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FIND YOUR DREAM HOME OR APARTMENT
You don't have to have a 6 figure income to build a lovely house that is more green. I don't come close to that kind of money, but I spent extra on the important stuff and a little less on the trimmings. I went with SIPS (structured insulated panels) which keep my heating and cooling costs way down, formica counters instead of granite (and no problems with radon leakage), native landscaping, extra insulation in the roof, double pane low-e and low-U rated windows that weren't Pella or Anderson, ceiling fans in every room, low water usage toilets, thermostatically controlled water in the showers, the carpet is recycled soda bottles and beautiful (Mohawk makes it), fiberglass front doors, and low VOC paint. Next house will have tank water heaters so I NEVER have to go through another gas water heater exploding! Anyway, it's my mini-taj mahal!
Some of the comments from some of you are very bitter and angry sounding and full of disbelief on the plausibility of the general Joe being able to build green. Sure, I wish I had that kind of income, but even though I don't live on an island, I can build reasonably green. My previous house was nice, was about 700 square feet smaller, and cost alot more to run because it was not green built. My current house, not including the land, cost me $99.92/sf to build (give or take $1). It is a 3 bedroom, 3 1/2 bath, with a den, walk-in pantry, open floor plan for the kitchen/eating area/family room, and features a 16 1/2 foot bay window. Instead of $300/light for fixtures outside, I found some lovely ones on sale for $25/2 pack! I had to pick and choose carefully, but I put my mind to it and got it done. You could too!
P.S. a house is only as "green" as the means of getting to it...on a little private island: that means a boat (most likely a motorboat) in the water and almost certainly a car (or more realistically, considering the income level of its owner, a large SUV): NOT GREEN
So: STOP LYING TO US
