Building Green: Certifications And Eco-Friendly Upgrades For New Construction Homes

In today's world, sustainable homebuilding is becoming more than a trend—it's a necessity. Choosing to build an eco-friendly home not only benefits the environment, but also offers significant advantages to you, the homeowner. Green building certifications can lead to improved energy efficiency, reduced utility costs, healthier living spaces, and a smaller environmental footprint, as well as potentially qualifying you for tax incentives and rebates based on certain upgrades. The good news is, even if your builder isn't pursuing a full certification, you can still make eco-conscious decisions through specific upgrades that align with your budget and goals.

Understanding Green Building Certifications

Green building certifications are third-party validations that a building meets specific sustainability standards. The following are some of the most recognized certifications:

LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design)

This widely used system offers different certification levels—Certified, Silver, Gold, and Platinum—based on a point system. LEED emphasizes energy efficiency, water conservation, and the use of sustainable materials. LEED certification is recognized globally as an achievement in sustainability; it's the most widely used green rating system in the world, used in 165 countries and territories. Some of the key benefits of LEED certification include saving money through reduced energy consumption, lower insurance rates, and an overall healthier environment with better ventilation and lower mold and mildew growth rates.

There are 4 steps to LEED certification:

1. Register your project by visiting LEED online. You will need to select your project and verification teams, complete key forms and submit payment. Your verification team includes the following roles:

   1. LEED for Homes Provider Organization

   2. LEED for Homes Green Rater

   3. Energy Rater

2. Verify your project milestones and achievements through the on-site verification process. On-site visits throughout the design and construction process will ensure that your project stays on track for achieving certain milestones. Your verification team will arrange these visits and may request additional documentation if needed.

3. Submit your application, including the necessary information, calculations and documentation, to your Green Rater via LEED online and pay your certification fees. Your LEED application will then be reviewed by Green Business Certification Inc., or GBCI. The process consists of a preliminary review and an optional final review.

4. You’ll receive your certification results from each review within 20 to 25 business days. At this point, you can accept or appeal your final review report from GBCI. If you’ve achieved certification, congratulations!

ENERGY STAR

Focused on energy performance, ENERGY STAR certification ensures your home includes energy-efficient appliances, effective HVAC systems, and proper insulation that meets EPA guidelines. The secret to any Energy Star certified new home starts with the framework: quality insulation and sealant prevent the passage of air and temperature variations through the skeleton of your home. Additionally, high-performance windows are coated to protect from damaging ultraviolet light and help maintain a consistent indoor temperature despite the outdoor climate.

Sometimes it’s not your HVAC system that’s problematic, but how it’s installed. Energy Star professionals use best practices to install your system to deliver a more efficient heating and cooling system that doesn’t leak. Proper installation ensures a quieter operating experience while the Energy Star seal promises moisture regulation and a reduction of indoor allergens.

Water damage is one of the most terrible fates your home can suffer. That’s why Energy Star builders protect materials during construction to ward off mold and prevent rotting. Moisture resistant barriers are applied to your home to keep it from being damaged by water and increase its durability over the years. Proper drainage enables water to be ushered off your roof and away from your foundation, while the slight incline your home sits on promotes the downward flow of rain and drainage.

Now it’s time to choose your appliances. Since roughly 20 percent of your energy usage comes from appliances, it’s important to look to cost-saving devices. Energy Star has them all: lights, refrigerators, dishwashers, clothes washers, ceiling fans and ventilation systems. But you’re not just limited to one or two choices. There are hundreds of Energy Star-certified appliances across a variety of categories affording you the flexibility to design a cohesive home to your tastes. The Orrock family of Las Vegas, Nev., says that during the last year in which they’ve lived in a green home, they’ve noticed substantial savings in their overall energy consumption.

Green homes are the way of the future. With so much to offer consumers in the way of financial and energy savings, as well as long-standing warranties and durability measures, going with an Energy Star Certified New Home is an easy choice. The larger upfront costs of an energy-efficient home will be more than made up for with lower utilities and maintenance costs over the years. Learn more about energy efficiency standards with the HERS rating.

National Green Building Standard (NGBS)

This certification is a flexible option for both single- and multi-family homes. It covers areas like energy and water efficiency, resource use, and indoor air quality. The 6 key aspects of NGBS are: Site Design, Resource Efficiency, Energy Efficiency, Water Efficiency, Indoor Environmental Quality, and Operation and Maintenance. Certain levels of each aspect is required to reach one of the 4 levels of NGBS certification: Bronze, Silver, Gold, and Emerald. The different levels of certification provide flexibility for builders and homebuyers based on personal preferences, the state of the market, and regional and cultural influences. Any level of NGBS certification means that the building is energy-efficient and provides a healthier standard of living.

The NGBS certification process is overseen by, and verified by, an NGBS-certified verifier accredited by Home Innovation Research Labs. The certification process consists of 4 steps: Registration, where certification fees are paid and the verifier registers the project with the Home Innovation Research Labs; Design, where certification requirements are reviewed before development begins, and green appliances and amenities are incorporated into the project; Construction, where green practices and products are documented, the project is inspected before drywall installation, and a final inspection with a verifier; and finally Certification, which consists of the pre-drywall and completion inspections, after which a report is submitted and if the requirements are met, Home Innovation will issue the project's certificate.

Passive House Certification

This standard is for ultra-low energy homes that use advanced construction methods for airtightness and high insulation, minimizing the need for active heating and cooling. You may hear the term "Passive House" thrown around; it's both a way of building a home in a sustainable fashion, and a certification for green building. Technically, even if one doesn't pursue certification, one can build a passive home as long as they adhere to the following guidelines:

1. The Space Heating Energy Demand is not to exceed 15 kWh per square meter of net living space (treated floor area) per year or 10 W per square meter peak demand. In climates where active cooling is needed, the Space Cooling Energy Demand requirement roughly matches the heat demand requirements above, with an additional allowance for dehumidification.

2. The Renewable Primary Energy Demand (PER, according to PHI method), the total energy to be used for all domestic applications (heating, hot water and domestic electricity) must not exceed 60 kWh per square meter of treated floor area per year for Passive House Classic.

3. In terms of Airtightness, a maximum of 0.6 air changes per hour at 50 Pascals pressure (ACH50), as verified with an onsite pressure test (in both pressurized and depressurized states).

4. Thermal comfort must be met for all living areas during winter as well as in summer, with no more than 10 % of the hours in a given year over 25 °C.

Passive homes looking for certification can use the Passive House Planning Package, or PHPP, to plan their builds; this is the set of principles that PHI uses to plan, optimize and verify passive homes.

The certification is issued by 2 different organizations in the U.S.: PHI, or Passive House Institute, and PHIUS, or Passive House Institute U.S. The process of certification is slightly different between the two; PHI has a standard for all homes looking for certification, while PHIUS has slightly differing standards for those homes built in less temperate climates. The U.S. Green Building Council also allows passive homes that are seeking PHIUS certification to use the performance standard towards a LEED certification as well.

Living Building Challenge

Known as the most rigorous green building certification, it requires that buildings achieve net-positive energy and water use, along with other stringent performance requirements. "Living Buildings", according to Living Future, are 'regenerative' buildings that connect occupants with light, air, food, nature, and community, are self-sufficient and remain within the resource limits of their location and strive to create a positive impact on people and the systems of nature that interact with them on a regular basis.

The goal of the Living Building Challenge, or simply "the Challenge", as Living Future calls it, is to move from simply building "less bad" to building something truly regenerative and living. The Challenge has a set of 20 “Imperatives” that it requires buildings to follow when looking for certification. There are 3 forms of certification that Living Future offers: Living Certification, Core Certification, and Petal Certification.

• Living Certification is for buildings that want to achieve the highest levels of health, equity, sustainability, and regenerative design. Living Certification requires all 20 imperatives to be met to qualify as a living building.

• Core Certification is for buildings that want to lay the foundations of sustainability. For Core Certification, a building must meet the core 10 of the 20 Imperatives.

• Petal Certification are for buildings that want to deeply focus on one of the issues, or “Petals”, outlined by the Challenge. To achieve certification, the building must meet all 10 core Imperatives, as well as all the Imperatives associated with the Water, Energy, or Material Petals.

Eco-Friendly Upgrades for Your New Home

Whether you're seeking certification or not, you can incorporate numerous eco-friendly upgrades into your new home:

Energy Efficiency:

• High-performance insulation like spray foam or rigid foam can significantly reduce energy loss.

• Energy-efficient windows and doors help maintain indoor temperatures and cut down on heating/cooling costs.

• Smart thermostats and efficient HVAC systems optimize energy use based on your needs.

Water Conservation:

• Low-flow faucets, showerheads, and toilets reduce water consumption without sacrificing performance.

• Rainwater collection systems and greywater recycling can be used for irrigation and other non-potable purposes.

• Drought-resistant landscaping reduces or eliminates the need for watering.

Sustainable Materials:

• Use recycled or reclaimed wood and sustainable flooring options like bamboo or cork for a minimal environmental impact.

• Low-VOC paints and finishes help ensure better indoor air quality by reducing the release of harmful chemicals.

• Opt for eco-friendly insulation materials such as wool, cotton, or cellulose.

Renewable Energy:

• Solar panel installation offers a clean, renewable energy source with battery storage solutions to capture excess energy.

• Geothermal heating and cooling systems use the earth's temperature to heat and cool your home, providing high efficiency.

• Consider wind or micro-hydro options when applicable for local, renewable energy generation.

• Insulation and windows help reduce energy consumption and emission, allowing the home systems to recycle the energy.

Healthy Indoor Air Quality:

• Install whole-home air purification and ventilation systems to remove indoor pollutants.

• Choose formaldehyde-free cabinetry and furniture to minimize chemical off-gassing.

• Use smart home automation systems for continuous air quality monitoring and adjustment.

• Consider using fans or opening/closing windows before reaching for the thermostat.

Choosing the Right Green Features for You

Selecting your green features should be a balance of aspiration and practicality. Here are some things to consider:

Consult Your Builder: Work closely with your builder to explore the most energy-efficient options available within your budget. They’ll likely have a list of upgrades and their costs for you to look over and determine which ones are feasible for your build.

Prioritize and Budget: Rank the upgrades based on your budget and how much you expect to save over the long term, focusing on the most immediate and impactful improvements. It’s important to understand what’s possible for your home in your area given the local environment, as well as what your state allows for home improvements.

Research Incentives: Look into tax incentives and rebates that are available for green home improvements, as these can lower the financial burden of certain upgrades. Some builders offer builder incentives on new construction homes that can help with upgrading to a more sustainable, environmentally friendly version.

Creating a sustainable home is achievable and brings benefits that extend beyond just financial savings. By choosing green certifications and eco-friendly upgrades, you can create a home that is both healthier for you and better for the planet. It's important to make informed choices that resonate with your personal values while maximizing your investment in sustainability.

To learn more about green building and sustainable housing, visit newhomesource.com.