Going green with your new house plan

What does it mean to build green? That is a question asked all too often these days. We are all aware of the global, environmental changes going on in our world today, but when asking the question “what is green’, it may return different answers depending on who you ask.

Depending on where you live, your new home plan will have to meet different qualifying criteria to be green certified. This article was not meant to be a guide to the various methods and programs available to receive green certification. This was meant to serve as a starting point for those out there who have questions and are not sure where to start when it comes to going green with your new house plan. Use the links in this article to learn more about the available certification programs available in your area. And of course ask plenty of questions and discuss all topics with your qualified green builder.

Officially there are no national guidelines or standards set as of yet. However, there are many programs at the state and regional level that have implemented minimum standards The NAHB (National Association of Home Builders) has implemented a set of national guidelines and the U.S. Green Building Council is in the process of instituting a residential version of its highly successful commercial building program, LEED® (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design).

While these different groups and organizations do have different criteria that must be met for their certification, they are all generally based on three key areas:

Environmental Benefits

• Enhance and protect ecosystems and biodiversity
• Improve air and water quality
• Waste reduction
• Conserve natural resources

Economic Benefits

• Reduce operating costs
• Create, expand, and shape markets for green product and services
• Improve occupant productivity
• Optimize life-cycle economic performance

Health and Social Benefits

• Enhance occupant comfort and health
• Heighten aesthetic qualities
• Minimize strain on local infrastructure
• Improve overall quality of life

What does all of this mean? By building green when building your new house plan, you can conserve resources, create and promote a healthier indoor and outdoor environment, as well as save and conserve water and energy.

How is this accomplished? Again all programs and certifications do have different requirements, but these are some common considerations to think of when considering building a green house plan.

• Sustainable 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

When getting ready to turn your dream house plan into a green home, you must first start with the building site itself. Choosing the right site can greatly affect the cost and savings you will see when building your home plan over the long run. Building on sustainable sites and having the the least amount of impact on the local ecosystems is key when choosing your building site. Using native plants and trees in your landscaping also helps retain, protect and promote healthy ecosystems.

Installing energy efficient appliances and heating and cooling systems will save natural resources by consuming less energy, as well as lower overall energy bills. When choosing appliances and HVAC equipment, look for the Energy Star rated logo. Energy Star labeled models can be up to 40% more efficient than federal energy efficiency standards. Having a properly installed and sealed building envelope will improve the performance and overall energy efficiency of your new home.

Water conservation is an important factor to consider when building your green house design. This can be achieved a number of ways. When purchasing dishwashers, washing machines and refrigerators, it is also good to start by looking for the Energy Star rated logo. Energy Star dishwashers can use up to 1/3 less water than traditional dishwashers. Also keep in mind, washing dishes by hand uses much more water than using a dishwasher. Using an Energy Star qualified dishwasher instead of hand washing will save you annually 5,000 gallons of water, $40 in utility costs, and 230 hours of your time. Installing low-flow toilets, faucets and shower heads will also drastically reduce your home’s water usage. Many of these items are now labeled with the Environmental Protection Agency’s new WaterSense label, which identifies models more efficient than their standard counterparts.

Choosing the right building materials is an important element to building any green house plan. This applies to exterior and interior building materials. There is generally a green alternative available for all of the materials used when building a new home, so we won’t go over all of them here. However, when choosing green building materials it is good to look at two factors – resource efficiency and indoor air quality.

Utilizing resource efficient products can be accomplished a number of ways, by meeting various requirements. Recycled and recyclable generally top this list. This also includes products that are more durable and built to last longer than traditional products. Natural, plentiful and renewable products are important. These are materials that are harvested from sustainably managed sources and preferably have an independent certification (e.g., certified wood) and are certified by an independent third party. Using building materials, components, and systems found locally or regionally can also save energy and resources in transportation to the project site.

Improving indoor air quality should also be considered, not only for the environment but for your own health as well. There are plenty of products and materials available today that can help greatly improve the indoor air quality in your new home plan. To meet most certification requirements, materials used should meet some of these basic requirements. Materials that are low or non-toxic, or contain low VOC, should be considered. These are products that that emit few or no carcinogens and contain minimal VOC-producing compounds. Using moisture resistant products and systems inhibit the growth of biological contaminants, such as mold and other harmful irritants and allergens, thus improving your indoor air quality and promoting a healthier living environment for you and your family.

Through proper building practices, and choosing the right material – material that is recyclable for example – can greatly reduce the amount of waste that is left over from building your new house plan. This is important because it cuts down on the amount of wasted materials being sent to the landfills.

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 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 a short period of time.

Hopefully after reading this, you will now be armed with some questions and topics to discuss with the builder of your new house design. There are numerous amounts of resources available online regarding this topic, so use these links to get started and find out what systems and methods will work best for you and your new dream home.