The image above is a beach cottage from Bethany Beach, Delaware--once situated along the beach itself in the early 1900s, the cottage was moved inland recently to serve as a nature center. The "reuse" and "recycling" of this elegant building brought to mind the anonymous quote above--"if it is not beautiful, it is not sustainable"--and got us to thinking about the meaning of the phrase "green".
“Green” is a term that is in danger of losing its meaning. At Bellevue Homes, we focus on three themes that we find are directly relevant to the homeowner while also contributing to the planet at large. In other words, for Bellevue, being “green” starts close to home, and then radiates outward.
First, we ensure that our homes are as healthy as possible. We avoid toxic materials such as volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and formaldehyde wherever possible. We use sealed furnaces and fireplaces to protect homeowners from combustion exhaust. We also spend a great deal of effort protecting the home and its occupants from outdoor pollutants and irritants, such as mold and pollen. Some of these products and techniques cost a bit more (though not always), but we sleep "easier" knowing you are breathing easier.
Second, we invest in energy efficiency that has clear “payback” for the homeowner. Some of these investments are decidedly mundane, such as sealing the small openings in the home’s “envelope”, but they benefit the homeowner every month in the form of lower energy bills and more comfortable rooms. Less energy use inside the home means less energy use in the world at large.
Third and finally, we believe that a home designed to be loved and built to last is inherently “green”—such a home will be maintained more diligently and have a longer useful life than a typical house, seemingly built to fall apart before the mortgage is paid off. A home that can be lovingly "reused" over time preserves the world's resources *and* brings joys to its occupant every day. That qualifies as "green" to us.
