Green Buildings and Green Technology

The green building market is competitive, and is growing rapidly throughout the United States. An increasing number of green homes are being marketed at prices which are comparable to the prices of less efficient homes.

The number of Energy Star Qualified Homes grew from only 55 in 1995 to more than 360,000 by the end of 2004.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Energy Star Qualified Homes is a national program that qualifies homes based on energy efficiency. The program provides a searchable database of home builders who build Energy Star qualified homes, lenders that offer Energy Star Mortgages, utilities that provide special incentives, and home energy raters.

The database is available at http://www.energystar.gov

Energy Star Qualified Homes are independently verified to be at least 30% more energy – efficient than homes built to the 1993 National Model Energy Code or 15% more efficient than state energy code, whichever is more rigorous. These savings are based on heating, cooling, and hot water energy use and are typically achieved through a combination of:

1. Building envelope upgrades
2. High performance windows
3. Controlled air filtration
4. Upgraded heating and air conditioning systems
5. Tight duct systems
6. Upgraded water – heating equipment

If a home is an Energy Star Qualified New Home, the Energy Star label should be prominently displayed in the circuit breaker box of the home. The builder may also have an Energy Star Certificate for the home. The Energy Star program has recently introduced an Indoor Air Quality package as a voluntary add – on tot the core specification of homes.

Built Green Colorado is another good example of a home certification program. In the Built Green program, builders register individual homes to receive the “ Built Green” certification indicating that the homes meet minimum requirements for energy efficiency performance.

Built Green Colorado provides a directory of industry leaders and participating builders, suppliers/ subcontractors, and industry advocates at http://www.builtgreen.org


There are other programs that certify or rate new and/or existing homes as a function of their energy efficiency and “green” design features, as well.

For example, thee U.S. Green Building Council’s (USGBC’s ) Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design ( LEED ) Green Building Rating System is a voluntary, consensus – based national standard for developing high – performance buildings. The USGBC posts a listing of registered projects that are using the LEED Rating System at https://www.usgbc.org/LEED

LEED was created to establish a common standard of measurement for “green buildings.” LEED standards are currently available or under development for:

1. New commercial construction and major renovation projects ( LEED – NC )
2. Existing building operations ( LEED – EB )
3. Commercial interiors projects ( LEED – CI )
4. Core and shell projects ( LEED – CS )
5. Homes ( LEED – H )
6. Neighborhood Development ( LEED – ND )

Homebuilders who adhere to green building programs suggest that homes built to such standards can typically cost more than a comparable home built to conventional standards. However, many aspects of home construction that incorporate energy – efficiency and the use of greener materials are more cost effective than conventional methods. Some builders are offering energy – efficiency packages as options.

Over time, homes with energy – efficient features end up costing less than comparably sized conventional homes because the homeowner spends less money on utility bills. Reduced maintenance and monthly utility costs can more than offset the cost of energy – efficient improvements.

References/ Resources:

“1995 – 2005: A Decade of Change in Home Building with Energy Star,” January 2005, accessed at http://www.energystar.gov


“Built Green Checklist”
Built Green Colorado
http://www.builtgreen.org

“What are Energy Star Qualified New Homes?”
Energy Star
http://www.energystar.gov

“Will Your New Home Really Be Energy – Efficient?”
Energy Star
http://www.energystar.gov

“Version 2.1 Registered Project Checklist”
LEED Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design
http://www.usgbc.org/Docs/LEEDdocs/LEED-NC%20checklist-v2.1.xls

“ LEED Homes Update: January 2004”
LEED Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design
http://www.usgbc.org/Docs/LEEDdocs/LEED-H_update_2004Jan.pdf




“ LEED Rating System for Homes”
LEED Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design
http://www.usgbc.org/DisplayPage.aspx?CMSPageID=147

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
http://www.epa.gov/

U.S. Green Building Council
http://www.usgbc.org/

Energy & Environmental Building Association
http://www.eeba.org/

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