Since there are many shades of green, I would rank the folks I met from dark green to middle green. I visited three homes on the tour. Time was a constraint and the distance between some of them was great.

I went to a home specially built to showcase what can be done to utilize the sun and geothermal technology. Another was beautifully renovated with energy conservation in mind, while another was new construction that highlighted detail in construction as a way to save energy and money.

Even though each home was different, there was a common thread that ran through them. All the owners emphasize the importance of sealing the home. A home that leaks air will cost you money no matter what type of energy efficient system you install. The insulation of choice is the type where foam is injected into the wall and it expands to create a tight seal. Fluorescent bulbs were used throughout the homes and because the homes were so airtight, air recirculation systems were also used in every home.

I could go on and explain all the features of the homes but who knows their homes the best but the owners? So here is the first of what I hope is many video blogs to grace the Simply Green pages.