With increasing frequency, people are buying green homes. I do not mean that they are buying homes with green exteriors. I mean, people are buying homes that have environmentally friendly features. This can include highly insulated doors and windows, highly efficient heating and air conditioning, and even solar water heating systems.

Bruce Sullivan knows first hand that green sells. He is the President of Iris Communications, Inc., located in Eugene, Oregon. His "Oikos.com" website offers the most astonishing array of environmentally friendly building information. It is an absolute must see for any builder or consumer interested in environmentally efficient home construction.

Oikos starts with a directory of green product manufacturers. Here you will find solar panel manufacturers, companies that make environmentally safe adhesives, and companies that fabricate concrete from expanded polystyrene. These are just a few examples, and each manufacturer has a "hot link," which will lead you directly to the manufacturer's own web site.

A Main Menu links viewers to a comprehensive green products bookstore, a data base of 1,800 green building products, a library, a newsletter archives, and a green products search engine. And the Products Gallery features various environmentally friendly products, with product descriptions and internet links.

According to Sullivan, the green niche is growing and builders are starting to take notice. In fact, proof of green power, he notes, is the fact that "Green Building" is the theme of this year's National Association Of Home Builder's convention.

For some time, manufacturers have known that green products sell. Environmentally friendly paints, hair sprays, home cleaners and varnishes, just to name a few, have been big sellers for many years. In the last two years, consumers nationwide have proven that many will pay more for electricity that is generated in an environmentally friendly manner.

So, it was just a matter of time before consumers would look to green homes. Traditionally, increased energy efficiency has been key to green construction. According to Sullivan, in the Pacific Northwest appraisals of certified energy efficient homes have consistently appraised higher than comparable, non-green residences. In addition, a growing number of architects are marketing themselves as "green specialists."

And now comes the next logical iteration: green subdivisions. Arizona's Civano subdivision is an extraordinary example of a modern green subdivision. Planned by the City of Tuscon, this subdivision seeks to reduce water consumption by 65%, home energy consumption by 50%, reduction of landfill reliance, and a reduction of vehicular use.

Recently, President Clinton included the Civano development as part of its Partnership for Advancing Technology in Housing, a partnership working to generally improve the quality of the nation's housing inventory. In addition, Civano will host two "HealthHouse" demonstration houses. The HealthHouse program is sponsored by the American Lung Association and promotes home construction using materials that will enhance indoor air quality. National tract builders are also starting to feature these kinds of energy efficient features as well.

Public opinion polls indicate that given a choice, people tend to pick environmentally friendly product options, sometimes even when green costs more. If you are so inclined, now you can purchase a green home as well. As public interest in a greener America continues, more and more home builders will likely include products that are conservation oriented as standard new construction features.

The Oikos internet website is an absolute must for buyers and home builders. It is user friendly and very inclusive. With the hotlinks feature, Oikos will lead you directly to the energy efficient window, door, heater and solar panel that fits your particular needs.

Published: January 27, 1999

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