Post by Rick Martin, Wheatland Custom Homes

It wasn’t that long ago when we rarely heard of anything being sold as “green,” yet today, you’d be hard pressed to find an industry that isn’t branding themselves as greener, more environmentally conscious, and/or more energy efficient.  In fact, the home building industry is no different, and you are probably seeing more and more new homes touted as “green.”  But do you know what makes a home green?  As one of the first Certified Green Professionals (CGPs) in the area, I often get asked this question, and here’s my answer.

There are five broad-based categories that go into making a house (or any building, for that matter) green. They are:

1. Site selection and preparation

2. Energy efficiency

3. Efficient use of building materials

4. Indoor air quality

5. Water conservation

Let’s explore each one in a little more detail.

Site selection and preparation – One of the first steps in building a green home is the selection of where the home will be built. In the green building process, it is important to select a site where infrastructure (utilities, roads, etc.) already exists. Additionally, site preparation is extremely important in the green building process. The builder will try to preserve mature trees; this reduces landscaping and future energy costs. Trees also help provide winter wind breaks or summer shade.

Energy efficiency – There is so much about a home that falls under this category. Windows, doors, insulation, appliances, water heating units and the home’s mechanical system all play a huge role in how efficient your home is, and ultimately, what amount of natural resources (i.e., gas, oil or coal) your home uses to stay comfortable. A great place to begin is to select EnergyStar® appliances and electronics.

Efficient use of building materials – Factory-built components including trusses and pre-hung doors allow for more efficient use of raw materials, which makes the most out of every piece of lumber. These products also eliminate the need to cut wood on the jobsite, further reducing waste.

Indoor air quality – Choosing low-VOC (volatile organic compounds) materials – wood flooring, carpets, paints, stains, varnishes and caulks – improves the indoor air quality of the home. Additionally, the filter attached to the mechanical system that controls the home’s heating, ventilation and cooling can remove the majority of the allergens inside your home.

Water conservation – New toilets have redesigned bowls and tanks that use less water, but function more efficiently than the first-generation low-flow models. Advanced shower and sink faucet aerators provide the same flow regardless of pressure to reduce water use and the energy required to heat it. Some homeowners have even installed rain barrels to collect rain for use in watering flowers or washing their cars.

I’ll be delving more deeply into each category in upcoming articles.  If you have any questions feel free to call!