When a house is listed for sale in Colorado, the seller can fill out a green disclosure form to indicate what "green" or environmentally friendly qualities the house has. Many of the terms on the form are specific terms, often abbreviated, that may be unclear. Let's go over them and discuss what they mean.
The seventh item is "Energy Features." The form's options are: ENERGY STAR/Low E Windows, Orientation/Passive Solar Design, ENERGY STAR Rated Roof, Automated Lighting Controls, High Efficiency Lighting, and Programmable Thermostat.
"ENERGY STAR/low E windows" are designed to maintain your home's temperature by keeping heat in during the winter and out during the summer. Different rating levels are used for different climates. Special coatings on low E glass reflect infrared and ultraviolet light, which means they not only help maintain temperatures but also protect your home's furnishings from sun damage. Read more at http://www.energystar.gov/index.cfm?c=windows_doors.pr_anat_window
"Orientation/passive solar design" refers to using a home's site, climate, materials, and positioning relative to the sun to minimize energy use. A passive solar home collects heat energy from the sun in winter and uses shades to block sun in the summer. Read more at http://energy.gov/energysaver/articles/passive-solar-home-design
An "ENERGY STAR rated roof" is a roof that reflects more sun, lowering roof surface temperature and reducing peak cooling costs by 10-15%. Read more at http://www.energystar.gov/index.cfm?fuseaction=find_a_product.showProductGroup&pgw_code=RO
"Automated lighting controls" can range from a motion-sensitive activation for outdoor lights to a range of whole-house programmable controls to meet a variety of needs.
"High efficiency lighting" uses compact fluorescent lights (CFLs) and light-emitting diodes (LEDs) produce the same amount of light as older technologies while using less energy and lasting longer. Read more about CFLs here: http://www.energystar.gov/index.cfm?fuseaction=find_a_product.showProductGroup&pgw_code=LB
And more about LEDs here: http://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/9600878/list/The-Lowdown-on-High-Efficiency-LED-Lighting
A "programmable thermostat" increases and decreases a home's temperature automatically, allowing for lower heat at night or lower air conditioning during the day while residents are out. They can be found at most hardware stores and have gotten easier to schedule.
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