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As consumers, we sometimes display an unrealistic faith that the products we buy are safe, effective, and economical. Many of us trust that companies have our best interests at heart and that the government will protect us from harm. And it seems that the bigger the price tag, the more naive we can be. Housing is our biggest expense – whether renting or buying – and yet we drive our heads into the sand and blindly believe that it won’t hurt us physically or financially. If you’re buying a new home, don’t be tempted to purchase a home that you will later regret owning when you can find – or even demand – one with optimum energy efficiency, comfort, clean air, durability, and affordability.

They Don’t Build Them Like They Used To

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There’s no doubt about it, the “green economy” has gone global, as more and more sustainable-minded individuals and organizations have embraced the notion of a clean, environmentally friendly economy that promotes health, wealth, and well-being. The green economy is a thriving economy, as well—with overall global trade in environmental goods pegged at $1 trillion annually, a figure that should grow to $2-to-$3 trillion by 2020, according to United Nations Environment.

I first became interested in zero energy buildings in 2003. There were several things that pulled me into the concept, and probably the most compelling aspect was the scale of the change. At the time, I was managing a municipal green building program and we were struggling to convince developers to make relatively minor incremental changes like using Low-E windows or high-efficiency furnaces. The notion of zero energy was such a radical leap forward. The other big thing that was intriguing to me, let’s face it, was that it was cool.

Zero energy as an aspiration, on-the-ground reality, and the climate solution movement intersection is at an interesting point in its history. Zero energy is all the rage, with many more organizations an...

Its big and small, Democratic and Republican cities are going green. Other states want to know how.

Energy costs are one of the highest expenses schools face today. To offset them, some Tennessee schools are installing solar arrays and geothermal heating and cooling systems. (AP)

For homeowners making a decision about how to finance a home purchase, options are relatively consistent regardless of where you live. Mortgages rates and terms are comparable across markets and more dependent on your own personal preferences than location—making a potential home buyer’s financing decision much more straightforward.

But decisions about how to finance a home energy upgrade are far more complex. Loan options vary depending on the state (and even municipality) in which you live, and financing packages come with a huge variety of different terms, rates, and origination requirements. This complexity can dissuade even the most motivated homeowners trying to make sense of the dollars and cents around an investment. I...

This article was originally published by Elizabeth Manneh in Reader's Digest.

Feeling hot, hot, hot? These cool top tips from an expert could make you feel more comfortable.

Three tips to save a ton of $$

The average home in the U.S. spends $2,200 on energy each year. That’s $183/month. Rather than spending this money on energy purchases, the smart approach is to invest it in greater energy efficiency. If you’re building a new home, it’s possible to reduce your energy purchases to zero with the buying power gained from that same $183. Here’s how it works. If you have a 30-year mortgage at about 4.2%, you can cover the additional payments on an increase in your loan of about $37,500 for energy saving features for your home. That’s enough to turn most home designs into zero energy homes, before incentives. Federal and state tax credits along with utility incentives will increase your savings even further. The ...