Green Building 101: Constructing Eco-Friendly Homes is Easy if You Understand the Basics

In the new housing economy, green building is one of the few bright spots in an otherwise dark time. It offers builders a way to dramatically differentiate their product from existing housing stock. Green homes, also marketed as “high-performance homes” (see page 27), often appeal to upscale buyers looking to upgrade their housing while treading lighter on the planet. How do you get started? Here’s how to sort out your options.

Green, Greener & Greenest
There isn’t a single, rigid formula for building a green home. Rather, it requires a sliding-scale approach based on the building site’s opportunities, the client’s budget, the local climate and a host of other factors. The greener the home, the more it costs—thanks to testing, certification and better-performing building materials (windows, doors, insulation, roofing, HVAC systems, etc.). Communicate this to your clients early in the buying process. Ultimately, green features compete with other amenities.

Different Green Standards
The two main guidelines for green building are the U.S. Green Building Council’s LEED Program (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) and the NAHB’s National Green Building Program. In addition, more than 60 local organizations have established their own guidelines of what it means to be green.

Principles of Sustainability
Regardless of which green standard a builder is following, the principles of green building focus on passive solar orientation, best use of space, an energy-efficient envelope, water efficiency, renewable materials, easier maintenance, better indoor air quality, tighter duct works and the use of less-toxic materials.

Home As A Complete System
A home is a system and has to be thought of as such when designing it. Often one component (such as powerful exhaust range over the cooktop) can affect another seemingly unrelated feature (such as mold growth in the walls). The negative pressure of the exhaust fan can draw air and humidity from outside through the walls (depending on local climate), fostering mold growth and leading to potentially catastrophic indoor air quality.

Energy Efficiency Is Paramount
Most homes in America today perform as if a window has been left open year-round. You can change this by opting for increased insulation in the homes you build, which will save your clients as much as 50% on heating costs and eliminate the need for air conditioning in some latitudes. You will also have to upgrade the HVAC systems and pay close attention to sealing. Tight duct work, blower door testing and HERS rating is routine in green building.

Passive Solar Positioning
Orienting the home to benefit from passive solar gain can save you up to 40% on heating and cooling costs, says consultant Jerry Yudelson, author of three books on green building. Putting the home on a north-south axis is the most energy efficient; to achieve this in a subdivision, streets should be laid out from east to west as much as possible. With proper orientation, air conditioning costs can be nearly halved.

Reduce Square Footage & Volume
Know which clients are prime prospects for green building? McMansion refugees, who are desperate to unload those square footage behemoths with their super-size energy bills and poor comfort. Instead, they’ll pay you handsomely to reduce their square footage to something far more manageable. While you’re at it, eliminate those extra-high ceilings. When you enlarge a ceiling height from 9’ to 12’, your client now has one-third more air to heat or cool. If you want height, try raising the ceiling in only one or two places to add drama to the design.

Specifying Green Products, Appliances
Need a resource for specifying green building materials as well as Energy Star–rated appliances, electrical and plumbing fixtures? Consult Green Building Products: The GreenSpec Guide to Residential Building Materials (New Society Publishers $34.95) for a comprehensive list of options.

Determining Roof Overhang And Window Sizing
Turn to the Pilkington Sun Angle Calculator (SAC). This handy tool provides a relatively simple method of determining solar geometry variables for roof overhangs, window sizing and shading devices, or locating the position of the sun relative to a particular home site’s latitude and time of year. It is a quick and accurate tool and has been used extensively by educators, researchers and design professionals for the past 50 years. You can order five for $25 by clicking here.

Other Resources & Tools
• To start, check out the Green Homes Gallery on this website by clicking here.
• For climate data to sort out your job site’s opportunities and weather challenges, visit the NOAA website or call 828-271-4800.
• To subscribe to a green building newsletter, Environmental Building News, click here.
For More Information: Visit the U.S. Green Building Council, which has established the Leadership in Energy Efficiency & Design Program (LEED).
• Check out the National Green Building Program from the National Association of Home Builders by clicking here.
• The Department of Energy’s REScheck materials have been developed to simplify and clarify code compliance with the Model Energy Code, the International Energy Conservation Code and a number of state codes. Find out more here.