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What is green building?

Green Certified buildings are designed to:

  • Lower operating costs
  • Increase asset value
  • Reduce waste sent to landfills
  • Conserve energy and water
  • Be healthier for occupants
  • Reduce harmful greenhouse gas emissions
  • Demonstrate an owner's commitment to environmental stewardship and social responsibility

 

What makes a home Green?

  • Tight Construction and Ductwork
  • Effective Insulation System
  • Efficient Heating and Cooling Equipment
  • High Performance Windows
  • Energy Efficient Products
  • Independent Testing

 

Benefits of Independent Inspection and Testing:

  • Real proof that the home was built to the green standard
  • Increased resale price

 

Costs & Benefits to Building Green:

  • Average costs are only 3 - 8% over a code built home; per several local builders
  • Per EarthCraft, this cost is recouped in 3 - 5 years, due to lower energy bills.
  • Tax credits; nahb.org/energy efficiency tax credit and/or energystar.gov

 

Certified Green Building Programs:

 

What to look for in a Builder:

  • Member of 3-tiered home builders association federation: Roanoke Regional Home Builders Association (RRHBA; rrhba.com), Home Builders Association of Virginia (HBAV; hbav.com) & National Association of Home Builders (NAHB; nahb.org)
  • Certified Green Professional
  • Familiar with Green Building Programs and their implementation

 

 

Disclaimer: The intent of this information, as prepared by the Roanoke Regional Home Builders Association (RRHBA) Green Building Committee, is to provide a general overview of Green Building and is not intended to be all inclusive. 8/17/2011 SS