Green-Built Homes are the Future. What are they?

Palm Coast – April 27, 2008 – “Building Green” is about home construction methods, materials, fixtures, and appliances that minimize environmental impact, while, at the same time, reducing the ongoing consumption and cost of power and water. Most builders who construct "green" homes also tout the additional storm resistance engineered into their construction. It used to be only pure environmentalists who cared, but today’s buyers, with increasing environmental and conservation concerns fueled by a need to curb the rising cost of energy and water consumption, are looking toward green building options.

 

Building green doesn’t necessarily mean higher costs. The additional investment up front will translate into lower energy and water bills, tax and insurance credits and fewer repair costs over the long term. When building a home, consider the total cost of ownership…the purchase price, operating costs, maintenance costs and taxes. A better built home will cost more initially, but over the long haul, be more efficient to operate and maintain.

 

Green homes offer superior energy efficiency. They are truly a high performance home. Attention to detail, using durable and sustainable materials, offers numerous health benefits for the long term. Green homes provide improved air quality and reduced exposure to mold, mildew and toxins, helpful to allergy sufferers. Green homes more effectively maintain consistent temperatures and humidity levels throughout the home. In years to come, with a large percentage of Baby Boomers relocating, green elements will certainly become more standard on homes. Homes that are not built ‘green’ may not hold their value as well.

 

 

Build in a Green Development: Some developments pledge to be “stewards of the environment,” striking a balance between the natural systems of the area and the new homes going in.

 

Position your home correctly: Placement of your home on the home site can be key in taking advantage of the sun’s orbital movement. In winter months, having a southern exposure will warm your home naturally.

 

Utility costs: Use energy efficient appliances and lighting. Install plumbing fixtures that conserve water.

 

Storm water management and irrigation: Use underground storage tanks where storm water runoff is filtered and absorbed into the ground or preserved for irrigation. Use a drip irrigation system for shrubs.

 

Recycling: Green Homes do incorporate recycled products that are used to build the new home. In many cases, these materials may be difficult to spot, but everything from carpet, countertops to hardware can be made from recycled products.

 

Solar Panels: The eyesore solar panels of yesterday have gone the way of the 8 foot satellite dish. Today’s panels more discreetly fit into the design and architecture of today’s green home…small panels that look like roofing tiles seamlessly blend in with roofing material are one option.

 

Home Envelope: A crucial step in designing an energy efficient home is making it airtight. Innovative foundation systems insulate the lower floors of a home. So do Low E (Low Emissivity) windows. For exterior walls, increasing the R Value increases thermal performance and provides energy efficiency. Foam insulation can be used in wall cavities and beneath the roof. Some building systems integrate the structural strength of reinforced concrete with the insulation efficiency of foam. Durable roofing systems such as steel fiber cement rarely need to be replaced and can accommodate a variety of design styles.

 

Landscaping: Plant native species of plants and drought resistant varieties, called “xeriscaping”. Minimize grassy lawn areas, this will reduce irrigation needs, saving water and money. Where you plant your trees and shrubs can influence your energy usage by protecting your home.

 

Certification: While adding "green" components will be beneficial, a truly "green" home carries certification from one of the recognized standards and inspection associations.

 

Storm resistance: Just as important as energy and water conservation is the need to integrate wind and wind driven debris resistant design and building components.

 

Some of the material in this article was contributed by Marian Schaffer (MarianSchafferRealty.com).