Building a new green home
If you're planning to build a new home, going "green" can save natural resources and create a more healthful living environment at the same time. It can also reduce your water and energy bills.
GETTING STARTED
Decide which green features you want to incorporate into your new home. Some of the most common considerations in green building are:
•Land use planning and design techniques that preserve the natural environment
•Energy efficiency in heating and cooling systems, appliances, lighting, and the building envelope
•Water conservation indoors and outdoors
•Materials that are recyclable, durable, have little or no toxicity, and emit few or no volatile organic compounds (VOCs) associated with indoor air pollution
•Indoor environmental quality in which moisture, ventilation, and pollutants are managed
•Waste reduction, reuse, and recycling during construction and home maintenance
Size has an environmental impact too, and an increasingly significant one as the average home size continues to grow. In fact, the average new home in the U.S. is about 2,400 square feet, which is 50 percent larger than houses of 30 years ago, according to Census Bureau figures. Larger homes not only require more energy and materials than smaller ones but they can also be more difficult to maintain. Several green building programs award points toward certification for building smaller.
Find a builder that can incorporate the features you want. Some builders specialize in a particular aspect of green building, as in the case of the Energy Star Home program, which is focused mainly on energy efficiency. Others work with a broader array of green building techniques and materials. Some also aim to “green” the process of building your home, by reducing waste and designing with minimal impact to the land. For details on the types of green features that different builders offer, check the Finding a green builder section below, and contact one or more of the organizations in your area.
Consider whether you want to have your home certified. Certification is a way of ensuring that your home meets the building and efficiency standards of a given program and, in some cases, it may be required to obtain tax credits and other incentives. Several programs listed in the Finding a green builder section below involve certification.
FINDING A GREEN BUILDER
To find green builders and consultants in your area, contact one or more of the following organizations. Many also provide green building guidelines free of charge. Several of these programs offer the option of having your home certified. Certification is a way of ensuring that your home meets the building and efficiency standards of that particular program and, in some cases, may be required to obtain tax credits and other incentives.
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Energy Star Home Program
How it works: The Energy Star Home program is a voluntary partnership between the government and more than 9,000 organizations, including 3,500 of the nation’s home builders. Its guidelines include effective insulation, high performance windows, tight construction and ducts, more efficient heating and cooling equipment.
Applicable housing types: All types that are three stories or less, including custom-built, pre-fabricated and modular homes.
Environmental and health benefits: Energy Star qualified homes are at least 15 percent more energy efficient than homes built to the 2004 International Energy Conservation Code, or IECC. Energy Star also encourages features designed to improve indoor air quality.
Certification: Homes are certified by an independent, third-party Home Energy Rating System (HERS) rater.
Financial incentives: Energy Star qualified homes are estimated to save $200 to $400 in annual heating and cooling and water heating costs. For Energy Star tax and lender incentives, see the Costs & incentives section below.
How to find a builder: Check the Energy Star New Homes Partner Locator page for resources.
To learn more: Visit the Energy Star Qualified New Homes Web site.
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U.S. Green Building Council's Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design (LEED) for Homes
How it works: The U.S. Green Building Council, a nonprofit coalition of building professionals, has developed a green home rating system, known as LEED for Homes. The system is designed to help homes meet one of four increasingly rigorous levels of environmental performance: certified, gold, silver, and platinum.
Applicable housing types: All types, including custom-built, pre-fabricated, and modular homes.
Environmental and health benefits: Homes built according to the LEED guidelines are designed to be in the top 25 percent of new homes in the country in terms of energy- and water-efficiency; the efficient use of building construction, and land resources; and indoor air quality. To learn more about the guidelines, click here.
Certification: Homes will be certified by an independent LEED for Homes inspector, and rated as meeting one of the four levels of environmental performance.
Financial incentives: You can check for local incentives for LEED-certified buildings, including homes in the Green Home Guide. For general tax and lender incentives, see the Costs & incentives section below.
How to find a builder To find a builder near you, check the Green Home Guide.
To learn more: Visit the U.S. Green Building Council’s LEED for Homes Web site.
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American Lung Association Health House Program
How it works: The American Lung Association’s Health House Program was developed with indoor air quality experts to create more healthful as well as more energy- and resource-efficient homes. Builders participate through the Health House Builder Training program.
Applicable housing types: Mainly single-family, custom-built homes.
Environmental and health benefits: Homes are built to be mold, radon, and allergen resistant, as well as energy efficient. To learn more about the guidelines, click here.
Certification: Homes are inspected three times, and registered by an independent third-party.
Financial incentives: There are currently no specific incentives associated with this program. For general tax and lender incentives related to energy efficiency and green building, see the Costs & incentives section below.
How to find a builder: Visit the Build a Health House section of the ALA's Web site.
To learn more: Visit the American Lung Association’s Health House Web site.
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The National Association of Home Builders' Model Green Home Building Guidelines
How it works: The Model Green Home Building Guidelines were created collaboratively by the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) and green building professionals as guidance for builders. They are intended to be used and adapted by local home builder associations (HBA), but they can also be followed by independent builders. The guidelines are designed to help homes meet one of three increasingly rigorous levels of environmental performance: bronze, silver, or gold. In May 2008, NAHB expects to launch its National Building Standard, which will be based on the guidelines.
Applicable housing types: All, including custom-built, pre-fabricated, and modular homes.
Environmental and health benefits: The guidelines are adapted by each local home builder association, but generally cover site preparation and design, material resource efficiency, energy efficiency, water efficiency, occupancy comfort, and indoor environmental quality. To learn more about the guidelines, click here.
Certification: Builders may or may not offer certification, depending on the local HBA.
Financial incentives: There are currently no specific incentives associated with this program. For general tax and lender incentives related to energy efficiency and green building, see the Costs & incentives section below.
How to find a builder: Check NAHB's directory of residential green building programs to see there's a green builder in your area.
To learn more: Visit the NAHB Green Building Program Web site.
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U.S. Department of Energy’s Building America Program
How it works: The Building America program is a government and industry partnership, sponsored by the DOE, to design and build the most energy-efficient homes possible.
Applicable housing types: All, including custom-built, pre-fabricated, and modular homes.
Environmental and health benefits: Home energy is reduced by 30 to 90 percent. The long-term goal of the program, to be met by 2020, is to develop a "Zero energy" home - one that uses as much energy as it produces. The program also encourages features designed to improve indoor air quality.
Certification: There’s currently no certification process in place.
Financial incentives: There are currently no specific incentives associated with this program. For general tax and lender incentives related to energy efficiency and green building, see the Costs & incentives section below.
How to find a builder: Check the DOE’s national searchable map to see if there are any projects under way in your area and which builders are carrying them out.
To learn more: Visit the DOE's Building America Web site.
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Regional programs
There are dozens of regional green home building programs around the country, some affiliated with national programs, some not. Check the U.S. Green Building Council's Green Home Guide.
State and/or local programs may also offer resources. For example, the City of Seattle provides a series of free guides on green home remodeling and other useful resources. Find out if your state and/or local environmental department offers any regional green building resources (enter “green building” in the search field for resources).
CHOOSING GREEN BUILDING PRODUCTS
Consider using greener materials, such as countertops and flooring made with recycled content or from renewable resources, and/or that give off little or no volatile organic compounds (VOCs)—chemicals identified as prime indoor air pollutants. Some of these materials may cost more, and performance varies, so you should research and evaluate them to try to get the best value.
Consumer Reports recently looked at flooring products often labeled as green. Bamboo, linoleum, and cork were among the flooring types in our recent tests. See our latest flooring report (full report available to subscribers). You can also consult our free Greener flooring buying guide.
Consider energy-efficient appliances. For products including refrigerators, dishwashers, and washing machines, check our Green Ratings to find energy-efficient options. Your next best recourse would be to look for products with the Energy Star label, which is used to identify models that can be up to 40 percent more efficient than federal energy efficiency standards. But checking the Green Ratings first can give you an edge, since our tests are performed in situations that more closely reflect actual use.
Consider water-efficient appliances. For products including dishwashers and washing machines, you can check our Green Ratings to find more water-efficient models. Some toilets and faucets are now labeled with the Environmental Protection Agency’s new WaterSense label, which identifies models more efficient than their standard counterparts.
To learn more about the types of products available, and their environmental and health aspects, check the Fact Sheets published by Build it Green, a nonprofit organization that promotes green building in California.
COSTS AND INCENTIVES
How much does it cost to build green? While the cost of each green building project will differ depending on the methods and materials used, the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) says that many green building techniques can be applied at little or no additional cost over conventional methods and materials. Additionally, by incorporating efficient heating, cooling and water systems, you can reduce your utility bills, helping to recoup any extra costs over time.
State and local incentives are available for new and existing homes with energy-efficient features. For example, San Diego County offers incentives for using recycled and other environmentally friendly materials and building techniques. For information on state incentives, visit the Database for State Incentives for Renewable Energy site.
Solar incentives, available to homeowners through state governments, can significantly offset the cost of a solar Photovoltaic (PV) system. Many states provide rebates, tax incentives, low-interest loans, and/or net metering—which requires your utility to purchase excess electricity generated by your solar PV system. To learn more about these incentives, visit the Database for State Incentives for Renewable Energy. For more information on solar PV systems, visit our Solar Electric page.
Energy-efficient mortgages allow you to either purchase or refinance a home that is already, or will become, energy-efficient. There are also loans available for making energy-efficiency upgrades. Note that you’ll need a Home Energy Rating System (HERS) rating report to qualify, which can vary in cost. Visit the Federal Citizen Information Center site for more information on lenders. You can also check the Energy Star lender page for participants in this federal program.
HEALTH AND ENVIRONMENTAL CONCERNS
Using green building materials and techniques can help to address the following health and environmental concerns related to residential buildings:
Indoor air pollution presents a health risk. The EPA and its Science Advisory Board have consistently ranked indoor air pollution among the top five environmental risks to public health. In particular, studies have found levels of certain pollutants, from products such as paints and wood preservatives, to be up to 10 times higher inside homes than outside. And inside is where people are estimated to spend 90 percent of their time.
The residential sector accounts for one-fifth of all the energy consumed in the U.S. More than 90 percent of this energy is derived from nonrenewable fossil fuels, which are linked to air pollution and global warming. In fact, the fossil-fuel based energy in a typical home can cause twice as much air pollution as the average car, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). And size makes a difference too: the larger the home, the more energy it uses.
The average family of four uses 400 gallons of water at home every day, according to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). By adopting water-efficient products and practices, an average household could cut its water use by as much as 30 percent, the EPA estimates. Water conservation may become all the more important in the future since the majority of states in the U.S. could be facing water shortage problems by 2013, according to the EPA.
Building new homes creates waste. According to the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB), the construction of an average single-family home in the U.S., at 2,350ft, is estimated to generate between 7,000 and 12,000 pounds of construction waste. Given the two million or so new homes built each year in the U.S., that can really add up.
TAKE A GREEN BUILDING TOUR
Some organizations offer green building tours in different parts of the country.
•If you live in the Northeast, check the Northeast Sustainable Energy Association Web site.
•If you live in the Southeast, check the Southface Web site.
•If you live in California, check the Build it Green Web site.
•For a national listing, check the American Solar Energy Society to find out if there's a tour in your area.
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