Green Maze?

Homebuyers are interested in reducing their energy consumption and carbon footprints and are demanding environmentally friendly homes. How does a “Green Home” get built and how do you navigate through the sea of information? For instance…

What exactly are:

Green Building…Certified Green Building…Energy Efficiency….Water Efficiency…Sustainability…Carbon Footprint…Durability…Indoor Air Quality…Thermal Envelope…Thermal Barrier…Air Barrier…Fresh Air…Environmentally Friendly…Moisture Management…Tight Construction…Graywater…Low-Flow/High Efficiency…Low-VOC…Low E Windows…Pressure Balancing…High Performance Appliances…Energy Star Appliances…LED…LEED…Lighting Efficiency…Optional Lighting Efficiency…Advanced Construction Techniques…and so on…???

What/Who exactly are:

LEED for Homes, Earth-Craft House, Earth Advantage, Energy Star, Environments for Living, the NAHB National Green Building Program and numerous other state and local green building programs???

Defining Green Building

Simply stated, “Green Building” is the technique used during construction that has measureable performance standards. If these standards are met and the house is built to perform as a system, then the house can qualify for a third-party certification. There are several independent systems in the market and one of the most recognized is the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, or more commonly known as LEED.

LEED measures green homebuilding performance standards by assigning points based on eight categories: site selection, water efficiency, materials & resources, energy & atmosphere, indoor environmental quality, location & linkages, awareness & education and innovation.

The advantage of the certification process is its flexibility. Builders can pick and choose various construction techniques, components and products with respect to their site conditions, budget and desires of their clients in order to accumulate the required points.