All Green Homes are Energy Efficient, but not all Energy Efficient Homes are Green
Do you remember the energy crisis of the 1970's? (We had to wait in line to get gas when it was our designated day to buy gas.) That was the about the time Energy Star emerged, a designation for appliances and lighting fixtures.
ENERGY STAR was designed to reduce demand for electricity and decrease burning of fossil fuels for electricity. Homes recieve this designation by passing inspections and tests for proof that they meet the highest quality in these types of things:
1. Sealing of the Home (test by a blower door test)
2. Quality and installation of Insulation
3. HVAC and duct system sealing
4. Appliance rating for energy star
5. Lighting fixtures and bulbs for energy star
GREEN HOMES, either NAHB or LEED consider much more than just the energy efficiency of the home. BUT, a green home must be Energy Star approved. Here are some of the other things a Green Home must include:
1. Energy Star designation
2. Site selection, minimize impact to natural resources
3. Resource Efficiency: recycle waste, and useas little materials as possible, use recycled materials
4. Water efficiency
5. Indoor Air Quality
6. Operations and Maintenance for the owner
7. Global Impact from the manufacturer's operations.
This begins a series of best practices in the home building construction. Builders and Realtors alike can submit their green building best practices and we'll make stories of them! More to come.
Katy Slater, Ecopreneur
Idaho Blue Insulation 340-1107