New Homes Become Green

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HVAC

Selecting more efficient, correctly sized heating, cooling and waterheating equipment saves money. Tankless water heaters provide hot water on demand at a preset temperature rather than storing it, which reduces or eliminates standby losses. Geothermal heat pumps work with the Earth's renewable energy and can also heat water. Link here for our equipment products page or contact us through our contacts page.

APPLIANCES

The energy efficiency of refrigerators and freezers has tripled over the last three decades because they have more insulation, advanced compressors, better door seals and more accurate temperature controls. Front-loading washers use about 40% less water and half the energy of conventional models. Energy Star®-rated appliances save an average of 30% over standard models. Learn more on our Energy Star® page.

BATHROOM

New toilets have redesigned bowls and tanks that use less water, but functin more efficiently than first-generation low-flow models. Some use pumps for supplementary water pressure. Advanced shower and sink faucet aerators provide the same flow regardless of pressure to reduce water use and the energy required to heat it.

LANDSCAPE

Tree preservation reduces landscaping and future energy costs and helps provide winter wind breaks or summer shade. Additional landscaping improves the environment even more: One tree can filter 60 pounds of pollutants from the air each year.

Xeriscaping, or using native plants, significantly reduces the need for watering, fertilizers and herbicides.

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ENERGY INNOVATION

ROOF

More durable roof coverings such as steel and fiber cement reduce the frequency of roof replacement. Lighter colors absorb less heat, reducing cooling costs in warm climates. Now, solar roofing products integrate asphalt shingles, standing-seam metal roofing, and slate or concrete tiles.

SHEETING

Oriented strand board (OSB) is an engineered wood product that does not require large trees for its manufacture. It is resource efficient and enhances durability and is used to sheathe roofs and walls in 75% of new homes.

EXTERIOR WALLS

Vinyl siding on exterior walls saves money on installation and maintenance; fiber-cement siding is termite and water-resistant and also warrantied to last about 50 years.

FLOORING

In addition to naural wood, flooring choices include low-VOC (volatile organic compounds) carpets for better indoor air quality, laminates that succesfully mimic scarce hardwood, and linoleum, a natural product making a design comeback.

FOUNDATION

Foundations should be as well insulated as the living space walls for efficient home energy use and enhanced comfort, particularly if the basement is used as a family room or bedroom.

The growing marketplace for green building depends on you, the homeowner.

Everything seems to be "going green" these days- from cars, to companies, to coffee. However, sometimes it can be hard to tell what that really means, especially when it comes to your current or future home.

Building green means incorporating environmental considerations and resource efficiency into every step of the home building and land development process to minimize environmental impact. During the design, construction, and operation of a home, energy and water efficiency, lot development, resource efficient building design and materials, indoor environmental quality and homeowner maintenance should all be considered. Although we cannot entirely avoid affecting the environment when a house is built, green building can work toward minimizing that environmental impact.

The concept of green building isn't new—our great-grandparents built climate-appropriate homes using locally-available materials. Today's green homes incorporate not only climatic considerations, but are resource and energy efficient, safer for occupants, and often less expensive to maintain.

For more information from the National Association of Home Builders - National Green Program, log onto www.nahbgreen.org/index.aspx. Learn more about what goes into a green home, what some of the benefits are, including financial incentives. The photo gallery features green homes of all shapes, designs, and sizes.

Source: National Association of Home Builders

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LUMBER

Recycled plastic lumber and wood composite materials reduce reliance on chemically treated lumber and durable hardwood for decks, porches, trim and fencing.

INSULATION

Increasing the amount and R-value of insulation is a cost-effective way to save energy and help reduce heating and cooling bills, which account for at least half of energy use in the home. Sprayed insulation made of foam, cellulose or wool is an alternative to traditional glass fiber batting.

COMPONENTS

Factory-built components including trusses and pre-hung doors allow more efficient use of raw materials, making the most out of every piece of lumber. These products eliminate the need to cut wood at the jobsite, further reducing waste.

WINDOWS

Energy-efficient windows incorporating advanced technologies like low-emittance (low-E) glass coatings, gas filler between layers, and composite framing materials keep heat inside in the winter an outside in the summer.

PASSIVE SOLAR

Incorporating passive solar design features like large, south-facing windows helps heat the home in the winter and allows for increased natural daylighting.

ENTRY

Covered entries at exterior doors help to prevent water intrusion, reducing maintenance and enhancing durability.

Disclaimer: The information provided in these pages is based upon current scientific and technical understanding of the issues presented. Following the advice given will not necessarily provide complete protection in all situations or against all health hazards that may be caused by indoor air pollution and other indoor enviromental contaminants. Mention of any trade names or commercial products does not constitute endorsement or recomendation for use.