MNN - Mother Nature Network

The HGTV Green Home Giveaway, in its second year, is an exciting one for green building enthusiasts: a tricked-out eco home is built from scratch using green building methods and given to, yes, given to a very lucky winner. Like the 2008 Green Home in Hilton Head, North Carolina, the creation of 2009’s eco digs will be overseen by a green dream team including house planner Jack Thomasson and interior designer Linda Woodrum.

 

Although I’m not particularly dazzled by the 2009 floor plan, I’m curious to see how the folks over at HGTV outdo themselves this year. The 2008 home featured ENERGY STAR appliances, reclaimed furnishings, nontoxic paints, a GMC Yukon Hybrid parked in the garage, and much more… what new tricks and techniques are in the works? I’m guessing nothing too radical -- someone has to live in this house after all -- but you never know.

 

Although the 2009 Green Home is in the early stages, there are numerous ways to keep abreast of new developments: HGTVPro.com is keeping true building-minded folks in the loop with videos of the home’s construction and pointers on how to conserve resources, save energy, and construct a home that’s healthy for its inhabitants. There’s also message boards, the main Green Home blog, a “field reports” blog, and the central Green Home page. Phew! It will be pretty darn difficult for me to live under a rock with all this Green Home 2009-related info flooding the World Wide Interwebs over the next few months.

 

Let me know what you think about the 2008 Green Home (the lucky lady who won it appeared pleased, natch) and share any thoughts about the floor plan for 2009’s eco palace. I’ll keep you posted.