Homebuilders and homebuyers and homeowner across the country are increasingly interested in green building. But what exactly makes a home green?
Green building means improving the way that homes and homebuilding sites use energy, water and materials to reduce impacts on human health and the environment. Building a green home or remodeling green means making environmentally-preferable and sustainable decisions throughout the building process – decisions that will minimize the environmental impact of the home while it is being built or remodeled and over the many years it will be lived in.
There are nearly 50 regional and national green home labeling programs around the country. While each program approaches green building a little differently, each incorporates important elements such as:
- Energy – efficient construction techniques and products.
- Improved indoor environments through environmentally – preferable materials and building practices.
- Water – efficient products and processes.
- Renewable energy options, when feasible.
- Waste reduction and recycling during the construction process.
- Smart growth and sustainable land development practices.
What homebuyer and homeowners look for first in a green home?
Energy efficiency is the place to start. That is because the energy used in homes often comes from the burning of fossil fuels at power plants, which contributes to smog, acid rain, and risks of global climate change. So, the less energy used, the less air pollution generated. And the easy way to make sure a new or existing home is energy efficient is to have an energy audit to get quantitative analysis on its system.
Green Home Pros are Energy Star qualified homes and are independently verified to meet strict guidelines for energy efficiency set by the United States Environmental Protection Agency. These homes save money on utility bills, provide a more comfortable living environment with better indoor air quality, and help protect the environment.
Typical features in a Green Home Pros certified home includes:
- An Efficient Home Envelope, with effective levels of wall, floor, and attic insulation properly installed, comprehensive air barrier details and high performance windows.
- Efficient Air Distribution, where ducts are installed with minimum air leakage and effectively insulated.
- Efficient Equipment for heating, cooling and water heating.
- Efficient Lighting, including fixtures that earn the ENERGY STAR
- Efficient Appliances, including ENERGY STAR qualified dishwashers, refrigerators and clothes washers.
These energy efficiency improvements save homeowners money – from 30 – 70% per year on utility bills. More importantly, monthly energy savings can easily exceed any additional mortgage cost for the energy efficiency improvements, resulting in a positive cash-flow from the first day of home ownership or when remodeling completed. As a result, the cost-effectiveness of Green Home Pros improvements can help offset additional costs associated with other green home features.
Completing the green home picture:
Through Green Home Pros system you will be able to create a complete indoor Air package, homebuyers and homeowners can address two critical green home elements. Then look to the wide variety of available green home programs to complete the picture with water efficient products, renewable energy technologies, waste reduction, recycling and sustainable land development practices.
| Ownes Corning | Delta Faucets |
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Energy Audit: (D.A.R.E Program)
Green Home Pros is a certified energy auditor. GHP will be able to diagnose where heat is being lost through your home’s shell and what you should do about it. GHP uses sophisticated equipment, like a blower door, duct blaster and infrared camera, to help pinpoint air leaks and areas with inadequate insulation. Our trained energy auditors know what to look for in both newer and older houses, and the investment in a GHP energy audit is well worth the cost.GHP energy auditors and building scientists will provide several services to improve the overall performance and comfort provided by houses. GHP understands how to improve a home’s overall safety, comfort, energy efficiency, and indoor air quality. After all, may construction flaws can result in high-energy bills, and some conditions that cause high-energy bills can compromise building safety or resident health and comfort. For example, home performance diagnoses can fix uneven heat distribution while lowering energy costs, or reduce cold drafts and moisture condensation problems while reducing energy bills.
It is time for everyone to have an energy audit and start “saving the earth one home at a time”
| Gerber Faucets & Toilets | Climate Master Geothermal |
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Schedule an Energy Audit
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