If you haven't noticed, I do like the "GREEN" philosophy... specifically the reduce, reuse, recycle mentality.  I just believe that if we can, recycle we should! 

Anyway, thought this was interesting in the Grand Rapids Press.  "Carp rid human feet of scaly skin".  You can check  it out in July 27th edition, front section.  Talk about not wasting and putting things to good use...

The article talks about a spa owner that uses carp called garra rufa (or doctor fish) for a pedicure treatment.

The weather used to be the common conversation.  Nowadays, our conversations focus around the high gas prices at the pump.  You'll listen to the talk radio as they discuss the oil prices per barrel and then how it affects us, the consumer.  The other day, I heard talk on the radio about how bike sales were now on the rise.  Maybe, with the higher gas prices we' ll have a now physically fit America?  OR we could do a lot of complaining about the prices, start walking more, buy better high efficiency cars or suck it up and deal with whatever gas prices may come our way.  It's a choice!

When you build a new home, you also have a choice.  You can choose to build with wood OR you may want to consider another method.  Let's face it ~ with the high heating and cooling costs and overall increased costs in many areas, we may have to start thinking about the future and how we can control some of these issues and actually save money.  Now that is a remarkable thought!!!

ICF's are a popular way to go in the construction of a green home in that they not only provide a solid home but also an energy-efficient home.  Since the concrete is totally encapsulated in rigid foam, the foam provides the energy efficiency while the concrete provides the strength.  Energy efficiency is dependant on how the home is built and how much leakage is moving in and out of the house.  Green home practices focus on building air-tight homes and with the interlocking foam blocks and long continuous panels, ICF's are ideal in preventing air leakage.  The solid structure and the fact that concrete doesn't settle, also lends to the tight house construction.

For those of you who hate organized ideologies, you have to admit that a little bit of organization can go along way.  In fact, when it comes to buying a home, answering some key questions just makes the process so much easier and helps you figure out what your true priorities are.  See Planning the Key to Home Buying Success.

New construction works the same way and more specifically when you discuss "green" homes.  "Green" homes start with a smart design and efficient technology systems to create green homes.  In fact, the planning or design stage, in my opinion, is one of the most important steps in the process.  Deciding what factors are important to you in the beginning saves a lot of time and possibly a lot of money in the future.

Green homes are about having "residential structures that achieve optimal year-round comfort, reduce energy consumption, improve indoor air quality, and limit environmental impact."  (http://www.solarenergy.org/workshops/sushomedesonline.html.  This type of home is about taking the house as a whole unit, being aware of the climate and temperature changes and knowing which design strategies can handle the environment and its natural surroundings.  In order to reduce energy consumption, green designers look at other ways of obtaining other forms of renewable energy, such as solar, wind.   In fact, here's what Wikipedia defines renewable energy as, "Renewable energy effectively uses natural resources such as sunlight, wind, rain, tides and geothermal heat, which are naturally replenished.