20 ways that you can live green and be a better friend to the environment.

Going green isn’t as tough as you think. Making smart, environmentally friendly choices ensures that you do your part, while feeling good about your contribution to our planet’s wellbeing.

  1. Recycle and compost.
  2. Lower your thermostat a few degrees. Also, turn down the temperature of your water heater.  Check out these Smart Home devices to help automate your temperature.
  3. Look for cleaning products that are biodegradable, phosphate-free and not tested on animals.
  4. Reduce your use of paper towels. Use reusable, washable cloths whenever possible.
  5. Switch to compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs) or light-emitting diodes (LEDs). Even if you just change your porch light, laundry or utility room light to CFLs, you’ll be saving energy.
  6. Teach your kids to turn off the lights and the TV when they leave a room. Appliances draw energy, cost money and create carbon dioxide in the atmosphere.
  7. In the market for new appliances? Buy Energy-Star certified products.
  8. Planning to re-paint? Use paints low in volatile organic compounds (VOCs), which are harmful chemicals found in many paints and stains.  Check Out These Hot New Paint Colors for a few ideas on color scheme.
  9. Put a rain barrel by your downspout to collect rainwater to use in your garden later. If you are landscaping, plant drought-resistant plants using a method called xeriscaping.
  10. Plant a tree on your property. Or more, if you have space. Trees provide wildlife habitat and help cool the planet.
  11. Clean your indoor air with houseplants. They can clear toxins like benzene, trichloroethylene and formaldehyde from the air. (These chemicals are found in paint, varnishes, foam insulation, cleaning products and other common household materials.)
  12. In the housing market? Consider a property within biking or walking distance of your office, or close to public transit, so you can leave the car at home.
  13. Pack a litter-less lunch. Use reusable food storage containers that are free of harmful bisphenol.
  14. Save water. Take shorter showers. Put a water-saver nozzle on the showerhead and all faucets. Turn the water off when brushing your teeth (a great way to teach kids about not wasting water) or while shaving. Use cold water to wash clothes.
  15. Use an outdoor clothesline or indoor drying rack whenever possible.
  16. Use a ceiling fan to save on heating bills. Because hot air rises, if you run the fan in reverse at a low speed, it will help circulate the hot air.
  17. In the summer, keep your blinds or drapes closed during the day, then open them in the evening. And in the winter, do the opposite.
  18. Get an energy audit and find ways to improve your home’s energy efficiency. Common to-dos include improving insulation, upgrading windows, installing weather stripping, trading up to a high-efficiency furnace and installing a programmable thermostat.
  19. Buy local, buy in bulk, and use your own shopping bag. See if you can find food that was not transported from far away. Many stores carry local produce from neighboring farms. Read the labels on fruits and vegetables to see where they were grown. Buy in bulk and avoid foods that use large amounts of packaging. Buy from farmers markets or co-ops when you can. Take your own shopping bags to the market – plastic is a petroleum product.
  20. Keep your freezer full — it runs more efficiently than an empty one. Save water by running the dishwasher or clothes washer only when full.

New Is Greener

Why is buying a new home is a greener choice?

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Comfortable Homes

Enjoy comfortable living as soon as you move into your Elite Home. Our homes are virtually draft-free. Temperature is consistent and easily adjusted for your comfort.

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Healthy Homes

Elite Homes minimizes or does not use building products that emit chemical fumes or contain toxins.  New technologies provide healthier indoor air quality, safer drinking water and spaces so you can rest assured your home is safe for the whole family. 

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High-Performance Homes

Elite Power Saver Homes have many benefits that only well-designed, properly-engineered and quality-built new homes can provide.  Our new homes can significantly reduce energy loss keeping your home the ideal temperature (and your energy bill low) all year round.

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Right-Sized Homes

Right-size your life with a home that is the perfect size for your lifestyle.  Excess Space means more maintenance, more energy to heat and cool and more things to clean.

Find Your New Energy Efficient Home

About Elite Homes

At Elite Homes, our commitment to excellence means a commitment to you. We realize that each client has unique tastes and lifestyle. So we listen to your concerns and needs. And we respond accordingly.


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How Can We Help?

Just like having a personal assistant, your Elite Homes Online Sales Counselor will quickly provide the answers you need about the new home building process.

Whether you are just beginning to consider building a new home or have been on the hunt for awhile, we are here to help in any way we can. Let us know how we can be of assistance.

Call (502) 289-1891 for immediate assistance.