Tradeshow offers tips for greener homes

The show featured environmentally friendly products from rain collection systems to solar powered blinds.

“There’s a lot of very cool and interesting things. We have green roofs which basically means looking at putting vegetation actually on your roof,” event organizer Dona Stankus said.

Sharon and Dan Settles were among the more than 1,000 people who attended the show. The Settles said they want to build a “greener” home.

There were more than 100 vendors – nearly double from the previous year – at the conference.

Vendors say while interest in environmentally friendly building is soaring, it doesn't mean consumers are always buying.

“The dollars will win out,” vendor David Hare said.

Experts say going green may cost more up front, but the benefit will be seen in the long run with smaller utility bills.

For some, the cost of certain upgrades may be too much.

“What’s our payback? I mean, we plan on being in our house maybe six more years, so what’s the time to recoup the cost of adding the energy-efficient appliances,” homeowner Lorelei Milan said.

Others say going green will save them green.

“You can look at it like it’s putting money in the bank. It’s an investment. We might spend a little more right now, but we’re going to be saving money for the next 20 or 30 years,” Dan Settles said.