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7 Myths about Eco-Friendly Homes

January 8, 2016

Looking to buy a new home in the Vancouver, Washington area? Does Battle Ground, Washington meet your needs? Then you may have run across the Copper Leaf neighborhood a time or two, wondering if it’s the perfect match for your family. When purchasing a new home, the first major decision is “new” or “new-to-you”. Would you be happy in an older home in an established neighborhood, or do you like the modern conveniences offered in building brand new? For many, there’s no better way to go then to start from the ground up. You can get a great living space, state-of-the-art design, and technological advances that offers you efficiency in many ways. All things you’ll find in our Copper Leaf community. Yet for some, the concept of new may also mean eco-friendly as well. And that’s where things might change. Sure, we all want our homes to be as efficient as possible. But how does that really play out in daily living? Does owning an eco-friendly home put you at disadvantages in other ways? You may think so if you’ve ever believed one of these seven common myths. Myth #1 Eco-friendly homes aren’t the most beautiful homes on the block Many are under the assumption that for a house to be considered eco-friendly, it means putting up with large gizmos protruding from the roof and funny doodads extending from the outside of the home. They have to put up with a less than attractive home to benefit from the inside out. These days, however, efficiency is built into just about every product on the market. Which means no matter how your home is designed, it can benefit from eco-friendly technology in a fashionable way. Everything from insulation to roofing materials, to flooring, to paint, and even the appliances you select can increase the green factor of your home. Stop by our Copper Leaf Homes community and we’ll show you how easy it is to look great and be environmentally savvy in the process. Myth #2 Low flow fixtures don’t provide adequate flow You’ve probably taken a shower with a low flow shower-head barely creating a flow of water. Or flushed a toilet where the water pressure is almost non-existent. It’s nice to save water, but what about living without worry as well? It’s been many years since the federal government issued policy on reducing water consumption. And as a result, we’ve been through the worst designs of toilets and other water fixtures and left them in the past. Today’s fixtures have a sleek, modern design, as well as providing you with both high efficiency and highly workable parts. It is possible to have décor you love and save water in the process. Myth #3 Eco-friendly technology is just a trend  Whenever something is the most talked about trend in the news, it’s easy to wonder just how long it will be around. And being green definitely qualifies for being a highly talked about trend. Yet being eco-friendly is a trend that won’t go away. Here’s why. Today we’re faced with the perfect storm of concepts that impact the way we build our homes. High energy costs, limited natural resources, ever-changing technology, growing health concerns, even our increased sensitivity to climate change is all giving us the desire to become greener with the way we live. And once we achieve a sustainable way of living, we won’t turn back the tables and return to our previous lifestyle. Myth #4 Small changes have very little impact “I’m just one person. What I do doesn’t matter.” That’s one of the most common opinions people express when debating whether to incorporate green technology into the way they live. Yet statistics show otherwise. Even the smallest of changes can make a huge difference in our society. The average household of four can save around 26,000 gallons of water a year by converting to a low flow toilet. Likewise, by upgrading to Energy Star approved equipment throughout your home, you can save thousands of dollars on energy costs every year. That’s substantial savings. It’s also a reason to look to new communities like our Copper Leaf Homes where you can get all the upgraded efficiency you need in one convenient package. Myth #5 To be truly eco-friendly, you have to be off the grid There was a time when finding solar panels on the roof of a home was an indication they were living green. But in today’s world, there are many things you can do to contribute to a better future. Sure, some people are living off the grid, using solar or wind technology to run their homes as efficiently as possible. But that’s only one way of being environmentally savvy. To be eco-friendly means you are actively taking steps to improve the way you live. You can start small and grow a little each year. Saving water helps. Saving energy helps. Every improvement you make is a step in the right direction. Myth #6 Only new homes can be eco-friendly Choosing a new home in a community like Copper Leaf is a move in the right direction. But no matter how old or new your home is, there is always something you can do to live in a greener way. Technology changes every year. Likewise, the government is always updating policy to make things better for the way we live. We don’t live in a bubble; it’s an ever-changing world. The key is committing to improving your efficiency, then doing something about it all the time. Can you take shorter showers? Can you purchase a more energy-efficient product? When you’re conscious of the way your decisions impact our environment, it steers you in the right direction. Myth #7 An eco-friendly home means an expensive home In most cases, eco-friendly homes are comparable in price to other homes of the same size. The difference also comes in how well your home performs after the sale. Imagine if your heating bills were considerably less for the coming years. Or your electricity bills. Or your water bills. Would that influence you enough to invest in greater technology? Cost is always relative. And in most cases, you may be surprised at how easy it is to find an eco-friendly community that matches your budget. If you haven’t had the chance to visit our Copper Leaf Homes in Washington, plan your visit today. You’ll be surprised at how easy it is to get everything on your wishlist, in an eco-friendly way.