Creating a green home is not a static process. Rather, it requires the application of several elements that, taken together, can result in a comfortable, durable, energy-efficient, healthy, and environmentally responsible structure. These elements include:
Energy: Energy conservation can be achieved through the judicious choice of construction methods, HVAC systems, lighting, appliances, and home orientation. For example, selecting a lot that allows the most energy-efficient orientation of a home in relation to the sun is a simple but often overlooked way to cut energy bills. In fact, some experts estimate that combining proper home orientation with a design that is focused on retaining the sun’s heat in winter and blocking it in summer can produce an energy savings of between 30 and 40 percent.
Water: Residential construction can contribute to the preservation of this most important resource through incorporating low-water-usage appliances and plumbing fixtures, efficient irrigation design, and use of drought-tolerant native plants.
Durability: A green home is one that will still be standing strong many years down the road. Construction methods, fire-resistant materials, moisture mitigation, and termite control all play a part in creating a durable structure.
Materials: Conservation of materials is the first and foremost goal in this category, and minimizing square footage makes the biggest difference. However, building materials that are produced or available locally, that contain recycled content, and/or that support sustainability (for example, wood with a sustainable forestry certification) are also important contributors to a green home.
Recycling of building material waste during construction is another principal component of material usage.
Health: The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) notes that indoor air is typically two to five times more polluted than outdoor air. Proper ventilation and the selection of products with low or zero volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are two ways to improve indoor air quality. (VOCs, found in many paints, stains, carpet, carpet padding, cabinetry, particleboard, sealants, and adhesives, are emitted as gases that negatively affect air quality.)
Incorporating a central vacuum system can also improve air quality. Regular vacuum cleaners release dust and other allergens back into the air. A central vacuum system, on the other hand, deposits 100 percent of vacuumed substances into the canister (usually located in the garage).
By the year 2030, half of all buildings in America will have been built since the year 2000. Building green now will make a difference for years to come.
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Guest Writer Tracy DeCarlo
Tracy DeCarlo is author of The Difference is in the Details: The Homeowner’s Planning Guide for Building a Functional Home and owner of One Stop Green Home Certification.
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