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The process of green building incorporates environmental considerations into every phase of the home building process. That means that during the design, construction, and operation of a home, energy and water efficiency, lot development, resource efficient building design and materials, indoor environmental quality, homeowner maintenance, and the home‘s overall impact on the environment are all taken into account.
Guiding Principles Addressed in Green Home Building (text taken from http://www.nahbrc.org/greenguidelines)
| Lot design, preparation, and development | ||
| Resource-efficient site design and development practices help reduce the environmental impacts and improve the energy performance of new housing | ||
Energy Efficiency |
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On average , a home built between 1990 and 2001 consumed about 12,800 kWh per year for space and water heating, cooling and lights and appliances. Where natural gas is used, consumption averages 69,000 cubic feet per household annually. Total energy expenditures during a year cost these homeowners about $1,600. Energy efficiency improvements that make a home 20% more efficient- a conservative estimate for many green homes – could significantly reduce a homeowner's annual utility expenses.
We are proud to offer new homes that have earned the ENERGY STAR® label. ENERGY STAR qualified new homes are substantially more energy efficient than homes built to the minimum code requirements. Our ENERGY STAR qualified new homes are independently verified by a third-party Home Energy Rater to ensure they meet ENERGY STAR energy efficiency guidelines. These homes are better for the environment and better for you. Learn more about ENERGY STAR qualified new homes at http://www.energystar.gov. |
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| Water Efficiency | ||
| Green homes often conserve water both indoors and out. More efficient water delivery systems indoors and native and drought resistant landscaping choices can help prevent unnecessary waste of valuable water resources. | ||
| Indoor Environmental Quality | ||
| An increase in reported allergies and respiratory ailments and the use of chemicals that can off-gas from building materials have contributed to a heightened awareness of the air we breathe inside our homes | ||
| Operation, Maintenance & Homeowner Education | ||
| Improper or inadequate maintenance can defeat the designer’s and builder’s best efforts to create a resource efficient home. By providing homeowner’s with information regarding proper operation and maintenance procedures, a builder can help assure that the green home that was so carefully built will also be operated in an environmentally responsible manner. | ||
| Global impact | ||
| Selection of paints is one issue that falls into the category of global impact. Selecting low VOC ( Volatile Organic Compounds) helps prevent the release of VOC’s from wet paint that form ground-level ozone pollution. | ||
| Tax Credits and Energy Efficient Mortgages | ||
| Visit http://www.energytaxincentives.org/ and http://www.energy.gov/taxbreaks.htm for detailed information on available tax credits/incentives. For information on energy efficient mortgages, visit the Energy Star website. | ||
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