Living Green: The Missing Manual

Chapter 4. Building and Remodeling

Your dream house can be green, and we're not talkin' paint color here. Advances in construction technologies and materials can help you build the home of the future right now—one that's safe for your family, sips energy instead of gulping it, and is gentle on the earth. Green building standards can help you be sure that your contractor uses sustainable materials, pays extra attention to energy efficiency, and minimizes waste. If you already own a home, there are all kinds of remodeling projects that can help make it greener.

This chapter explains what makes a construction or remodeling project green. You'll also find out how to maximize energy efficiency and find a builder whose attitude toward the environment lines up with yours. Because green building can cost more up front than traditional construction—though you'll recoup some of the costs over time through energy savings—the chapter also explores special funding options for efficient and earth-friendly building projects.

Building green doesn't have to cost more if you're smart about planning. First, set a budget. Then, work with your architect and builder to determine your needs and set your priorities. For example, many people think they need more space than they actually use. Less square footage means lower building costs—and that you'll save money on heating, cooling, and lighting your home. Keep in mind, too, that some green features—like solar panels, a gray-water system, and composting toilets—can be installed later if they'd break your budget now. (And not everyone wants such extreme green solutions in their home.)

LEEDing the Way to Green Buildings

If you're in the market for a new house, the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC, www.usgbc.org) has a rating system that can help you find a green one. This organization was founded in 1993 to promote energy efficiency and sustainability in the design, construction, and operation of homes and other buildings. Today, the USGBC has nearly 20,000 member organizations, including builders and contractors, architects, financial institutions, and just about anyone else involved in the construction industry. In 1998, the USGBC developed the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Green Building Rating System, a set of standards for determining how green new buildings are. These standards rate construction projects' greenness in relation to these goals:

• Decreasing operating costs.

• Reducing the amount of waste sent to landfills.

• Conserving energy.

• Conserving water.

• Ensuring the building is safe and healthy for those who occupy it.

• Reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

The USGBC has a version of the LEED system specifically for homes (as opposed to commercial buildings, schools, and so on). The LEED for Homes rating system, which applies only to newly constructed buildings, has four certification levels (shown in Table 4-1). A building's rating is determined by the number of points it earns in these categories:

• Innovative design process. Sustainability begins before a structure is even built. This category evaluates how a building's plans integrate green technologies and techniques.

• Location and linkages. Where a home is built has an impact on the community and the environment. For example, this category awards points for situating a home near existing buildings and infrastructure and away from environmentally sensitive areas.

• Sustainable sites. This category focuses on things like keeping invasive plants out of the landscaping, managing surface water, and building in nontoxic pest control.

• Water efficiency. Buildings get points for rainwater harvesting (Outdoors) gray-water systems (Mowing Tips), and high-efficiency plumbing and watering systems.

• Energy and atmosphere. The more points a home has in this category, the lower your energy bill. The goal is to maximize efficiency—rating a home's Energy Star (Evaluating Your Home's Energy Use) performance for heating (both air and water) and cooling—and minimize greenhouse gas emissions.

  Note

  A home can earn extra points in this category for using renewable power sources, like wind generators (Hydro power for homes) or solar panels (Geothermal heating and cooling).

• Materials and resources. This one's about using efficient and earth-friendly materials. For example, the builder has to use FCS-certified lumber (A Greener Lawn) and limit wood waste to 10% or less. They get points for locally produced and recycled building materials, too.

• Indoor environmental quality. You want the air in your home to be free of pollutants and toxins, including mold. Homes get points for meeting the Energy Star Indoor Air Package specifications, which focus on moisture, radon (Radon), and pest control; ventilation; efficient heating and cooling; and minimizing VOCs (VOCs and You).

• Homeowner awareness and education. It's not enough to build a green home; USGBC members also have to tell the owners how to get the most out of their LEED-certified house. A homeowner's manual is a must in this category, and there are also points for educating the community about green homes.

A building can earn up to 136 points. Table 4-1 shows how points translate into ratings, and how much energy you can save compared to an average home.

Table 4-1. LEED Certification Levels

LEED Rating Level	Number of Points	Energy Savings for Your Home
Certified	45–59	About 30%
Silver	60–74	About 30%
Gold	75–89	48%
Platinum	90–136	50–60%

Note

Governments love green. Many LEED-certified buildings qualify for tax rebates, zoning allowances, and other incentives. See Green Mortgage Options for more about green financing, and check with your city to see what benefits there are for building green in your area.

LEED is a great set of standards, but it's not the only one. Countries and regions around the globe are establishing their own guidelines, including these, to name just a few:

• Canada. In 2004, the province of British Columbia became the first non-American LEED licensee. Since then, the Canada Green Building Council has adapted the USGBC's LEED ratings for Canadian climates. Visit www.canadagreenhomeguide.ca to learn more.

• Mexico. The Mexico Green Building Council (www.mexicogbc.org) is developing standards to rate green buildings.

• United Kingdom. The Code for Sustainable Homes sets minimum standards for energy and water use and gives new homes a 1–6-star rating. (Find more info at www.planningportal.gov.uk.) In addition, the UK Green Building Council (www.ukgbc.org) provides information, education, and training materials about green building and energy efficiency.

• Australia. Green Star is the Green Building Council of Australia's rating and certification program. Read all about it at www.gbca.org.au/green-star.

• South Africa. The Green Building Council of South Africa (www.gbcsa.org.za/home.php), formed in 2007, has adapted Green Star guidelines into its own rating system, Green Star SA.

• Hong Kong. The HK-BEAM Society (www.hk-beam.org.hk) has created the Building Environmental Assessment Method (BEAM), which rates new buildings' sustainability, energy efficiency, and healthiness for use in Hong Kong and the Asia Pacific region.

Note

For a clickable list of these sites and all the other links in this book, head to the Missing CD page at www.missingmanuals.com.