All About Eco Friendly Homes
This is an overview of
various eco-friendly certifications and products. Go to the
Database of State Incentives for Renewables and Efficiency
for information regarding financial incentives. Also check
out the
Glossary of Energy-Related Terms published by the U.S.
Dept. of Energy.
Green/Energy Certification
Energy Star Qualified
To earn the ENERGY STAR, a
home must meet guidelines for energy efficiency set by the
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. These homes are at
least 15% more energy efficient than homes built to the
2004 International Residential Code (IRC), and include
additional energy-saving features that typically make them
20–30% more efficient than standard homes.
ENERGY STAR qualified homes
can include a variety of 'tried-and-true' energy-efficient
features that contribute to improved home quality and
homeowner comfort, and to lower energy demand and reduced
air pollution:
- Effective insulation.
- High-performance windows.
- Tight construction and ducts.
- Efficient heating and cooling equipment
- Efficient lighting fixtures, appliances, and water
heaters.
- Third-party verification.
Home Energy Rating/HERS
A home energy rating
involves an analysis of a home’s construction plans and
onsite inspections. Based on the home’s plans, the Home
Energy Rater uses an energy efficiency software package to
perform an energy analysis of the home’s design. This
analysis yields a projected, pre-construction HERS Index.
Upon completion of the plan review, the rater will work with
the builder to identify the energy efficiency improvements
needed to ensure the house will meet ENERGY STAR performance
guidelines. The rater then conducts onsite inspections,
typically including a blower door test (to test the
leakiness of the house) and a duct test (to test the
leakiness of the ducts). Results of these tests, along with
inputs derived from the plan review, are used to generate
the HERS Index score for the home.
Environments for Living
The Environments For Living
program is product neutral and does not require any specific
manufacturer's products. The prescriptive, performance-based
program structure was developed with the assistance of
nationally recognized experts in the field of building
science, Building Science Corp. and Advanced Energy. The
program meets the requirements of the U.S. Environmental
Protection Agency (EPA) ENERGY STAR® program and, at the
Platinum energy level, meets the U.S. Department of Energy
Building America® specifications.
In 2007, the Environments
For Living Certified Green program was introduced, combining
the energy and building science platform of the program with
added environmentally beneficial features and benefits, such
as indoor water efficiency and appliance and lighting
efficiency. It, too, was designed to be compatible with
other green building programs nationally and locally.
LEED for Homes (USGBC)
LEED for Homes is a rating
system that promotes the design and construction of
high-performance green homes. A green home uses less energy,
water and natural resources, creates less waste, and is
healthier and more comfortable for occupants. Benefits of a
LEED home include lower energy and water bills; reduced
greenhouse gas emissions; and less exposure to mold, mildew
and other indoor toxins. The net cost of owning a LEED home
is comparable to that of owning a conventional home.
LEED is an internationally
recognized green building certification system,
providing third-party verification that a building or
community was designed and built using strategies aimed at
improving performance across all the metrics that matter
most: energy savings, water efficiency, CO2
emissions reduction, improved indoor environmental quality,
and stewardship of resources and sensitivity to their
impacts.
Developed by the
U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), LEED provides
building owners and operators a concise framework for
identifying and implementing practical and measurable green
building design, construction, operations and maintenance
solutions.
National Green Building Certification (NAHB)
The National Green Building
Certification is administered by the NAHB Research Center.
The Research Center accredits verifiers and acts as the sole
certifying body for the National Green Building Program.
Certification is based on
the NAHB Model Green Home Building Guidelines and the ICC
700-2008 National Green Building Standard™. The Standard
includes provisions that define green attributes for
developments, multi-unit dwellings, remodeling projects,
additions and single-family homes.
There are three green
certification levels available in the Guidelines – Bronze,
Silver, and Gold. The Standard includes an additional level,
Emerald. The green levels and certifications address key
green construction areas including – Lot & Site Development,
Resource Efficiency, Energy Efficiency, Water Efficiency,
Indoor Environmental Quality, and Homeowner Education.
National Green Building Certification assures homeowners and
the community that your projects meet the requirements of
either the NAHB Model Green Home Building Guidelines
or the ICC 700-2008 National Green Building Standard, and
truly are green.
Score Your Project
Energy Features
Energy Star Appliances
Did you know that the
average home spends about $2,200 on energy bills every year?
Change to appliances that have earned the ENERGY STAR, and
you can save $75 a year in energy costs, while saving the
environment.
When buying an appliance,
remember that it has two price tags: what you pay to take it
home and what you pay for the energy and water it uses.
ENERGY STAR qualified appliances incorporate advanced
technologies that use 10–50% less energy and water than
standard models. The money you save on your utility bills
can more than make up for the cost of a more expensive but
more efficient ENERGY STAR model.
For top performance,
premium features, and energy savings, look for
energy-efficient clothes washers, refrigerators,
dishwashers, room air conditioners and dehumidifiers that
have earned the ENERGY STAR. This mark may appear on the
appliance, the packaging or the
EnergyGuide label.
Check for
special
offers
and rebates
from ENERGY STAR partners.
Energy Star/CFL/LED Lights
High-Efficiency HVAC
HVAC>13 SEER
Digital Program Thermostat
Geothermal System
Insulated Doors & Insulated/Low-E Windows
Storm Windows
Insulation
Types of insulation:
- Fiberglass
and rock wool batts - generally the most inexpensive
wall insulation. Requires careful installation for
effective performance.
- Cellulose
insulation - made from recycled newsprint, usually
loose-fill. Reduced air leakage and improved sound
deadening.
- Fiberglass and rock
wool loosefill insulation - full coverage that involves
blowing insulation into open stud cavities.
- Rigid foam insulation
- higher R-value per inch than fiberglass or cellulose
insulation. Stops air leaks. Considerably more
expensive.
- Foam-in-place
insulation - blown into walls, reduces air leakage. Some
manufacturers use carbon dioxide in the manufacturing
process rather than more environmentally harmful gases
such as pentane or hydrofluorocarbons.
More:
North/South Exposure
Generally speaking, it's
best for the long axis of rectangular houses to run
East/West so that the windows are mostly facing the North
and South. In warm climates, it is best to position the
driveway on the North or East side of the home. In cold
climates, position the driveway on the South or West side of
the home.
Radiant Attic Barrier
Radiant barriers are
materials that are installed in buildings to reduce summer
heat gain and winter heat loss, and hence to reduce building
heating and cooling energy usage. The potential benefit of
attic radiant barriers is primarily in reducing
air-conditioning cooling loads in warm or hot climates.
Radiant barriers usually consist of a thin sheet or coating
of a highly reflective material, usually aluminum, applied
to one or both sides of a number of substrate materials.
These substrates include kraft paper, plastic films,
cardboard, plywood sheathing, and air infiltration barrier
material. Some products are fiber reinforced to increase the
durability and ease of handling.
Energy Star/Reflective Roof
Solar H2O Heater
Solar water heaters—also
called solar domestic hot water systems—can be a
cost-effective way to generate hot water for your home. They
can be used in any climate, and the fuel they
use—sunshine—is free.
Solar water heating systems
include storage tanks and solar collectors. There are two
types of solar water heating systems: active, which have
circulating pumps and controls, and passive, which don't.
Most solar water heaters
require a well-insulated storage tank. Solar storage tanks
have an additional outlet and inlet connected to and from
the collector. In two-tank systems, the solar water heater
preheats water before it enters the conventional water
heater. In one-tank systems, the back-up heater is combined
with the solar storage in one tank.
Solar PV Electric Panels
Photovoltaics is a
technology that converts radiant light energy (photo) to
electricity (voltaics). Photovoltaic (PV) cells are the
basic building blocks of this
energy technology.
PV cells (also called solar
cells) are made of semiconductor materials, most typically
silicon. The amount of electricity a PV cell produces
depends on its size,
its conversion efficiency (see box on reverse), and the
intensity of the light source. Sunlight is the most common
source of the energy used by PV cells to
produce an electric current.
PV modules are typically
installed on or near a building or other structure. They can
also be specially designed as an integral part of a
building’s roof, wall, skylight, or other element. This is
called building-integrated PV or BIPV.
Solar Screens
Structural Insulated Panels
Tankless/On-Demand H2O Heater
Wind Turbine
Other Resources for Information
U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency provides links to
access purchasing information for products and service
categories such as buildings, carpets, cleaners,
conferences, copiers, electronics, food serviceware, and
office supplies.
The Environmentally Preferable Products Database
A searchable products database.
The Consumers Union's Guide to Environmental Labels
This site provides information on over 125 commonly used
labels.
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the Federal Trade
Commission
This site provides useful information on making
environmental marketing claims in business.
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