Americans are realizing that the way we live today will have an enormous impact on the quality of life for future generations – as well as on our own health and the health of our families today. With this ever-increasing awareness comes a desire to live healthier, more sustainable lives. And where better to start than in the home?
Buildings account for one-third of the energy and raw materials used, waste produced and greenhouse gases emitted in the United States. Residential heating and cooling alone makes up 20 percent of the country’s energy use. Homes also have a great impact on their occupants’ health: The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency estimates that indoor air has on average two to five times as much pollution as outdoor air. “Green” homes are built with a focus on minimizing waste of materials and resources, and they are designed to operate in energy- and water-efficient ways. They also deliver improved indoor air quality by stressing the use of proper ventilation and better materials with fewer toxins, like paints, adhesives, flooring and finishes low in volatile organic compounds. This is significant for the 14 million Americans with asthma and 40 million with allergies. All kinds of homes can be green, from single-family detached homes to high-density apartments, and from luxury condominiums and townhouses to affordable housing projects. Condominiums are particularly well suited to being designed, built and remodeled green. They are typically higher-density than other home types, maximizing the use of materials and space. And because they are overseen by well-organized boards and homeowners’ organizations, the holistic, integrated process necessary for sustainable building and ongoing operations comes more naturally.
There isn’t one right way to build, remodel or maintain a green home. And best of all, the strategies available include many that are as affordable and accessible as more traditional methods. For example, while energy efficiency can be achieved with more-expensive photovoltaic (solar) or geothermal systems, those methods are by no means required for a green home. More cost-effective ideas include better insulation, more-efficient windows and a tighter building envelope, which reduce heat loss and heat gain and make heating and air-conditioning much more efficient. A holistic approach to homebuilding integrates all a home’s systems to work together, so smart landscaping can contribute to cooling efficiency through shading while the home’s orientation on the lot can maximize the way the sun helps naturally heat a home during the winter. Likewise, water efficiency can be achieved with the latest plumbing and fixture technologies, and irrigation can be supplemented by rainwater collection systems. But the selection of water-smart appliances and landscaping that consists of native, drought-resistant plants reduces the need for water in the first place.
Since 2000, the U.S. Green Building Council’s LEED green building-certification system has helped professionals in all sectors of the building industry maximize the efficiency and environmental friendliness of their commercial projects. In January 2008, USGBC launched LEED for Homes, specifically designed to assure homeowners and renters that the places they live meet the highest, most scientifically accepted level of occupant health and environmental sustainability.
LEED is nationally recognized for setting a clear definition of what constitutes a green building. As the use of the term “green” increases in popularity, consumers often have no way of knowing with certainty that what is being promoted as environmentally friendly really is. LEED certification lets homeowners know their homes are genuinely green. The strength of the LEED program is rigorous third-party verification and documentation. Each LEED home undergoes on-site inspections and thorough performance testing.
USGBC also offers a tool for greening already-existing homes. In March 2008, USGBC and the American Society of Interior Designers launched REGREEN, the nation’s first green residential remodeling and renovation guidelines. Unlike LEED, REGREEN is not a certification program. Instead, it guides remodeling professionals and savvy do-it-yourselfers through the 10 most-common renovation projects – including bathrooms, kitchens, gut rehabs and deep energy retrofits – from start to finish. REGREEN addresses pre-design considerations, possible strategies that can be implemented and ideas for overcoming challenges along the way. It also includes case studies for each of the project types, covering homes of all sizes and in many different geographic areas. REGREEN can be downloaded at www.greenhomeguide.org.
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Author : Doug Smeath
Company : U.S. Green Building Council
Doug Smeath is a consumer website marketing manager for the U.S. Green Building Council.
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