Making a difference: 10 reasons to build green
1. Improve the air quality in your home
- The quality of a home’s indoor air is the most important feature of green homes.
- Green homes limit the use of chemicals that can off-gas from building materials that can affect allergies and respiratory ailments.
- Steps are taken to control and filter air contaminants during and after construction. All green homes contain passive radon mitigation systems.
2. Make your living space more comfortable
- Green homes offer better humidity control.
- Advanced air-sealing techniques help eliminate drafts and cold spots to keep temperatures in your home relatively even.
- High-performance Energy Star windows are more efficient and help maintain a constant internal temperature.
3. Reduce energy costs
- ENERGY STAR-rated appliances save an average of 30 percent over standard models.
- Compared with standard homes, ENERGY STAR-qualified homes deliver $200 to $400 in annual savings.
- Advanced insulation techniques and materials increase the R-value of insulation, save energy and help reduce heating and cooling bills, which account for at least half of energy use in the home.
4. Protect water reserves
- The mean per capita indoor daily water use in today’s homes is slightly over 64 gallons. Implementing water conservation measures can reduce usage to fewer than 45 gallons.
- Green homes can have a significant positive impact in areas affected by long- and short-term drought conditions.
5. Reduce time and costs related to maintenance
- Vinyl siding on exterior walls saves money on installation and maintenance; fiber cement siding is termite- and water-resistant and comes with a 50-year warranty.
- Many green materials outlast their conventional counterparts.
6. Reduce home construction waste
- The average single family home in the United States generates between 6,960 and 12,064 lbs. of construction waste.
- Green home building reduces job-site waste by at least two-thirds, reducing the burden on landfill space.
7. Reduce dependence on fossil fuels and promote cleaner air
- By using local materials, green home builders reduce transportation costs — and our reliance on fossil fuels. It also reduces greenhouse gas emissions.
8. Have a global impact
- The benefits of a green home extend far beyond you and your family. Every year, an ENERGY STAR house eliminates 4,500 pounds of greenhouse gases that a conventional house contributes to the atmosphere.
- One example of an issue having global impact is the selection of paints that contain relatively low or no volatile organic compounds (VOCs). The use of low- or no-VOC paints helps reduce ground-level ozone pollution, which can have a global impact.
9. Reduce landscaping costs and help clean the air
- During construction of a green home, topsoil is removed, stockpiled and then reapplied to the site. Soil amendments and compost can be added to promote healthier lawns and reduce watering requirements
- Green homes preserve trees that grow on the property. Tree preservation reduces landscaping and future energy costs and helps provide winter windbreaks or summer shade. One tree can filter 60 lbs. of pollutants from the air each year.
- Proper planning and engineering of a site minimizes the environmental impact of the house during and after construction.
10. Qualify for an Energy Efficient Mortgage (EEM)
- EEMs are federally recognized and can be applied to most home mortgages. They provide the borrower with special benefits when purchasing a home that is energy efficient, or can be made efficient through the installation of energy-saving improvements.
- With an EEM, you can:
- Stretch debt-to-income qualifying ratios on loans for energy-efficient homes.
- Qualify for a larger loan amount.
- Buy a better, more energy-efficient home.