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New Quality Standard For Green Homes
From WikiVerde
With increasing eco-consciousness among home owners and builders, the construction of green homes is becoming more and more widespread around the world. In America, the LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certification program from the U.S. Green Building Council (USBGC) rates buildings according to their environmental friendliness. LEED for Homes offers a set of parameters that defines a green home.
LEED exhaustively covers areas including construction materials, air quality, energy and water consumption, size, location, awareness and so on. While you’re building your home, you can work with a LEED for Homes provider, who will keep you on track through design and construction, and will then certify your home and register it with the USGBC, for a fee that can range between $500 and $2,000. Your provider can also give you a Home Energy Rating System (HERS) rating before construction and conduct post-construction tests like the blower door test and the duct blast test.
America’s Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) also has a standards program called Energy Star, which is a labeling system that covers homes and commercial constructions as well as other products. Energy Star calls for the use of energy efficient heating and cooling and good insulation, among a range of other factors. A new set of voluntary standards will be offered by the National Association of Home Builders.
Why Green Homes Are Better Homes
What are the benefits of building a green home? Aside from the satisfaction of knowing you are doing your best to not degrade our environment further, there are a range of benefits that come from thinking and acting green as early as possible.
The environmental benefits include the safeguarding of biodiversity and ecology, conservation of natural resources, betterment of the air and water we breathe and drink and the reduction of waste. Green building also offers social benefits such as better health for the inhabitants and less drain on infrastructure such as power or water.
As far as the financial angle is concerned, costs are brought down. A new market for green products, services and ideas will be created, and as the residents of the building are healthier, they are more efficient and productive.
Characteristics of A Green Home
A green home has certain specifications that earn it its name. Firstly, it utilizes ecologically sound materials and products. It should be affordable, and should conform to construction norms and standards. Principles of proper site preparation and maintenance should be correctly followed by the builders. The house should use water and power efficiently, using solar and wind energy wherever possible. Sewage and garbage should be dealt with properly. Water quality should be good, as well as that of the air inside the house, which must have adequate ventilation. There should be plenty of natural light in the house. Landscaping should be carefully done, in tune with the existing environment, and without disturbing the ecology of the area.
Paint Your Home Green
Even if your home was built before green consciousness, there are hundreds of things you can do to make it more eco-friendly. Let’s look at some of them. Great energy savers include simple ideas like keeping your fridge away from heating appliances like ovens, cleaning your clothes dryer’s lint trap for better movement of air, using cold water for laundry, and washing full loads rather than partial ones.
Keep your curtains and windows open to let the sun heat your home on cool days, and vice versa. Prevent drafts from AC units by keeping them covered or insulated, and from other areas by sealing around doors and windows, and cracks in ducts or pipes. Carbon monoxide and radon detectors are useful to check air quality. Make sure your bathrooms and kitchen are well ventilated to prevent mold. Harness solar power and use it to run heaters, fans, and other appliances. Solar panels are easy to install and affordable, and the power generated can be used for all sorts of purposes.
Less Is More
The next time you reach for your electric mixer or can opener, think… wouldn’t it be better to use a manual tool? And keep power consumption down by using timers, dimmers, etc. on your lights, and using low wattage bulbs. Put in skylights wherever possible so you need to use less electrical light. Use CFL (compact fluorescent light) bulbs for low energy consumption – and reduced greenhouse gas emissions, too.
Use a thermostat that can be adjusted to switch off when the house is unoccupied. Insulate your water heater to improve its performance. A jacket around the heater and insulation for the pipes won’t cost you much and you will be more than repaid by your savings on energy. Keep your HVAC well maintained, getting it serviced at least once in two years. Filters should be cleaned on a monthly basis to keep airflow healthy and the system efficient.
Try to create your own compost pit – you can help reduce methane emissions if you take charge of your own organic garbage. Re-use and re-cycle as much as possible. Switching your computer off whenever possible is a good idea, too, and putting it on idle mode if you’re not using it for a while.
Try to keep track of your home’s energy consumption, and pinpoint areas where you can cut down. Using Energy Star’s Home Energy Yardstick is one way to go about this.
More About Less…
Use water sparingly – try to recycle water for your plants, washing a car, etc. “Grey water” or water from sinks, tubs, washing machines and so on can easily be recycled. Rainwater harvesting is a great way to save water, too. Use drip and bubbler irrigation with moisture sensors for low water consumption. Plant tree to keep your house cool and protected from the rays of the sun. For furniture, use materials that are easily renewable like bamboo, which can be re-grown within a short space of time. Look for salvage that can be re-used – you’ll be saving some trees! Wood can be salvaged from old logs and barrels, demolished buildings, and so on.
References:
http://www.epa.gov/greenbuilding
http://www.projo.com/news/environment/content/LEEDside_03-16-08_I89BBFQ_v7.229c5d3.html
