Built Green^®

Frequently Asked Questions about Green Building:

1. What is the most important energy saving product to implement if you had to choose one?

A: A tube of caulk, used to seal up leaks and holes in your building envelope. A can of spray-foam can also be of considerable value, for the larger holes.

2. What is the easiest to implement by anyone right away?

A: Foam gaskets on all electrical outlets and switches on your exterior walls.

3. How much savings for each item windows, doors, appliances, and building envelope construction can we expect?

A: A good building envelope should be the first priority of any construction project. Energy savings of up to 50% can be achieved by a qualified Built Green® builder. Windows and doors are just one part of that envelope, windows can contribute up to about 30% of the heat loss from the building envelope, good quality windows can reduce that loss by about 2/3rds, depending on what you are starting with. You have much fewer doors than windows in a house, but their impact is proportional, and similar efficiencies can be achieved. Energy-Star® appliances will save at least 15% of your appliance energy, but careful shopping among different Energy-Star® qualified appliances can result in savings of more than 30% on your total appliance load. Also, do not forget to change all your old incandescent light bulbs for compact fluorescent bulbs. This can save up to 75% of your lighting loads.

4. Zero energy--what does it mean and is this the way to go?

A: This is a very important question! Some people are satisfied to have zero-net-cost, when local, state, and federal incentives are taken into account. Others would feel that it is not true zero-energy until the actual amount of power generated on-site equals the amount of power used on-site. The real purist would require that you not only generate the power used on site, but also the power used to supply the house with water and other off-site utilities. The ultra-purist would want also to generate enough power to re-charge an electric car, offset the energy used in packaging all the groceries that are consumed on-site, etc.Now the second part of your question, is this the way to go? Yes, for several reasons: The sun produces more than enough energy every day, even on cloudy days, to provide us with all of our power needs. Some of that energy is in the form of clouds, moving water from the sea to the mountains, where it will fall as rain, giving us water to drink. There is still plenty left for all of our other needs, in fact, about 95 times what we can actually use on a daily basis. Regardless of your views on global warming, energy independence, or any other related issues, it just makes good sense to use the sun’s energy to power stationary objects, like our homes, so that the finite quantity of fossil fuels is available as a portable fuel for trucks, trains, and especially airplanes. Responsible cash flow models show that a zero-energy home will pay for the extra construction and energy generation costs in ten to fifteen years. Upon retirement of a 30-year mortgage, the owner of a zero-energy home will have pocketed tens of thousands of dollars in savings, nice to have for an early retirement!

5. If I have an energy-efficient home, how does it change my lifestyle? Will it change?

A: All of us are becoming more aware of the need to conserve energy. Much of this is due to the recent sharp rises in energy costs. With a properly constructed low-energy or zero-energy home, very little would change in your daily life. You will not have to put on an extra sweater when it is cold outside, for example, just to be comfortable in your own living room. You may have ventilation features in your home that require simple operation, such as knowing when to open a window, versus using a filtered fan system.

6. From climate to climate, how does energy efficiency change? Are different products and systems necessary?

A: Different climate zones have different material needs, based on amount of rainfall, pest infestation issues, and other wind and seismic conditions. Other considerations may include window location, glass type, and shading options. The basic energy-efficient building shell will not change much, but the prudent Built Green® builder will make subtle changes in the location of the vapor barrier or vapor retarder, and may make different HVAC (heating and cooling) equipment choices.

7. I have an old house, is it worth remodeling and what remodeling can I do myself?

A: That depends on how old your house is, how satisfactory it is currently, and what has been done to it in the past. It is always a good idea to air-seal a house, as long as you provide means for fresh air to enter the house when you need it. It can be very difficult to properly seal a very old house, and air sealing is critical before any insulation should be installed in a wall that has not been insulated before. Look for a Certified Green Professional® to guide you through this process. The Certified Green Professional® is a designation offered by the National Association of Home Builders to persons who have taken at least three days of very intensive training on Green Building, including one day of Business Management training. Remodeling an older house is not a one-size-fits-all issue, and more harm can be done than good, if it is not done correctly.

8. I want to buy a new house, what should I look for in energy saving offers from the builder?

A: At the very least, a new home should be Energy Star® rated. Additional considerations would include Built Green® certification if you are in Washington State, Earth Advantage® if you are in Oregon, or certification with the National Green Building Standard (ICC-700). These, and other local green building certifications, will assure you of not only the energy-efficient features of the home you are considering, but also of the many other environmentally conscious features, including those that address water quality, indoor air quality, and resource efficiency. Durability is also a major factor in green building programs. Pay close attention to what you get in your new home, not what you get off the price of your new home. A Built Green® home will be your best value.

9. What options are available from builders today for energy savings? Has this changed a lot in recent years or do we just talk about it more?
 
A: Today’s energy-efficient home is completely different in many ways than any home we have ever seen before. Building science has evolved to the point where qualified builders can construct a building envelope far superior to anything we have been able to build in the past. Our homes are tighter, better insulated, and better protected from weather and moisture than ever before. The options available for heating and cooling include ground-source heat pumps, mini-split (ductless) heat pumps, and reverse chillers (air-to-water heat pumps), offering efficiencies unheard of ten years ago. We should be talking about it a lot more than we do!

10. Are enough builders offering enough energy saving products and options to make a difference?

A: Some, but not enough. Even if every new home constructed were built to the highest level of energy efficiency available today, it is still not enough. New homes only comprise about 1% of the total housing stock each year. If each new home used less than half of the energy of the code-built home, we would still be increasing our energy consumption, not reducing it. We seriously need to address the energy used by the existing housing stock, if we are to make a responsible difference.

11. If I buy a new home today, will the energy saving features last long into the future, perhaps ten to twenty years, or will they be outdated 5 years from now?

A: Some of both. We now are using materials, methods, and equipment that were unheard of five years ago. But the people who chose the best products and assemblies five years ago will continue to reap the benefits of those choices, while their neighbors continue to pay the penalties of ever higher energy costs.

12. Are the features the builders are offering adequate? Do we need to select all the options they offer?

A: Built Green® builders typically offer as many choices as they are comfortable installing and supporting. It is up to the consumer to determine their own level of comfort, commitment to the environment, and financial ability. The relative value of most energy-efficient options can traded against the relative value of other options, such as granite or composite counter tops. When responsible choices are made, everyone wins. For example, if you choose a more energy-efficient heating system, the savings could help pay for the granite counter top. That could never work the other way around!

13. What programs should I insist my builder be involved in: Energy Star, Built Green®, others?

A: See #8 above! Knowing what we now know about Green Building, I would insist on having a Certified Green Professional® build my new home, and I would insist that it be built to the highest level of the local Green Building program, whether that be through the National Green Building Standard, or otherwise.

14. Will we ever have a totally ideal energy-saving home or would that be too expensive for the average homeowner? Is there such a home available to us today and at what cost?

A: The Energy Value Housing Awards, sponsored by the US Department of Energy, and run by the NAHB Research Center, highlight the efforts of builders who are striving to build the most energy-efficient homes, at the most affordable cost. Many of the homes recognized each year are very main-stream in both price range, and amenity. Web sites, such as www.Zero-EnergyPlans.com, offer plans for homes that have been built and proven to offer considerable energy savings to consumers. Many of the EVHA winners have their own web-sites, offering plans and construction services, at varying price ranges. Go to www.nahbrc.org/evha for more information on these outstanding builders and their products.

15. What features should we have to keep energy and other housing costs affordable for seniors during retirement?

A: To start with, imagine having no energy bill. After all, if you have no bill, the bill cannot go up, pricing you out of your home! Fixing costs before retirement is very important. Homes for retirees should be well fitted with step-less front entries, wider doorways, accessible bathrooms, and other features allowing people with physical disabilities to continue to live in the home, without making expensive modifications later. Durability of all interior and exterior finishes and materials is another consideration. Reduced maintenance costs should be high on the list for retirees. Not only are the monitory costs reduced, but the time requirement as well, leaving you free to spend your time doing the things you truly enjoy!

Questions provided by: Bestguide-RetirementCommunities
Answers prepared by: Ted L. Clifton, Principal, Zero-Energy Plans LLC.

 

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