The how’s and why’s of green building.
What is green?
The process of green building looks at all phases of home construction — design, construction and operation — with an eye toward environmental considerations. One key element is using building products and materials that are manufactured with sustainability in mind. Another involves situating a house so that it reflects the predevelopment site to the greatest extent. And, finally, there’s the issue of energy efficiency, making sure the home performs much better than one simply built to code. The final product is a home that costs less to operate and maintain, and that provides a healthier living environment.
What are the benefits of building green?
Here are some of the benefits that owners of green homes can experience:
- Lower operating costs—Homeowners pay less on their utility bills because of energy and water efficiency measures.
- Increased comfort—Green homes have relatively even temperatures throughout the home, with fewer drafts and better humidity control.
- Improved environmental quality—Green homes use materials that better control moisture, contain fewer chemicals and generally contribute to a healthier indoor environment.
- Enhanced durability and less maintenance—Green homes incorporate building materials and components that strive to increase the useful life of the individual components and the whole house. This reduces landfill waste, as well as maintenance and repair costs.
How does a homebuyer know for sure that a house is green?
A few builders claim to adhere to green building standards when they really don’t. All of our homes are tested by an independent party to get the ENERGY STAR rating. This verification process includes several system tests and a visual inspection of a home’s thermal envelope to make sure it is airtight and has the required insulation values.
What is ENERGY STAR?
ENERGY STAR is a joint program of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Department of Energy that helps us all save money and protect the environment through energy efficient products and practices.
Doesn’t ENERGY STAR apply only to appliances?
Most people are familiar with ENERGY STAR appliances, but many do not know that a home can be certified ENERGY STAR, as well. TMG Homes has partnered with ENERGY STAR to build 100 percent of its homes as ENERGY STAR-rated. For more information, visit http://www.energystar.gov.
What are the Green Homebuilding Guidelines and who developed them?
The National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) developed the Green Homebuilding Guidelines. This is a voluntary program that rates homes as Bronze, Silver or Gold based on their performance in several categories, such as energy efficiency, indoor environmental quality and global impact. TMG’s current construction practices exceed the NAHB’s Green Home Building Gold standard.
What is LEED?
LEED stands for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design and is a program run by the United States Green Building Council. LEED is the most recognized and stringent of the various green building programs. LEED is also based on a point system and rates buildings as Certified, Silver, Gold and Platinum. LEED has several commercial programs available and is piloting the LEED program for residential homes. TMG is currently participating in the pilot and, by the spring of 2008, will be the only builder to have built a LEED-certified house in Chester County. For more information, visit http://www.usgbc.org