Being Green - What Does That Mean?

The Many Shades of Green:

What the green movement means for you.

by Michael Holster

As we move into a new era of rising energy prices, accelerated global warming, and economic concerns, there is no doubt that we are in a historic period of transition. These changes will affect virtually everyone in a variety of ways. The emergence of the “green” movement to center stage is one indication of our changing times. Green is a very broad term that has come to mean a lot of things to a lot of people.

What is green? Also known as sustainable design, “going green” is a process that transforms what we do and how we do it so that the end result is better for our environment. By “our environment” we don’t just mean the world, the rainforest, or the spotted owl, we also mean the places we work and play in, our homes, and where we travel. So when you think about the environment, think of your house, yard, workplace, the shops you visit, the town you live in, etc.

At its core, the green movement is about efficiency. It is about increasing the efficiency with which we use all of our resources. So the objectives are to pollute less, use less energy, consume less materials and destroy fewer ecosystems. The objectives are also to improve our health, increase our productivity, and enhance our quality of life.

One of the areas where we can meet all of these objectives is new home construction.

Housing accounts for more than 20 percent of total energy consumption in the United States and over 20 percent of total CO2 emissions. This amount of energy is roughly equal to all the oil that we import from other countries (4.4 billion barrels of oil per year). Adopting intelligent green building design principles can dramatically reduce this number.

The environmental impact of housing is affected by many factors. These factors can be organized into four basic categories:

1) Energy  2) Water  3) Materials  4) Site impact

Energy refers to the ongoing energy that is consumed or produced at the home. This energy consumption is reflected in the homeowners monthly utility bills. So energy improvements that are incorporated into the green home design can reduce utility bills and yield substantial dollar savings. And these savings will increase over time as energy prices continue to rise.

The question is: How far do you want to go? Using existing technologies, we can achieve anywhere from zero to 40%, 50%, 60%, even 70% energy savings- and do it in a cost effective manner. That is, not only will the home be green, but additional money spent can yield a good return on investment.

Energy consumption is affected by the size and shape of the house, and how well it is sealed and insulated. It is also affected by the ways we deliver space heating, cooling, hot water, and electricity, and the efficiency of the equipment we use. Technologies to look at include passive solar heating, active solar heating, solar water heating, high efficiency lighting, daylighting, water source heat pumps, hvac design and equipment, solar power, as well as many others.

Water includes all water usage inside and outside the house. Although water is a high priority in our region due to frequent droughts, water efficiency measures do not normally yield significant dollar savings. However, if water shortages continue or get worse, water use restrictions and water fee increases may become substantial. Water use restrictions can also kill lawns and gardens and reduce property values.

As with energy, there are many options to look at depending on how far you want to go. These include low-flow water fixtures, natural landscaping, low water irrigation design, rainwater harvesting, and re-use of gray water.

Materials include all construction materials and furnishings. When it comes to materials, there are many different paths that can lead to green. Recommended materials are superior to traditional materials based on one or more of the following attributes:

• Require less energy to manufacture.
• Are locally produced (So less energy is used to transport them)
• Use natural rather than synthetic ingredients
• Use natural ingredients that are abundant and easy to renew
• Do not contain chemicals that are dangerous to people or the environment
• Do not release dangerous gasses to the air
• Are re-used or recycled from other materials or places.
• Are recyclable or biodegradable.
• Have insulating or other properties that will reduce energy consumption.

Site impact refers to how the new construction affects the surrounding land areas. It includes how many trees are knocked down, excavation, landscaping, storm water runoff, wastewater removal, and the amount of solid waste generated. Positive steps include preserving the original conditions, reducing erosion, reducing contamination, and intelligent landscaping. There are also techniques available to dramatically reduce or eliminate construction waste.

Savvy home builders understand that they can provide the best service to their clients by offering them good choices and helping them to make informed decisions. This is even more important when going green since there are so many options that are available.

One of the first questions the builder should ask the homeowner is whether or not they want to go green. Not asking this question in the beginning could lead to headaches later on. If the answer is no, then the builder can continue with the standard house process and nothing has been lost. But if the answer is yes, the builder has the opportunity to save the homeowner thousands of dollars by modifying the design of the home at the beginning to meet the homeowner’s goals.

If green building is the goal, the builder and homeowner can simplify the process, and save time and money by hiring a Green Consultant. After an initial meeting, the consultant can quickly come up with specific green technologies, preliminary designs, and costs for review. The consultant can also help qualify the home for green certification and can review green products for effectiveness. This frees the builder to concentrate on getting the home built on time and on budget.

Another question for the homeowner, is whether or not they want to comply with any of the green home certification programs such as NAHBGreen, GBI: Green Globes, USGBC LEED for residential, or NC Healthy Built Homes. If this is a goal, there are specific criteria to follow and checklists to comply with. Keep in mind that these programs are a starting point only, not a goal unto themselves. The real goal is to reduce the home’s carbon footprint and the quickest route is through innovative green design.

How much does green building cost? That depends on what approach you take. Given almost any budget, a green home can be designed instead of a standard home. Designers have come up with green homes that are innovative, attractive and reasonably priced. And a green home will have a higher market value than a standard home. Always remember that the easiest way to keep the cost of going green low is to start as early as possible in the design stage.

The green movement is a powerful process that can radically transform all our products and systems. It can deliver us from our energy, environmental and economic dilemma. In order to make this happen, we not only need the desire, we need to have an open mind and take a different approach in the way we do things.

As energy prices continue to go up, water supplies go down, and the environment continues to deteriorate, the trend toward green design will also continue to grow. The old inefficient and unhealthy practices of the past will become obsolete. The way of the future is green, and forward thinking individuals will choose to lead rather than follow this trend.

Michael Holster is President of Solar Vision Inc, a green consulting and design company specializing in energy and water technologies.