Sesame Street's Kermit the Frog often said, "It isn't easy being green."  But times are changing and green is "in."  For a variety of reasons from altruism to good old self-interest Americans are becoming more "green" in their habits and lifestyles, including the homes they purchase.

Defining "green" is sometimes a challenge.  For some it is concerns over indoor air quality that motivates them.  For others it may using sustainable wood products such as bamboo which are highly renewable.  For still others it may mean photovoltaic panels on their roof to utilize the suns incredible energy.  And so on.

But for purposes of today's topic I am going to give you a quick overview of some "green" vocabulary.  No, there will not be a test later, but you may want to bookmark this because these terms quickly will become part of the real estate lexicon. 

Sustainable - Involves the use or re-use of natural resources with the express purpose of preserving these resources for use by future generations.  By using or reusing resources without harming the our natural environment. 

Native Landscaping - Refers to using local, native plants in landscaping.  Indigenous plants are naturally better suited to the climate, water needs, pests and provide a natural food source for the native wildlife.

Runoff - Runoff is the excess water from watering lawns, gardens, car washing, rinsing sidewalks and driveway that ends up in our storm drains and ultimately in our waterways and oceans.  Not only is runoff wasteful it puts pesticides, fertilizers and other chemicals in the streams, lakes and aquafers which can cause problems for humans and animals downstream.  Reducing runoff is fairly simple.  Don't overwater lawns, use a broom rather than the hose to clean driveway and sidewalks.  In addition, the use of stone pavers rather than poured concrete for driveways allows excess water to seep into the ground rather than runoff into gutters and storm drains.

FSC Certified Wood - The Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) developed and maintains standards for certifying woods for sustainability.  Using sustainable wood products is a cornerstone of green building.  When selecting hardwoods it is important to look for woods that are grown and harvested using sustainable practices.  Woods such as bamboo are strong, renewable and very sustainable.

LEED - The U.S. Green Building Council has developed standards for design, construction and the operation of "green" buildings.  The USGBC created a rating system called Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design or LEED for short.  LEED was initially used in the commercial construction and a similar rating is under development for the residential construction market.  Architects and builders who have taken specific educational steps and passed the LEED exam are said to be a LEED Accredited Professional.

Photovoltaic - PV is the abbreviation for photovoltaic which is a series of panels usually on a roof that generate electricity from the sun.  These systems take the sun's natural energy and convert it to usuable electrical energy which can be used for the residence or sold back to the grid (local power provider).

Solar Water Heater - Different from solar photovoltaic, solar water heating is done by heating water through a simple system of panels installed on a roof.  The sun heats the panels and the heat is "collected".  Then the water is run through a series of pipes in the collector where the water is heated and stored for use by the home.  Solar heating have been around for a long time and are much less expensive than the newer technologies of the photovoltaic systems. 

EcoBroker - This is a newer certification available for REALTORS®.  EcoBrokers have met a standard of education in environmental and green building education from EcoBroker International.  EcoBroker's education program is designed to instill REALTORS® with knowledge about green features for clients interested in energy efficiency, air quality, orientation, and other areas related to the green housing market. 

So, while Kermit may have been correct and it isn't easy being green, it is becoming easier to be green!