Building a Home That’s Green…What Does It Really Mean?

Green—it’s the description for one color, but when it comes to green homes, it describes a multi-hued palate. If you’ve been considering green architecture principles in the building of a new home, you’ve probably already found this out. You may have run across a gamut of green products and  labels such as WaterSense and GREENGUARD and a slew of green building rating systems including LEED, Passive House and HERS. Maybe you’ve also heard about building and energy codes that apply to green building.

The upshot of many would-be new homeowners’ preliminary research about the products, certifications, and codes associated with green architecture and building is—not surprisingly—confusion. Rapid change within the entire green field in a relatively short period of time is partly the cause. When interest in sustainable building design steadily increased from the 1980s forward, manufacturers of building products scrambled to get a slice of the green building product pie. The practice of “greenwashing”—whereby deceptive marketing claims confer environmentally-friendly benefits onto products that don’t truly offer them—grew to become common and further compound the confusion.

So…what is a green home? What building material goes into it? What codes must be adhered to? Who might certify its greenness should you want to take that step?  Can you choose—to some extent—what green means to you? In this article, I’ll help you navigate the green building verification landscape, demystify some green architecture-related terminology, and identify the areas of greatest value for your project.

How to Select your Green Products

Knowing which labels and certifications represent legitimate sustainable products—so that you can steer clear of greenwashing—is important in the construction of your green home. These are intended to confirm that a product meets a specific standard and does truly offer an environmental benefit.

Certification for a green product is considered most trustworthy when provided by an independent, third-party tester (i.e., not the manufacturer!). When designing and building your home, look for these reliable labels: Cradle to Cradle, Energy Star, Forest Stewardship Council (FSC), Green Seal, GREENGUARD, Green Squared, SCS Global, and WaterSense. In many cases, the products carrying these labels are not appreciably higher in cost than conventional brands—making them a good value for any sustainable architecture project.

Know Your Local Building Codes Requirements

Green building and energy-efficiency codes continue to be developed and adopted throughout the U.S.—pushing building design and construction to new levels of sustainability and performance. Unlike green product or building certification decisions, following green building and energy-efficiency codes is mandatory. Although the U.S. doesn’t have national green building or energy codes, state and local governments have adopted their own. When undertaking a home design project, either new construction or renovation, be sure to find out if there are state or local codes that apply.

Here in Vermont, all residential projects must comply with the Vermont Residential Building Energy Standard (RBES). First adopted in 1998, the code includes requirements for additions, alterations, renovations, and repairs as well as for new home construction. Revisions to RBES in 2015 set a relatively high standard for energy efficiency when compared to other state energy codes.

Consider Whole House Certification

While green labeling and product certifications play a role in determining the sustainability of individual products, a sustainable home is best thought of as an integrated whole whose entirety is greater than the sum of its individual parts. The sustainability of your overall project is the focus of green building certification and rating systems.

There are a number of reasons to pursue green certification for your residential project. Foremost, the certification provides verification of the green nature of your home. This often results in a higher resale value for your home down the road.  Second, rating systems serve to educate every individual involved in your project. This means you can set an example in furthering environmentally sound practices in your community and even within the industry.

Yet, I’d like to point out that a house does not have to be certified to be sustainable. I work with many clients that choose to be greener about some of the choices they make and less green about others. For a family with an asthmatic child, air quality might be of the highest concern; for a family living in a dry climate, water conservation might be the number one goal.

Since certification generally will add to the cost of your project—both in terms of design and construction—you might not opt for this step.  The gain in resale value may or may not cover the added upfront costs of certification. Working with a design team that is experienced in analyzing the cost-benefit ratio regarding sustainable home certification is advisable. Regardless of whether or not you choose to certify, your project will benefit from a working knowledge of these systems.

Here’s an overview of the most relevant rating systems for sustainable residential architecture:

MULTI-VARIABLE FOCUS

These rating systems look at the environmental sustainability of multiple aspects of your home. The key areas reviewed are site, water, energy, materials, and indoor air quality.

LEED for Green Homes

LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certification is a green building rating and certification system managed by the U.S. Green Building Council and verified by an independent, third party. LEED homes’ design criteria focus on sustainable site development, water savings, energy efficiency, innovation in design, sustainable materials selection, and clean indoor air. LEED for Homes certification involves four main steps:  registration of your project by selecting a team, completing forms and submitting payment; verification of project milestones through an on-site process; review of your application after submission of calculations and documentation; and receiving the certification decision.

The Living Building Challenge for Green Building

The Living Building Challenge is a green building certification program based on the idea that buildings, like living organisms, can enhance their ecosystems. Living buildings are regenerative spaces that connect occupants to light, air, food, nature, and community; are self-sufficient and remain within the resource limits of their site; produce more energy than they use; and collect and treat all water onsite. Third-party auditors verify each project. All performance areas are requirements.  Costs depend on size and type of project. This certification represents the highest level of environmental sustainability attainable today.

ENERGY FOCUS

These rating systems are primarily concerned with energy usage. Secondary benefits include improved indoor air quality, higher levels of comfort, and enhanced durability.


The International Passive House Association (iPHA)

Passive House stands for healthy, comfortable living and impressive energy efficiency, regardless of the regional climate. It is the only internationally recognized energy efficiency standard. The iPHA is a global network that works to promote and safeguard the high quality associated with the Passive House Standard and foster a greater public understanding of its significance internationally. Under iPHA certification, homes must meet exceptionally stringent standards for space heating demand, space cooling demand, primary energy demand, airtightness and thermal comfort criteria. Homes meeting the standard typically use 85%-90% less energy than conventional, built-to-code homes. Studies show building to this standard adds 0%-10% in cost.


Passive House Institute US (PHIUS)

Established in 2007, PHIUS develops and promotes North American passive building standards, practices, and certifications for buildings, professionals, and products to create structures that are durable, resilient, comfortable, healthy, and super energy efficient. The PHIUS standard is based on the same principles as iPHA, but provides the ability to adjust for climate using specific U.S. zip codes and for available door and window brands.  RESNET acts as the third-party verifier; certification also earns U.S. DOE Zero Energy Ready Home Status and includes a HERS rating. Costs depend on size and type of project. As with iPHA, studies show costs associated with building to this standard add from 0%-10% to a project.

Efficiency Vermont Certified

With Efficiency Vermont’s Certified Home Program, you get up to three hours of free assistance to help you comply with or exceed RBES, the state’s energy code.  Rebates and up to $3,000 in incentives may be accessible for two performance level options that both exceed RBES. An energy consultant guides you in choosing insulation, ventilation systems, windows, efficient heating and cooling systems, and low-flow bathroom fixtures.  Your new home will offer reduced drafts, improved air quality and comfort, and lower energy bills than older homes. A Home Energy Rating System (HERS) score (see below for explanation) is provided for all projects enrolled.

Energy Star

Energy Star offers both product labels and home certifications focused on energy efficiency; it’s managed by the U.S. DOE and the EPA. Homes that earn the Energy Star use about 35% less energy than do average homes. Tools, advice, and strategies are offered by the EPA; the certification process is free.

Home Energy Rating System (HERS)

Introduced by the Residential Energy Services Network (RETN) and recognized by the DOE, HUD and EPA, the HERS Index is a scoring system for measuring a home’s energy performance.  You can think of the HERS Index Score like a miles-per-gallon (MPG) sticker for houses, providing prospective buyers and homeowners with an idea of how a home ranks in terms of energy efficiency. The assessment is conducted by a certified RESNET rater and will determine everything from air leaks to effectiveness of insulation to potential combustion safety issues. The end report contains a cost & benefit analysis for recommended improvements and expected return on investment. The overall goal is to improve home comfort and reduce energy bills. Choosing the right green products will improve your home’s energy performance.

What Next…The Bottom Line

So…now you have a better idea of the many paths that can be taken in the pursuit of a green home. How do you decide what’s right for your project? Answering this question involves a bit of soul searching. What aspects of environmental sustainability are most important to you? Water conservation? Indoor air quality? Sustainable materials? Is energy-efficiency enough or do you seek broad-based sustainability? How do the green building codes in your locale align with your personal goals? Once these questions are answered, you’ll be in a good position to select what’s right for your sustainable home.

If you want to learn more about what goes into designing and building a green home, visit https://harryhuntarchitects.com/

posted by Carol Miklos on 21.06.20

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