Green Home Talk – A Roundtable on Sustainable Living

• Ronnie Gor

On a warm August evening in 2024, I had the pleasure of hosting a small but impactful gathering at my home—a space that’s as open to nature as it is to conversation. As sunlight poured in through the floor-to-ceiling glass panels, washing over the bare white walls, a group of sustainability enthusiasts and experts came together to discuss one important question: How can we make our homes more eco-friendly?

The event wasn’t about fancy art or decor. In fact, the walls were intentionally left bare. The real art was outside, framed by the glass—the sky’s infinite blues, the greenery stretching out for miles, and the soft, golden light that filled the room. We didn’t need paintings when nature was providing its own masterpiece.

After we got settled, I introduced our brilliant panelists—each of them a leader in sustainable living. The goal was simple: to offer practical advice on how to create homes that are not only energy-efficient but also healthier for us and better for the planet.

Designing a Green Home: My Perspective

I kicked off the discussion with what I know best—green home design. As the owner of Amorphous Studio, I’ve spent years advocating for sustainable building practices. One of the biggest takeaways I shared is that green homes aren’t just good for the environment—they’re smarter for our wallets, too.

To truly embrace sustainability, we need to start with what we already have. Using existing land and structures is key to reducing our environmental footprint. Sealing a home’s exterior envelope and making it electric-ready are just a few ways to lower reliance on fossil fuels. Solar panels, for example, should be a go-to for anyone looking to reduce energy costs and promote clean energy.

And let’s not forget about the economic benefits. Sourcing materials locally not only reduces transportation emissions but also boosts local economies and job growth. Plus, smart architectural design—like positioning homes to take advantage of natural sunlight and the local climate—can greatly reduce energy use while enhancing comfort.

Eco-Friendly Materials Matter: Insights from Kate Bachner
Next, we heard from Kate Bachner, a Client Success Manager at ecomedes, which boasts the world’s largest database of sustainable building products. She opened our eyes to the hidden dangers of conventional building materials—especially chemical toxicity. Offgassing, chemical degradation, and leaching are common issues, and toxins from materials can enter our bodies through inhalation or skin absorption.

Kate explained how to avoid these risks by selecting materials with the right certifications—like GreenGuard Gold, FloorScore, and Cradle to Cradle. She emphasized the importance of low or zero-VOC paints, formaldehyde-free wood products, and PVC-free textiles. By choosing healthier materials, we can build homes that are safer for our families and the environment.

Financing a Green Home: Ruju Rathod’s Expert Advice
Finally, Ruju Rathod, an architect and sustainable finance expert, shared some incredibly useful tips on financing green home projects. Did you know that the Inflation Reduction Act offers incentives and credits for sustainable upgrades? Ruju also discussed other financial tools like below-market-rate loans and property tax deductions, which can make green home improvements more affordable.

She outlined a clear process—from planning and permits to post-occupancy certifications—making it easier to navigate the paperwork. Whether it’s installing solar panels, upgrading to efficient HVAC systems, or even adding drought-tolerant landscaping, there are plenty of ways to reduce your carbon footprint and save money long-term.

Let’s Build a Greener Future Together
As the evening came to a close, we all felt a shared sense of responsibility—not just to our planet, but to future generations. The time to act is now. Whether you’re building a new home or upgrading your current one, small steps can lead to big changes.

Let’s leave behind an environment that’s clean, healthy, and free from pollution—one that’s shielded from the effects of global warming. Together, we can create homes that are not just shelters, but beacons of sustainability.