WHAT IS GREEN BUILDING?

The Basics:

Choose a friendly site selection or "footprint". The correct orientation of a home will increase your natural sunlight for heat and light. As a result your furnace and air conditioner work less. Forget clearing the site of all trees and brush, remove only what is necessary. The remaining trees can help cool the home in the summer and act as a wind break. Locating your home near shopping services will keep the amount of driving down - a win for the entire environment.

Use energy efficient designs and material while building a "tighter" home to prevent heat loss. With less outside air infiltrating the home, your indoor climate is easier to control, thereby lowering your utility bill. LED lights use a fraction of electricity compared to the incandescent bulbs. Energy Star appliances are certified to meet strict guidelines for low energy use. Increase the amount of insulation and you have a well insulated and air tight "envelope".

Reduce a home's water consumption through low-flow fixtures. It is true the old technology of low flow plumbing caused problems, but today's versions are good. The technology is to incorporate air into the process; the result is a low-flow shower that feels as strong as the one using much more water.

Promote a healthy indoor air environment. Yes, air-tight houses are critical to energy efficiency, but an unwelcome result is indoor air quality that is five times more polluted than the air outdoors. Green Homes places a fresh air ventilation system in each home to exhaust the stale indoor air to the outside, bringing in fresh air, removing moisture, smells and pollutants.

Emphasize material conservation while reducing waste to the landfill. Use products which are maintenance free.

Did you know that a typical home can cause twice the greenhouse gas emissions of a typical car?

So what are Green Homes?

Are you tired of paying high utility bills? Green Homes can save you up to 60% on the heating and cooling cost of your home. We are committed to building an affordable, energy efficient quality home that is friendly to your family and the environment, not to mention your pocket book. Our homes have a higher appraisal value and qualify for energy efficient residential credits and loans. These homes are rated by the Federal Energy Star program and are built with tried and true energy efficient building practices. We use all high performance windows and doors, Energy Star rated appliances, and energy recovery air ventilation systems to create a Healthy Home. We are committed to building a greener future one home at a time. Our homes incorporate the following technologies and building practices:

  1. Effective Insulation
    Properly installed and inspected insulation in floors, walls, and attics ensures even temperatures throughout the house, reducing energy use, and increasing comfort. Green Homes boast an R-24 value for all walls, R-11 foundation, with an R-52 in the attic.
  2. High-Performance Windows
    Energy-efficient windows employ advanced technologies, such as protective coatings and improved frames, to help keep heat in during winter and out during summer. These windows also block damaging ultraviolet sunlight that can discolor carpets and furnishings.
  3. Tight Construction and Ducts
    Sealing holes and cracks in the home's "envelope", or outer shell, makes for an airtight envelope. Green Homes uses energy efficient building practices such as 2 x 6 sealed construction, structurally insulated panels and concrete insulated blocks. Green Homes seals all cooling and energy recovery ventilator duct systems, thereby reducing drafts, moisture, dust, pollen, and noise. A tightly sealed home improves comfort and indoor air quality while reducing utility bills.
  4. Efficient Heating and Cooling Equipment
    For maximum efficiency, the cooling and heating systems should be separated. You should heat from the floor and cool from the ceiling. Green Homes uses energy efficient heat pumps or in-floor radiant heating (water heated tubing in concrete), and an energy recovery system for fresh air exchange. This ventilation system brings in fresh air replacing the outgoing stale air. In addition to using less energy your heat pump or radiant floor heating and energy recovery systems can be quieter, reduce allergens and indoor humidity, while improving the overall comfort of your home. Our homes qualify as Healthy Homes.
  5. Efficient Products
    Our ENERGY STAR qualified homes are equipped with ENERGY STAR qualified products, compact fluorescent bulbs, LED's and appliances, such as refrigerators, dishwashers, water heaters and washing machines.
  6. Third-Party Verification
    A third party inspector conducts an onsite test. This Inspector is referred to as the HERS rater. The inspection will verify how energy efficient your home is. The closer your number gets to 40 the more efficient the home is. The HERS inspector will place a sticker on your electrical panel showing the efficiency rating of your home. This rating will allow you to receive energy efficient tax credits and loans.
  7. Convenient for the Physically Challenged
    Our homes are wheel chair accessible with three-o doors and low entry height thresholds.
  8. Healthy Homes
    We install energy recovery systems, which removes stale air and allergens while replacing with filtered and moisture controlled air from the outside. All paints and floor cover are low in VOC's (Volatile Organic Compounds). All exterior wood to the home is covered in waterproofing wrap to stop mold and moisture before placement of maintenance free fiber-cement board siding, which is impervious to bugs and water.
  9. Water Conservation
    Green Homes, uses duel flush toilets, now only one flush is needed. When this technology was new one flush sometimes turned into two, those problems were fixed. We also install low flow fixtures, one technology is the incorporation of air into the process; the result is a low-flow shower that feels just as strong as the one using much more water. Instant hot water at all faucets reduces water waste and saves money.