Going green: What to look for when buying a home
AMERICAN-STATESMAN STAFF
Sunday, August 10, 2008
Even with rising energy costs and a larger, two-story home, Adrian and Kelly Gonzales are still saving money on their electric bills.
In April, the couple moved into a home built by Green Builders Inc., which touts energy-saving features and sustainability.
They pay 32 percent less — last month their electric bill was $150 — on their 2,700-square-foot two-story home than they did in their previous one-story, 1,900-square-foot home, even though it's 42 percent larger.
Much of those cost savings comes thanks to spray-foam insulation, a tankless water heater, dual-pane windows and efficient cooling systems, among other features the builder used.
In Austin and other cities across the nation, green building is finally taking off. This year, green building's share of the U.S. residential housing market is expected to hit 6 percent, up from 2 percent in 2005, according to a McGraw-Hill Construction Research & Analytics survey.
Since 2005, about 332,900 green homes have been built, with an average price of $296,000.
But with various companies and builders touting green living and products, how does a homeowner know what to look for?
Whether buying a new or existing home, home buyers can turn to several resources to figure out whether claims of being green are accurate.
Homes that are green are designed, constructed and operated using resources that have less of a negative impact on the environment. Such homes use less energy and water, renewable materials, right-sized heating and cooling systems and native landscaping. They also create less waste.
Buyers can verify whether a home has been certified through one of many green building programs including Austin Energy's Green Building program; the National Association of Home Builders Green Building Program and the U.S. Green Building Council's Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design rating system; and programs for new and existing homes through Energy Star, a joint program of the Environmental Protection Agency and the Department of Energy.
Each group provides standards, some more stringent than others, for certification. The organizations also provide recommendations to help make a home more energy-efficient, even if the consumer doesn't seek certification.
Consumers can have a third-party home energy rater check out the energy-saving features in a home. (Recommendations are listed on the Web sites of Austin Energy, Energy Star and the National Association of Home Builders green programs.)
"Green building isn't just bandages and a bunch of materials," said Mary McLeod, coordinator for the Austin Energy Green Building single-family program. "It's much more basic than that."
Most of the savings begin in the design phase. For example, the orientation of the home — on an east-west axis — is important to naturally reduce energy, as is using proper insulation, efficient heating and cooling systems and tight ductwork.
Even if a home isn't officially certified, consumers can check for basic energy-saving features including efficient heating and cooling systems, windows, awnings over windows and energy-efficient appliances.
Because Green Builders owner Clark Wilson is building outside Austin, he cannot get certified through Austin Energy's Green Building program, one of the most rigorous in the country.
"The city's program is a great program to follow," said Wilson, who consulted with architects and designers who work with Austin's green program and followed those guidelines. "They kind of pushed me to seek other certification programs."
Wilson said Austin "is a great place to sell this kind of product, and there's a lot of intellectual capacity in our field here."
While his homes meet Energy Star's specifications, he "wanted to get into a stricter program," he said, and decided to adhere to the National Association of Home Builders green building standards.
His homes use 24-inch overhangs to reduce heat, 53-gallon rain barrels that collect rain to reduce water use, local and regional materials that save fuel for shipping and special paint and finishes that emit lower levels of organic pollutants.
Kelly Gonzales, a pediatric dentist, said she was impressed by how "beautiful" her recycled carpet (made from soda bottles) is in her new home, but was most pleased by the indistinguishable temperature variance between her lower and second floors.
And the bonus for Gonzales has been in having a sustainable home.
"We knew what we were doing was good for the environment," she said.
mtaboada@statesman.com; 512-912-2942
Go green with improvements that boost energy efficiency
Homeowners can make existing homes more efficient with simple improvements.
Cool your attic with a radiant barrier under the roof decking.
Add more insulation to your attic (R-30 is recommended for our climate).
Caulk windows and baseboards; weather-strip doors; install foam covers at light switches and outlets.
Insulate and weatherstrip the hatch to your attic.
Change windows only if they are steel casement or jalousie types. Most other window replacement isn't worth doing for energy reasons.
Shade windows that receive a lot of direct sun. Add solar screens, window films, awnings; build a pergola or trellis; plant shade trees.
Install and use ceiling fans in rooms you occupy the most, even kitchens and baths.
Change out old leaky recessed-can light fixtures to the IC-AT kind (insulation-contact, air-tight).
Change useless down-light trim lighting to eyeball and wall-washer trim when possible to get more light on walls.
Paint exterior a light color to reflect heat. Paint interior light colors to reflect light and reduce need for hot artificial lights.
Get your heating and cooling equipment serviced regularly. Change your filters regularly.
Change indoor and outdoor
lights that are used most
frequently to durable,
energy-efficient
compact fluorescent
bulbs.
Source: Austin Energy
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