Green Living in the Carolinas
If you’ve been reading this blog, I’m sure you’re well aware there are a lot of things to think about when deciding about your best place to relocate or retire to in North Carolina or South Carolina.
Well this week I’m not just talking about finding the right town or city, but about your personal living space; that new (at least to you) home where you expect to be happy and comfortable for the rest of your days… or at least for the time being.
For an increasing number of people interested in relocating or retiring to North Carolina and South Carolina their choice is to help the environment and pursue a “green” home.
The good news is if you want to live in a place where environmentally friendly development and building practices are taken seriously, then recent trends suggest you will definitely find your best places in the Carolinas.
Both North and South Carolina state governments have committed themselves to green practices like energy and water efficiency and building or retrofitting state offices to be more environmentally friendly.
Both North and South Carolina have created programs to encourage local communities to pursue more environmentally friendly development, alternative energy sources and energy efficiency.
states have active local USGBC (United States Green Building Councils) groups and a large and growing number of developers and contractors dedicated to green building practices as seen in projects from Dewees Island in Charleston, SC to Whisper Mountain near Asheville, NC and everywhere in between.
There are five recognized general standards of green building that you should be aware of:
- The site work for your home should have minimal impact on the environment both during and after construction
- Your home should be energy efficient
- Your home should be water efficient
- Recycled and environmentally sustainable materials should be used extensively during construction
- Your home should have healthy indoor air quality
If you intend to build or renovate there are several green rating or certification programs to look into for guidance. LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) and the federally sponsored Energy Star programs are probably the most well known but there is also the National Association of Homebuilder’s Green Globes program and the Earth Craft House program among others.
Doing your homework is going to be key because you want to find out which contractors and builders adhere to these programs and you also want to know what other statewide “green” incentives and programs are available to you.
Many people concerned about the higher cost of green building often overlook various tax breaks and incentives that help them recoup those costs much faster than expected. Check out the North Carolina – www.energync.net and South Carolina Energy Office – www.energy.sc.gov websites, the Energy Star site – www.energystar.gov as well as the DSIRE site – www.dsireusa.org for what’s available in your best place.
Moreover, remember this isn’t rocket science. Many of the things you can do you to make your home green involve little things like buying new energy efficient appliances or replacing a shower head or just planting trees and other plants around your house.
Over the long haul, a green home in North Carolina and South Carolina saves you money, has better resale value, is a healthier place to live, and helps maintain the natural beauty that brought you to the Carolinas in the first place.
Read more about Green Living in the Carolinas
About Bob Bencivenga
 |
Bob Bencivenga is a professional site locator and location analyst for major corporations and has been researching the growth of NC and SC to find the Best Places to Retire or Relocate that are still affordable. |
| Visit his blog The Carolina Report and sign up for FREE updates by email,his FREE Affordable Best Places To Live Report and, get FREE Expert Advice on how to find Your Best Place to Retire or Relocate to in North Carolina and South Carolina, additional resources, and a lot more.
Bob does not sell real estate. |
 |
Learn About Living In NC!
