|
"Green" Housing – What is it?
Today's consumer is less willing to pay a premium to get "Green" features. They want the Green products and features, but they believe they should get them for the prices they are accustomed to paying. Green cleaning products are great - if they work and don't cost more. Homebuyers are beginning to appreciate that an energy efficient home is a better long term investment than a home that isn't equipped for higher energy prices and the uncertainty of the future. The payback is in comfort and economy while they live there and, increasingly now, greater liquidity when they decide that they will sell.
PulteGroup, the nation’s largest home builder, is now selling homes in 10 communities that offer solar as standard, according to Walter Cuculic, the company’s director of sustainability. "With solar more affordable than ever before, tax credits available for purchasing solar options, and the ability to roll the cost into a home mortgage, solar is a great investment for new home buyers looking to hedge against rising energy costs.
So what is a "Green Home" as I have found the jargon can be pretty confusing to the extent that I recently previewed a home for a buyer client, advertised as "Green" but did not have one single design or specification feature that could, by any definition, be called Green!!! To me choosing Green is embracing sustainable design and living. It is saving money, improving the community, using alternative sources of energy, living a healthier lifestyle in order to protect the environment and conserve natural resources for future generations… that’s all!
O.K., so having described a great example of a developer jumping on the Green bandwagon we have, in the Triangle Area of North Carolina some really wonderful experience and examples of genuinely “Green” homes. Here’s just one example of Green design, specification and construction. It is a property located in North Chatham County – this is the real thing:
Design:
- Passive solar orientation providing space heating & day lighting for reduced energy consumption.
- Properly sized overhangs provide summer shading.
- Public area of the home sited on the south for optimum day lighting benefits, private spaces & utility spaces sited on the North & West.
- Minimization of windows on the North and West for reduced energy consumption.
The Building Envelope:
- High levels of insulation to walls, floors and roof to reduce unwanted heat loss & gain.
- High performance, double-glazed & argon filled, low- E windows.
- Sealed and de-humidified crawl space for reduced energy consumption and healthier indoor air.
- Insulated fiberglass entry doors with double glazed and argon filled low-E glass.
- Third party inspections during construction include a blower door test for house air tightness
- Duct pressure test for duct air leakage and ensure reduced energy consumption
- Energy Star Certification qualifies home for 5% reduction on Progress Energy electric bills
- Lowered energy usage reduces carbon emissions
Heating & Cooling Systems:
- High SEER HVAC system engineered for optimum comfort & efficiency
- Substantially reduced allergen and mold contact with the use of pleated air filters
- Engineered fresh air intakes for healthier indoor air
- Programmable thermostats for reduced energy consumption
Special Systems
- 2 KWh photovoltaic array with battery backup providing 20% of the electricity needs of the home.
- Fully automated battery back-up operates critical functions during grid outages.
- Renewable Energy Tax Credits Available.
- Solar hot water system capable of providing 80-100% of the hot water needs of the home.
- Central bath exhaust system with electronic timers for reduced energy consumption
- Energy Star rated appliances for reduced energy consumption
Material Choices
- Cement Board Siding (Hardi Plank)
- Miratech composite trim materials
- Formaldehyde-free Advantech sub-flooring
- Formaldehyde-free custom cabinetry with low VOC water based lacquer finish
- Semi-solid interior doors with soy based formaldehyde-free core materials
- Low-flow plumbing fixtures
- Low-maintenance composite deck flooring
- Extensive use of natural materials such as stone, tile and hardwoods throughout the home
Mike’s Comments: - I drafted this article as a “taster” for what is a massive field of knowledge and ongoing innovation and development. In the Triangle we are fortunate in that we have a wealth of expertise, knowledge and experience in this quickly developing field. As an accredited “EcoBroker” ® I would love to work with a client to achieve a genuinely Green housing solution – is that you?
|
|
