Green Building

Green homes incorporate environmental considerations and resource efficiency into every step of the building and development process to minimize environmental impact. The design, construction, and operation of a home must focus on energy and water efficiency, resource efficient building design and materials, indoor environmental quality, and must take the home's overall impact on the environment into account. However, many of the processes and technologies that go into green building happen behind the scenes and behind the walls. What can a homebuyer look for?

Look for the mark of an accredited rating system such as the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) Research Center Green Certified mark or certificate, the homeowner's guarantee that the home was built according to one of the levels of green outlined in either the ICC 700-2008 National Green Building Standard or the NAHB Model Green Home Building Guidelines. The NAHB Research Center, an accredited third-party certification agency, is the sole certifier recognized by NAHB's National Green Building Program.  Other accredited rating systems include the US Green Building Council (USGBC), EnergyStar and the Home Builders Association of St. Louis and Eastern Missouri: Green Building Initiative.

Green Building

Other key components of a green home include:

Energy-Efficient Features.
Many of the energy-efficient qualities of a green home are easy to spot. Appliances, windows, and water heating systems will likely have ENERGY STAR® ratings. The home should also include efficient lighting fixtures and bulbs.

Water-Efficient Features.
Fixtures and appliances such as low-flow showerheads, faucets, and toilets, and ENERGY STAR® dishwashers and washing machines all conserve water. Programmed, low-volume irrigation systems, rainwater collection systems, wastewater treatment systems, and hot water recirculation systems also save water.

Resource-Efficient Features.
These decisions -- from home size, to orientation on the lot, to floor plan layout -- are made in the design of your home and development of the lot. The house orientation and design should take advantage of natural daylight to reduce lighting needs, and should use strategies to reduce heat gain in the summer and heat loss in the winter. The home should contain renewable materials, including rapidly-renewable wood species such as bamboo, and recycled-content materials in carpets, tiles, and concrete formulations.

Indoor Air Quality Features
The heating, air conditioning and ventilation system (HVAC) must be appropriately sized for an efficient and properly ventilated home. Fans in the kitchen and bathrooms should cycle fresh air inside, and release stale air. Low-VOC paints and finishes and wall papers should be used as well.

Outside the Home
In a green home, care should be taken to preserve trees and other vegetation native to the area. Landscaping should contain plants that are appropriate for the climate, and grouped according to water needs. Driveways and other impervious surfaces should be reduced as much as possible, and may be composed of gravel, permeable block pavers, grids, or other permeable systems.

Green Building

There are many reasons for owning or purchasing a green home.

Operating Costs
The technologies and practices required to build a green home to certain criteria may result in lower costs to operate the home. Energy-efficient appliances, lighting systems, and HVAC equipment result in lower energy consumption compared to other models. Using less water through water-conserving faucets, showers, toilets, and irrigation systems may also result in less water consumption. Properly sized HVAC systems mean that less energy is needed to condition spaces.

Maintenance
Effective storm water management and landscaping could mean less time maintaining outside spaces. Also, green building practices lead to the use of some longer-performing materials and careful construction assemblies. Drained foundations, water spouts on gutters, and proper flashing around windows and doors reduce the opportunity for system failure within the home due to moisture intrusion.

Indoor Environmental Quality
Indoor air quality is one of the guiding principles of the ICC 700-2008 National Green Building Standard and the NAHB Model Green Home Building Guidelines. Homes that allow for proper air exchange through ventilation, and low-emitting products like low- or no-VOC paints reduce off-gassing. Further, green building practices look at reducing the opportunity for moisture intrusion. The efficient HVAC systems, windows, and floor plans also mean that heating and cooling is better distributed throughout the home.

The Environment
Increased energy and water efficiency in construction could lead to decreased energy and water consumption in a home throughout its lifespan. Further, some renewable, recycled, and other efficient building products used in green home construction may reduce the impact on natural resources. Also, green homes often include resource and waste reduction and recycling amenities.