mudgirls.ca
and also check out dancing rabbit, a rad community in missouri of 30 individuals who are living somewhat (though way more new agey) like i envision for us. www.dancingrabbit.org