Green Homes Can Be Affordable - Heather's Home Is Proof | Environment

By JohnWyeth
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Many people will tell you that building a green, energy efficient home is much more costly than a traditionally constructed home. In the past, this would likely have been a true statement, however, some builders are now able to construct green homes that are comparable to or even less expensive than traditional construction.

Heather's Home is one such an example. Built by Ferrier Custom Homes - it is a three bedroom, 2000+ square foot, (get this part) affordable green built home near Ft. Worth, Texas. This home is very energy efficient as it rates in the top one percent of Energy Star home built in the United States today. That translates into major savings when it comes to utility bills - how does around $15 per month sound? For Texas, where the summers are very hot, that's pretty incredible.

The home was built under NAHB Green Home Building Guidelines and is the first home in the nation to be certified under the new, more stringent, American Lung Association's Healthy Home guidelines. Heather's home has been accepted into the Department of Energy's Building America Program. It is the third home in the nation to receive LEED's (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Platinum certification and the first home in Texas to receive LEED certification. Heather's Home was also awarded gold, the highest honor in the Energy Value Housing Awards, by the National Association of Home Builders, the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, and the U.S. Department of Energy.

Some of the green and high performance components and features of the house that really standout are...

Structural Insulated Panels (SIPs)

High Efficiency Heating and Cooling System

Structural Insulated Panels (SIPS)

Organic Landscaping

Fluorescent and CFL Lighting

Rainwater Harvesting

Fiber Cement Siding

Non VOC Interior Finishes

Green Sustainable Products - Counter tops, Trim, Floor Coverings, Finishes, etc.

Rainwater Harvesting

Energy Star Windows, Doors, Lighting, Appliances

Passive Solar Design

Proper Shading of Doors and Windows

"Thermo-Siphoning" Attic Fan

A key factor that lends to the overall efficiency of the home is it's passive solar design. In Texas, and other warm climates the passive solar principles employed by Heather's Home work to reduce sunlight exposure in the summer months while maximizing it in the winter months. A typical passive solar design in more northern climates would see these points reversed.

Water is heated by solar panels on the roof. Heating hot water typically accounts for approximately thirty percent of a home's utility bills. Solar systems that power an entire house can be expensive, however, solar hot water systems can be installed for as little as $3,000.

Quality control is ensured using a HERS (Home Energy Rating System) test. The testing occurs during and after construction to make sure that the home meets the stringent guidelines of the EPA for energy efficiency. To ensure that the house is airtight, a duct blaster test is also performed as well as the review of a checklist for thermal bypass.

What's interesting about Heather's Home is that it's economically pragmatic, but it looks good - it's proof that a modern, green, high performance home can be affordable. It now seems clear that going forward, homes can be built green with little or no added cost. There is really no reason that more developers and builders aren't building green - at least no good reason. So start spreading the word building green doesn't have to cost more.

About the Author

Green home building is affordable if you locate the proper builder employing the proper products and methods. John Wyeth writes informative articles for homegreenhome.info - a blog about building, financing, powering and living in your green home.

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