Columbia Green Builders Blog

Building a Certified High Performance (CHiP) Home - Part 1

2012-01-23T11:13:00.000-05:00

In an effort to help our members build green homes, we are now offering the Certified High Performance (CHiP) Home Program. This program is based on the 2008 National Green Building Standard(TM) and the HBA of Greater Columbia is the certifying body. This series of articles is intended to give builders more information on certifying in general and on our program. More information is at www.columbiagreenbuilders.com.

1. Make the commitment to build green. Regulations and codes are getting tougher every year. The 2006 IECC was adopted for South Carolina a couple of years ago, and we’re about to move to the 2009 IECC. Rest assured that we will one day go to the 2012 IECC and beyond. Deciding to build more energy efficient and High Performance homes now will save you and your trade partners a lot of time and effort when these practices become mandatory.

2. Why Certify? Building to a program – whether it’s the USGBC LEED for Homes, NAHB Green, EarthCraft House or our CHiP Home Program – takes a little extra effort on the part of the builder to accomplish. But having your home certified by a third party gives you credibility and your buyer peace of mind. Any one can say that their house is built a certain way, but with a certification, someone else is saying you built it that way. Liability is also a good reason for certifying your homes in a third party program. Misrepresentation of items in a home is easy to do, and can get you in a lot of trouble. Certifying in a program helps take away any questions as to how the home was built and what it contains. Get ahead of the mandates and start building better homes NOW.

3. Choosing a program. As we just mentioned, there are a lot of third-party green certification programs out there for you to choose from… and that’s a good thing! It means you can shop around and find the one that is best for you. But, to help you out some… when it comes to building to the program, they are all about the same. However, they are different when it comes to the fees charged to have access to the program and on a per-house basis. This is the reason we have developed our own, local program… we want our members to build green and spend the least amount of money doing so. Our program, the Certified High Performance (CHiP) Home Program beats the USGBC and NAHB per home certification fees by more than half.

The next article will lay out the five main points to building/remodeling green in a certification program.

BPI classes at a greatly reduced price

2011-12-08T09:47:00.001-05:00

In partnership with the SC Energy Office - Midlands Technical College will offer Building Performance Institute [BPI] Weatherization/Energy Efficiency classes at a reduced price for a limited time.

They will be offering BPI Building Analyst classes in January 2012 at a per student costs of $500/student. List price for the class is $1620/student so this is an extremely good deal, but it is currently only available for the classes listed below. Funding is limited so registrations will be on a first come first serve basis. Please enroll today to reserve your seat.

· BPI Building Analyst class, January 9 – 15, 12 students max
Course number: CEWEZ-506-28

· BPI Building Analyst class, January 16 - 22, 12 students max
Course number: CEWEZ-506-29

· BPI Building Analyst class, January 23 - 29, 12 students max
Course number: CEWEZ-506-30

All classes will be held at the Airport campus in the RSC Building. Classes will begin promptly at 8 AM – 5 PM M-F. You must also complete your 2 hour “one on one field exam” either in the evening or on Saturday/Sunday/or the following Monday.

You can enroll online here or by calling MTC Registration Dept. at 803-732-0432.

If you have any questions, please call John Leighty on at 803-466-4055 [c].

H.R. 2454 Cap and Trade Energy Bill explained

2011-11-14T09:32:00.001-05:00

We had a question come in from a real estate agent about H.R. 2454 and how it requires a home seller to get their home up to the latest energy and water regulations before it can be sold. It seems that this information has been circulating the internet and e-mail lists for a couple of years now, and we wanted to set the record straight.

H.R. 2454 DOES NOT mandate the retrofiting of older homes to the latest energy or water standards. The Bill, which has not yet passed both houses yet, does have language about providing incentives to homeowners who choose to make these repairs.

See this Snopes.com page to learn more about this Bill and what it really says.

The second part of the question asked of us was whether or not we had HERS raters in the Columbia area that could help homeowners make these repairs. The answer is YES.

It is the suggestion of the HBA Green Building Council that, if a homeowner wishes to reduce their energy bill through home repairs or remodeling, they contact one of these professionals to find the best and most cost effective ways of doing so. Taking a "shotgun approach" to fixing these problems my result in spending remodeling dollars on the wrong items and not reducing energy costs whatsoever. A simple home energy audit performed by SCE&G (or other power company/co-op) or using an independant HERS rater can pinpoint the exact cause(s) of energy leakage in a particular home thus making repairs more effective in reducing energy loss.

Learn more at www.columbiagreenbuilders.com or contact us to find a HERS rater in our area.

SCE&G 2012 ENERGY STAR® New Homes Program

2011-11-03T11:08:00.000-04:00

SCE&G has announced its 2012 ENERGY STAR New Homes Program. SCE&G will be offering financial, marketing, and training incentives to participating home builders that construct ENERGY STAR qualified homes in its electric service area.

If you are interested in learning more about this program, a Program Information meeting will be held on Wednesday, November 16 from 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. at the SCE&G Lake Murray Training Center. Please e-mail Brad McCoy at BMccoy@icfi.com by Nov. 11 to secure seating for this session.

Green is Good for Business Conference

2011-08-05T11:06:00.000-04:00

We've been attending/exhibiting in this conference since it was started. It's a great way to learn what's new in green technology and ideas in our city, state, region and nation. Here's what they have planned this year:

September 13, 2011 - Columbia Metropolitan Convention Center

•The always popular Green Expo, bigger than ever
•Plenty of delicious, local foods
•Great green networking
•Exciting keynote speakers... this year: Harris Deloach Chairman and CEO of SC-based Sonoco Products, a multi-billion dollar global packaging manufacturer and 2011 Gold Class Award recipient in Sustainable Asset Management's Sustainability Yearbook 2011.
•Informative breakout sessions for all levels of green businesses
•As we celebrate the fifth year of the conference, we're mixing things up a little and have a few surprises up our green sleeves! (Check out the brand new Chevrolet Volt and other alternative fuel vehicles up close and personal).

Still a great deal at just $50 per person!
Save $10 per registration if you register three or more people from the same organization. Click here for more information.

September 13, 2011 - Columbia Metropolitan Convention Center

Green: The New Standard?

2011-07-05T09:40:00.001-04:00

Greater Columbia Business Monthly magazine is looking at the state of real estate in our area in their July 2011 issue (now available). HBA President Wade McGuinn and Vice President Tony Thompson weigh in on the local market in this issue.

Another article takes a look at "green" residential construction in the Greater Columbia, SC area. Green Building Council of Greater Columbia Chairman Joseph Gilmore, past Chairman Mark Bostic, and members Thom Chumney and David Watkins all speak on their experiences with building and remodeling green. Check it out here.

The Responsible Bathroom Water Conservation Tour 2011

2011-06-07T13:24:00.001-04:00

Water Utilities are at the forefront of water conservation. We are ready to inform consumers, as well as plumbers, about wisely using the available supply of clean water. As a water customer, you can benefit from water conservation tips to save water, energy, and money in your own household.

Here's one way to do that: Attend this event! (Details below)
- Get info to save you money on purchasing water-efficient products
- See hands-on demonstrations featuring new technology
FREE water conserving showerhead with purchase of low flow toilet to first 25 attendees!

Join us at HD Supply on Monday, June 20 from 11a to 1:30p for this free event. Located in West Columbia at 1065 Sunset Blvd., W. Columbia, 29169.

2011 Energy Expo and Fair Housing Event

2011-04-27T17:23:00.002-04:00

Lexington & Richland Counties along with the City of Columbia present this free-to-attend event Friday, April 29 from 10a to 6p at the Saluda Shoals Park River Center. We'll be among the energy efficiency and demo exhibits and we're also giving a talk on green homes. Come on out and see us!

SCE&G 2011 ENERGY STAR® New Homes Program

2011-02-25T09:35:00.001-05:00

SCE&G is proud to announce its 2011 ENERGY STAR New Homes Program. SCE&G will be offering financial, marketing, and training incentives to participating home builders that construct ENERGY STAR qualified homes in its electric service area.

To kick off this year’s Program, SCE&G will be conducting a Program Information meeting at their training center in Lexington, SC. Attending this meeting will provide all the information needed to maximize participation in the 2011 Program.

Current and prospective ENERGY STAR home builders and staff are encouraged to attend. Please RSVP at energyteam@sceg.com by February 28th to secure seating. Refreshments will be served.

Friday, March 4
Time: 9:00 am – 11:00 am
Lake Murray Training Center
1888 North Lake Drive
Lexington, SC 29072

Home Performance with Energy Star® Program through SCE&G

2011-02-24T10:04:00.001-05:00

SCE&G will begin accepting contractors to participate in its Home Performance with ENERGY STAR Program. The rebate program offers SCE&G’s electric customers up to $2,500 for air sealing, insulation, duct sealing, HVAC equipment and improvements and water heating equipment. This program is for EXISTING HOMES, not new construction.

Customer Eligibility

Rebates are available to SCE&G electric customers (see attached service territory map) living in separately metered, single family (attached or detached) residences who hire a program participating contractor to install qualified measures which meet program efficiency level requirements. Rebates are only available to customers who purchase and install energy efficient measures through a participating SCE&G Home Performance with ENERGY STAR contractor.

How to Become a Participating Contractor

To participate in the Program, contractors must complete an online Contractor Participation Agreement and submit documentation including a current South Carolina General Contractors License, BPI BA Certification, and a Certificate of Insurance.

For more details about the program, please register to attend the Program Overview Session by replying to this email with the session that you’d like to attend or email us at energyteam@sceg.com.

Program Overview Sessions

Charleston Area
Wednesday, March 2
Time: 1:30-3:00 pm
Sand Dunes Club
1735 Atlantic Avenue
Sullivan’s Island, SC 29482

Columbia Area
Friday, March 4
Time: 1:30-3:00 pm
Lake Murray Training Center
1888 North Lake Drive
Lexington, SC 29072

Nationally Recognized Solar Training Comes to South Carolina

2011-02-14T15:01:00.001-05:00

Greener Product in association with Midwest Renewable Energy (MREA) has opened a solar training facility in Charleston, SC. Please see the attached news release for details. People looking to be training for the coming “green jobs” or others interested in expanding their knowledge in this growing field are welcomed to register.

With the recent announcement that “80% of the energy by 2035 will come from clear/renewable energy” and the new wind research facility in North Charleston, we believe that renewable energy training will be of considerable interest to the people of South Carolina.

We are very fortunate to have Mr. Clay Sterling, Education Director, MREA and one of America’s leading solar educators, lead the sessions. Clay is the only ISPQ-certified instructor in the country to hold certifications in both small wind and photovoltaic. Recently the IREC Institute for Sustainable Power Quality (ISPQ) recognized Clay’s accomplishment and commitment to excellence in renewable energy training by awarding him their prestigious Affiliated Instructor Certification in both small wind and photovoltaic technologies.

MREA, a non-profit established in 1990, is one of the Nation’s oldest and largest providers of solar, solar thermal and wind programs. Through their 38 NABCEP certified instructors they train over 2000 people a year.

The initial program will be presented March 7th and 8th in Charleston and lead to a Certified Solar Assessor accreditation. Click here to learn more and register for the program.

Green Your Current Home

2010-12-28T10:49:00.000-05:00

Are you making any resolutions for the New Year? If saving money is on your list of things to do for 2011, we have some suggestions, PLUS these ideas will help you "green up" your home saving resources and adding to your quality of life.

This list includes very easy things that you can start doing on January 1 to save energy and go green. These include letting the sun shine in your home on cold days, setting your home computer to "sleep mode" or turn it off when not in use, and taking off your shoes before you enter your home.

Looking to save more? We have bigger suggestions, too. Of course, before you tackle any of the larger items on the list, we suggest you have a home energy audit performed on your home. This simple scientific test will pinpoint the energy-stealing culprits in your home and help you spend your repair budget on fixing the right things.

See a list of our members at www.columbiagreenbuilders.com to find home energy auditors and a variety of local green-minded professionals to help you green your current home.

New Energy Efficient Home Tax Credit Renewed, Extended

2010-12-21T10:12:00.001-05:00

With the two-year extension of all of the 2001 and 2003 Bush-era tax cuts as its centerpiece, Congress last week approved a major tax-cut package negotiated by President Obama and top Senate Republicans that is designed to provide tax relief for all working Americans and spur job growth.

H.R. 4853 — The Tax Relief, Unemployment Insurance Reauthorization, and Job Creation Act of 2010 — cleared the Senate by an overwhelming 81-to-19 margin on Dec. 15 and was approved by the House a day later by a vote of 277 to 148. The President sign the bill into law on Dec. 17.

For builders and developers considering building energy-efficient homes, this new law brings good news.

The New Energy Efficient Home Tax Credit (45L credit) for 2010 was renewed and extended it through the end of 2011. The section 45L tax credit is the only federal incentive available for efficiency in new home construction; about 10% of all new homes sold in 2009 qualified. The program provides $2,000 tax credits to builders and developers for the construction and sale of homes that achieve a 50% reduction in their energy consumption.

** The credit was renewed retroactively, so builders may be able to take advantage for Green Certified homes built this past year.

Click here to see more key points of the new law.

Ask the Right Questions When Buying or Building

2010-12-09T11:33:00.000-05:00

The most common question a potential client asks a home builder is “How much do you build per square foot?” Without getting into the endless questions a builder must ask to give a somewhat accurate answer to the question, they should be asking “How much does it cost to live in the home?” There are builders out there who will build a home for a very low cost per square foot, but the home will cost more per day to operate than another home built at a higher cost per square foot.

When looking to build a home, you must look at all of the factors that go into a home and not just dollars per square foot. Yes, it is important to get as much square foot as you can afford but ignoring the operating costs will leave you in a worse financial situation than you planned.

Let’s look at some (make believe) numbers. If you were to build a 2000 square foot home for $85 per square foot your contract price would be $170,000. The same house at $100 per square foot would be $200,000 – a $30,000 difference. Let’s say that the utility bills (electric/gas/water/sewer) were an average of $120 less in the more expensive home, this home would have a savings of $43,200 over 30 years.

Numbers aside, the comfort level, durability, improved air quality all would be better in the more expensive home. Funny how these questions never come up in the initial conversations of a custom home. Over time these are really the most important questions to consider.

Home building is an ever evolving industry that is driven by consumer selection. Right now the most popular question is “how much per square foot,” but with the information age upon us there is a channel out there for every interest. Soon consumers will understand that the performance of a home over time will be a better measure of value and start asking about the operating costs.

For those builders on the front edge of this technology, there is a report card on every home they build. It is the HERS score and it is posted on the electrical box of every home that is built using the current building science. I encourage you to ask about this with your next builder or renovator and see if they are willing to measure how good their homes perform.

- Submitted by Stan O'Brien, CGP of Paradime Construction, Inc. Editor's Note: In addition to the HERS Score, the DOE is testing a new 1 - 10 Scorecard for homes and our state is a test site. More info. is on this blog and more is sure to come.

Low Impact Land Development/Sustainable Construction course

2010-12-08T09:52:00.000-05:00

The Low Impact Land Development/Sustainable Construction certificate is a two-semester program that addresses the following: principles of low impact development including best management practices (BMP) for development conservation, impact and control of storm water runoff and non-point source pollution, computer design for residential and commercial land use applications, concepts of holistic construction, alternative transportation options, water conservation, environmental building design, and the LEED rating system for the civil engineering aspects of development project."

Deadline for registration is extended to December 10th, and classes start January 5, 2011. Contact Tim Ray, CET Academic Program Coordinator, Engineering Technology at 790-7521 or e-mail rayt@midlandstech.edu.

Work begins on updating National Green Building Standard for 2012 Edition

2010-12-03T10:50:00.000-05:00

The NAHB Research Center is preparing to start work on the 2012 edition of the National Green Building Standard.

Originally developed in 2007-2008 by NAHB and the International Code Council, the 2008 National Green Building Standard was approved by the American National Standards Institute in January 2009, making it the first point-based rating system for green residential construction, remodeling and land development to be approved by ANSI.

As an ANSI-approved standard, the document is subject to periodic updates so that advances in building codes, technology and other developments can be incorporated into it.

First, the NAHB Research Center issued its call for committee members on Nov. 15. The consensus committee that develops the standard will include government officials, advocacy groups, home builders, product manufacturers and other affected industry stakeholders in residential construction.

Those who would like to serve on the consensus committee must submit their applications online by Jan. 4, 2011.

At the same time, the NAHB Research Center will announce its call for proposed changes to the 2008 edition of the standard. Individuals and groups can submit their proposals online by Jan. 31, 2011.

For more information, please visit this website.

Sustainable Holiday Celebration - TONIGHT

2010-11-29T09:39:00.001-05:00

Good friends, Good Food & Wine, Unique and Affordable Gifts, tonight at the 2nd annual Sustainable Holiday Celebration presented by Sustainable Midlands.

We will celebrate Sustainable Communities by coming together to shop locally, support local producers, artisans and non-profits that all make our community wonderful and unique! Some of our favorite sustainable restaurants and caterers, Mr. Friendly’s, Solstice, Spotted Salamander and Rosewood Market will be there to dazzle your taste buds. Cellar on Greene will offer a cash wine bar.

Visit www.sustainablemidlands.org for more information. We'll see you at 701 Whaley across from Olympia Mills today (Nov. 29) from 4:30p to 8:30p.

Scoring Home Energy Use, the 2011 Car Fuel Guide, and More Big Solar

2010-11-12T11:20:00.000-05:00

Ten states and communities have been chosen as the sites for a new federal Department of Energy program that “scores” homes on an energy rating scale of 1 to 10. Appraisers, brokers and others in the real estate industry will be closely watching these projects – especially if it adversely affects the price of existing homes compared to new, energy-efficient ones.

More information on-line here.

The sites are Charlottesville, Va.; Allegheny County, Pa.; Cape Cod and Martha's Vineyard, Mass.; Minnesota; Omaha and Lincoln, Neb.; Indiana; Portland, Ore.; South Carolina; Texas; and Eagle County, Colo.

The federal initiative is one of the outcomes of Vice President Joe Biden’s “Recovery Through Retrofit” program that seeks to improve the energy efficiency of the nation’s housing while providing new green jobs for the construction industry. Other components include an FHA-insured financing program so homeowners can pay for the improvements, training requirements, and a series of recommended best practices for energy efficiency and indoor environmental quality.

The pilots end in late spring 2011. Later in the year, DOE expects to launch the Home Energy Score nationally, based on the findings from the initial programs. NAHB plans to closely monitor the program and submit comments on all its component parts. See more details in the story running in the Nov. 15 issue of Nation’s Building News.

For more information, please contact Calli Barker Schmidt at 800-368-5242, ext. 8132.

SC Energy Office now accepting applications for BPI and HERS certified building analysts

2010-11-10T10:53:00.000-05:00

The South Carolina Energy Office is assembling a list of pre-qualified home energy raters (HERS and BPI) in anticipation of possible residential energy efficiency incentives. This list will be made available to homeowners and others seeking energy audits through any of several financing programs and will also be accessible through the SC Energy Office website.

The SC Energy Office is not the employer and will not employ or reimburse BPI or HERS professionals who are engaged and reimbursed by homeowners, contractors, or others. To obtain necessary form and instructions, please visit www.energy.sc.gov and click on “news” or call 803-737-8025.

Simple Ways to Save Energy and Money wltx.com | Columbia, SC News, Weather and Sports |

2010-10-19T09:39:00.000-04:00

Thanks to Sustainable Midlands for a great event last night. I hope everyone in attendance picked up some good information. If you weren't there, the bottom line of the evening was this: If you want to reduce your energy bill, don't spend big bucks on what you think is the problem in your home, take the time to have a professional energy rater test your home and see EXACTLY what is wrong and what to fix. Visit www.columbiagreenbuilders.com for more information and to find energy raters and professionals that can do the big-ticket items for you.

Read the WLTX News story here: Simple Ways to Save Energy and Money wltx.com | Columbia, SC News, Weather and Sports |

Green Products Verses a Green System

2010-10-15T09:45:00.000-04:00

The green movement has inspired many companies to promote environmentally friendly products. Individually, the majority of these products are superior to their more-traditional alternatives. For just a few dollars more, you can get ‘green’ products that have more benefits than items used in the past. For the most part, installing these green products will make your home more energy efficient and help do your part in improving our environment.

A house is a complex system that has an endless array of parts making up the whole. Today’s house is far more complex than early cabins constructed by the frontiersman solely for protection from the elements. Research in building science has shown the many dangers of improper home construction. The complexity of the current building codes arose from the past litigation for these incorrect construction practices.

Before you decide to purchase any of the new green products out there, understand how your current house is set up and how it might be affected by these new products. There are many dangers out there to installing a product that might upset the balance of your current system.

An energy rater should be the first person consulted. They have the ability to inspect and test your current home, letting you know what modifications will provide the most return on your investment. Their recommendations will include modifications that may need to be done to avoid any dangers and work with your current system.

Many of the new green products available today have the ability to increase the efficiency and comfort of your home. Just make sure you do the proper research to insure that these products will work with your current system and not against it.

Article submitted by Stan O'Brien of Paradime Construction, Inc.

Carolina Recycling Association C & D Recycling Conference this December

2010-10-08T10:13:00.000-04:00

Waste is a big factor when building a home. All green building certification programs have some sort of guideline about reducing waste, reusing materials when possible or recycling as much waste as possible from the job site. We are happy to spread the word about the upcoming C & D Recycling Conference this December in Charlotte, NC presented by the Carolina Recycling Association.

The Southeast Construction and Demolition Recycling Conference will be held Dec. 7-9, 2010, at the Sheraton Charlotte Airport Hotel in Charlotte. The C&D conference is presented by the Carolina Recycling Association (CRA).

Please visit the C&D conference website for more details and to register for this great event: www.cdrecyclingconference.com. Conference Sponsorships are also available now - click here.

C&D recycling is a growing movement and an essential element in green construction. Join us as we explore the impacts and opportunities with this dynamic topic.

Contractors/Architects/Developers:
Learn what can be recycled, and how to recycle at residential and commercial construction sites – from high-rises to single-family homes. Also learn about building products made from recycled content material.

Local Governments:
Learn what other communities are doing, how they’re doing it and what you can do to facilitate more C&D recycling in your community.

Recycling Service Providers:
Promote your services to the building community; learn what others are doing and where the industry is headed.

Bid on an environmentally-friendly playhouse at the Home Improvement Show

2010-09-21T09:58:00.000-04:00

What is an Environ-mini?
An Environ-mini is a playhouse for children designed and built with “green” or environmentally friendly techniques, products and features.

Why Build an Environ-mini?
This event is presented by the Green Building Council of Greater Columbia and is intended to be a teaching tool that shows how green building features are easily incorporated into a home. There is a misconception that going green requires non-traditional building materials and that they cost too much to implement in a regular home. In reality, going green is not very difficult or expensive, and uses many of the same building materials that your current home was built from. The difference is mainly in how the materials are used and in what way they are put together. Seeing these techniques on the Environ-mini will be an eye-opener for many. Learn more about green home construction at www.columbiagreenbuilders.com.

An Event for Charity
In addition to being a teaching tool, we are also holding a silent auction for the Environ-mini and one lucky family will take this environmentally-friendly playhouse home with them after the show*. Proceeds from this auction will go to the Lymphoma & Leukemia Society, SC Chapter.

See the Environ-minis and bid in the silent auction THIS WEEKEND at this webpage. Bidding ends Sunday, Sept. 26 at 5 p.m.

Clyburn Statement on ‘Rural Star’ Energy Savings Program | MidlandsBiz

2010-09-21T09:46:00.000-04:00

Our council is keeping a close eye on this program and other similar programs that are coming in a few short months. More information at our Annual Meeting in October.

Clyburn Statement on ‘Rural Star’ Energy Savings Program | MidlandsBiz

Update on Appraisals

2010-08-18T09:46:00.000-04:00

A popular webinar offered by NAHB's Housing Finance and Business Management & Information Technology committees and sponsored by Builder Partnerships on August 4 provided some sound advice for builders who have had trouble obtaining accurate appraisals for new homes. At the very top of the list is the need to improve the lines of communication between builders and appraisers, said panelists. While such communication channels have been impaired for some time now due to difficulties in interpreting the Home Valuation Code of Conduct that was put in place by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, newly issued policies from both of these agencies attempt to correct that problem.

In addition to making it clear that builders may and should provide information to appraisers, the guidance also clarified the appropriate use of distressed home sales as comparables, stated that lenders may not unilaterally change appraisal reports, and reiterated that appraisers must have appropriate knowledge and experience to undertake specific assignments. See the rest of this article from NAHBs Nation's Building News here.

To see the presentation from BuilderPartnerships.com click here:
Builders Guide to Appraisals: Obtaining Accurate Valuations on New Homes

Green Appraisals

2010-08-10T13:08:00.000-04:00

A topic of interest for our builder members and real estate pros is the way homes, especially green-built homes, are appraised. It seems that there is a huge gap in the knowledge-base between builders and appraisers and the buyer/seller is losing out on a lot of built-in value.

There is an article about this in the latest issue of Green Builder Magazine that is worth a look. Learn how to communicate with your appraiser (yes, you are allowed to), when you should bring them into the process and what you should present in order to get the best appraisal for your green home.

Going green takes root with builders

2010-08-03T13:00:00.000-04:00

HBA Green Building Council members David Watkins and Mark Bostic are interviewed in this article from The State newspaper about their personal certified green homes here in Columbia. To learn how to make your next new home green, visit our website at ColumbiaGreenBuilders.com.

Read the article here: Going green takes root with builders - TheState.com

Installers: Solar Energy More Cost Effective Than Before

2010-07-20T09:32:00.000-04:00

GBCGC member David Watkins, CGP, CGB, GMB of Shumaker Homes, Inc. is currently building his personal home and is going as green as possible. This includes an array of solar PV and water panels and many other green feature inside the home. Our Executive Committee has toured the home once already and we will go back when it's complete. Look for more details on this home in the future right here. For now, check out this article from a local TV station:Installers: Solar Energy More Cost Effective Than Before

Research center turns on the fans

2010-07-19T10:11:00.000-04:00

Green Building Council member Tom Hamilton of Freudenberg Texbond, LP
has been telling us of this new testing and research center in Chester, SC for some time. We wanted to spread the word about it on his behalf. Thanks Tom!

Click here for story: The News & Reporter Online Chester News, Sports, Entertainment and information for Chester, South Carolina

Solar Power Guru John Wiles to speak in Columbia on July 20

2010-07-08T10:54:00.001-04:00

Green Building Council of Greater Columbia member Comfort Services along with Lennox will present “Photovoltaic Power Systems and the National Electric Code” on Tuesday, July 20 at the Columbia Metropolitan Convention Center. Presenting for the first time in the Southeast, John Wiles, Program Manager at the Southwest Technology Development Institute at the New Mexico State University.

John Wiles has a Masters of Science degree in Electrical Engineering and serves as Secretary of the PV Industry Forum. He installed his first Photovoltaic (PV) system in 1984 and has been living off the grid for 16 years. He helps spread his knowledge through his work at New Mexico State University and he has drafted text for Article 609 in the 2005 and 2008 NEC Handbooks.

The day-long conference will cover topics including National Electrical Code (NEC) requirements for designing and installing Photovoltaic-Solar (PV) systems, conductor selection, Ampacity calculations, and overcurrent devices and disconnects. Electricians, electrical inspectors, PV Installers, engineers, contractors, architects and anyone interested in learning more about solar energy are all encouraged to attend. (CONTINUING EDUCATION: Professional engineers will receive 7 Professional Development hours; PV installers will receive 6 hours of NABCEP continuing ed. credits; Architects will receive AIA continuing ed. credits.)

The event begins at 7:30 a.m. and ends at 5:00 p.m. Attendees will receive the PV/NEC Suggested Practices Manual (150+ pages) and hard copies of the PowerPoint text slides (120 pages). Lunch is also included. Cost to attend this event is $89/person. $69/person for multiple registrations from the same company or organization. $59 for students with valid ID.

For more information and to register on-line, please click here.

Learn about solar energy - Part 3

2010-06-28T09:29:00.000-04:00

Part three of a series of three articles on solar energy....

How do Photovoltaic panels work?

Silicon is mounted beneath non-reflective glass to produce photovoltaic panels. These panels collect photons from the sun, converting them into DC electric power. The energy created then flows into an inverter. The inverter transforms the power into basic voltage and AC electric power.

Photovoltaic cells are prepared with particular materials called semiconductors like silicon, which is presently the most generally used. When light hits the Photovoltaic cell, a certain share of it is absorbed inside the semiconductor material. This means that the energy of the absorbed light is given to the semiconductor.

The power unfastens the electrons, permitting them to run freely. Pv cells also have more than one electric fields that act to compel electrons unfastened by light absorption to flow in a specific direction. This flow of electrons is a current, and by introducing metal links on the top and bottom of the -Photovoltaic cell, the current can be drawn to use it externally.

Pros and Cons of Solar Energy:

- Pros

- Heating our homes with oil or gas or using electricity from power plants running with fossil fuels is a reason for global warming and climate disruption. Solar energy, on the contrary, is clean and environmentally-friendly.

- Solar hot-water heaters require little maintenance, and their initial investment could be recovered within a relatively small amount of time.

- Solar hot-water heaters can work in almost any climate, even just in very cold ones. You just need to choose the right system for your climate: drainback, thermosyphon, batch-ICS, etc.

- Maintenance costs of solar powered systems are minimal and also the warranties large.

- Financial incentives (USA, Canada, European states…) can aid in eliminating the cost of the first investment in solar technologies. The U.S. government, for example, offers tax credits for solar systems certified by by the SRCC (Solar Rating and Certification Corporation), which amount to 30 percent of the investment (2009-2016 period).

- Cons:

- The initial investment in Solar Water heaters or in Solar PV Electric Systems is higher than that required by conventional electric and gas heaters systems.

- The payback period of solar PV-electric systems is high, as well as those of solar space heating or solar cooling (only the solar warm water heating payback is short or relatively short).

- Solar water heating do not support a direct combination with radiators (including baseboard ones).

- Some air con (solar space heating and the solar cooling systems) are costly, and rather untested technologies: solar air-con isn't, till now, a truly economical option.

- The efficiency of solar powered systems is rather dependent on sunlight resources. It's in colder climates, where heating or electricity needs are higher, that the efficiency is smaller.

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About the writer - Barbara Young writes on solar RV kits in her personal hobby web site 12voltsolarpanels.net. Her work is devoted to helping people save energy using solar powered energy to reduce CO2 emissions and energy dependency.
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Learn about solar energy - Part 2

2010-06-18T10:54:00.001-04:00

Part 2 of a series of articles on solar energy...

Who invented solar technology?

People have harnessed solar energy for hundreds of years. As early as the 7th century B.C., people used simple magnifying glasses to concentrate the light of the sun into beams so hot they'd cause wood to catch fire. Over a century ago in France, a scientist used heat from a solar collector to make steam to drive a steam engine. At first of this century, scientists and engineers began researching ways to use solar energy in earnest. One important development was a remarkably efficient solar boiler invented by Charles Greeley Abbott, a united states astrophysicist, in 1936.

The solar water heater became popular at this time in Florida, California, and the Southwest. The industry started in the early 1920s and was in full swing just before The second world war. This growth lasted before mid-1950s when low-cost gas had become the primary fuel for heating American homes.

People and world governments remained largely indifferent to the possibilities of solar technology until the oil shortages of the1970s. Today, people use solar power to heat buildings and water and also to generate electricity.

How do we use solar power today?

Solar energy can be used in several different ways, of course. There are 2 simple kinds of solar energy:

* Solar thermal energy collects the sun's warmth through one of two means: in water or in an anti-freeze (glycol) mixture.

* Solar photovoltaic energy converts the sun's radiation to usable electricity.

Let us discuss the five most practical and popular solutions solar energy can be used:

1. Small portable solar photovoltaic systems. We see these used everywhere, from calculators to solar garden tools. Portable units may be used for everything from RV appliances while single panel systems can be used traffic signs and remote monitoring stations.

2. Solar pool heating. Running water in direct circulation systems via a solar collector is an extremely practical way to heat water for your pool or spa.

3. Thermal glycol energy to heat water. In this method (indirect circulation), glycol is heated by the sun's rays and the heat is then transferred to water in a warm water tank. This technique of collecting the sun's energy is much more practical now than ever before. In areas as far north as Edmonton, Alberta, solar thermal to heat water is economically sound. It can pay for itself in three years or less.

4. Integrating solar photovoltaic energy into your home or office power. In numerous parts on the planet, solar photovoltaics is an economically feasible method to supplement the power of your home. In Japan, photovoltaics are competitive with other types of power. In the USA, new incentive programs make this form of solar technology ever more viable in many states. A frequent and practical way of integrating solar energy into the power of your home or business is through the use of building integrated solar photovoltaics.

5. Large independent photovoltaic systems. When you have enough sun power at your site, you could possibly go off grid. You may also integrate or hybridize your solar power system with wind power or other kinds of sustainable energy to stay 'off the grid.'

Part 3 - How do Photovoltaic Panels Work and Pros and Cons of Solar Power - COMING SOON!

About the writer - Barbara Young writes on solar RV kits in her personal hobby web site 12voltsolarpanels.net. Her work is devoted to helping people save energy using solar powered energy to reduce CO2 emissions and energy dependency.

Learn about solar energy - Part 1

2010-06-16T09:40:00.001-04:00

One component of green homes is solar energy. Many consumers have questions about this form of energy for their home, so we are running a series of articles on the subject from Barbara Young from 12voltsolarpanels.net to help better understand this technology. This is part one of a series of articles on the subject.

What's solar power?

Solar energy is radiant energy that is produced by the Sun. Every day the Sun radiates, or sends out, an immense volume of energy. The Sun radiates more energy in a second than people have used since the beginning of time!

The energy of the Sun originates from within the Sun itself. Like other stars, the sun is known as a big ball of gases––mostly hydrogen and helium atoms.

The hydrogen atoms in the Sun’s core combine to create helium and generate energy in a process called nuclear fusion.

During nuclear fusion, the sun’s extremely high pressure and temperature cause hydrogen atoms to come apart and their nuclei (the central cores of the atoms) to fuse or combine. Four hydrogen nuclei fuse to become one helium atom. However the helium atom contains less mass compared to four hydrogen atoms that fused. Some matter is lost during nuclear fusion. The lost matter is emitted into space as radiant energy.

It requires many years for the energy in the Sun’s core to make its way to the solar surface, after which somewhat over eight minutes to travel the 93 million miles to Earth. The solar energy travels to the Earth at a speed of 186,000 miles per second, the velocity of sunshine.

Simply a small percentage of the energy radiated from the Sun into space strikes the Earth, one part in two billion. Yet this quantity of energy is enormous. Every single day enough energy strikes the USA to provide the nation’s energy needs for one and a half years!

Where does all this energy go?

About 15 percent of the Sun’s energy that hits the Earth is reflected back to space. Another 30 percent is used to evaporate water, which, lifted into the atmosphere, produces rainfall. Solar energy is absorbed by plants, the land, and the oceans. The remaining could be employed to supply our energy needs.

Part 2: Who invented solar technology, and How do we use solar power today? COMING SOON!

About the writer - Barbara Young writes on solar RV kits in her personal hobby web site 12voltsolarpanels.net. Her work is devoted to helping people save energy using solar powered energy to reduce CO2 emissions and energy dependency.

Columbia, SC Builder Wins National Green Building Award

2010-05-19T12:46:00.000-04:00

RALEIGH, N.C. - The National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) has honored Mungo Construction for the 2010 Green Project of the Year for Rosewood Hills in Columbia, S.C.

“This community is a great example of green building done right while also done affordably,” said Eric Borsting, chair of the NAHB Green Building Subcommittee. “This should be an example for other builders to look to when constructing energy-efficient and earth-friendly housing in their own communities.”

A Mungo Construction designed and built neighborhood, Rosewood Hills is a partnership with the Housing Authority of Columbia and consists of LEED for Home certified affordable for-sale and rental units. The project is an example of the Mungo Construction philosophy of “Do what Makes Sense” that employs the basic principles of “building green” -- identifying the needs and desires of their customers, leading to a customized plan to achieve the goals identified, and supporting the construction of safer, more sustainable and more durable homes, taking into consideration both cost of construction and cycle time of new homes.

Of the award, Mungo Construction Division President Thom Chumney -- Certified Green Professional and a LEED® AP Homes – said, “This award is a culmination of hard work by our staff and a great partnership with the Columbia Housing Authority. We are committed to help raising the awareness of the affordability and the practicality of incorporating more durable and sustainable procedures into the construction of all homes.”

Rosewood Hills and its builders, Mungo Construction, LLC, were honored at the 12th Annual NAHB National Green Building Conference in Raleigh, N.C. On hand to accept the award for Mungo Construction were Thom Chumney and Steven Mungo.

About Mungo Construction

As part of the Mungo Companies, Mungo Construction, LLC was formed in 2002 to serve the specific needs of institutional clients and government entities providing affordable housing for deserving families. Mungo Construction draws from the same expertise and experience that is the Mungo legacy – a company that has provided homes for families across South Carolina since 1954.

Offering design-build and construction management, Mungo Construction can tap into the expertise and resources of The Mungo Companies, ranked in 2010 by Builder magazine as the 35th largest builder in the country. Mungo builds in Columbia, Charleston, Myrtle Beach and Spartanburg, South Carolina, and Raleigh, North Carolina. More information on Rosewood Hills or Mungo Construction, LLC can be found at www.mungoconstruction.com.

Home Owners Can Celebrate Earth Day With Cost-Saving Remodeling Tax Credits

2010-04-21T10:54:00.000-04:00

As the 40th anniversary of Earth Day approaches, the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) is reminding home owners that they can use fewer resources and save money by taking advantage of federal energy efficiency tax credits through the end of the year.

Home owners who purchase qualifying water heaters, windows, air conditioning units and other appliances, insulation and roofing can be eligible for tax code section 25C tax credit, equivalent to 30% of the cost. There’s a $1,500 overall limit for purchases made in 2009 and 2010. The details are provided at www.nahb.org/efficiencytaxcredit.

“You can save money, save energy and be a good steward of the Earth’s resources,” said NAHB Remodelers Chair Donna Shirey, a remodeler in Issaquah, Wash. “I can’t think of a more appropriate way to commemorate Earth Day.”

Carolyn Taylor of Columbia, S.C., will enjoy Earth Day with a new tankless water heater that supplies plenty of hot water for her active family of four. Remodeler Pete Williams of A-Therm Remodelors in Columbia suggested the switch because it was less expensive than relocating her existing gas water heater during a whole-home renovation project. Pete is a member of the HBA of Greater Columbia, Green Building Council of Greater Columbia and Columbia Remodelers.

When Williams told her about the energy-efficiency tax credit the family would also enjoy, that was the icing on the cake, Taylor said. “Any time you can do something that makes a home more energy-efficient and saves you money, of course you should do it,” she said.

Remodeler Shawn Nelson in Burnsville, Minn., helped home owners combine the federal credits with a state program that offered rebates for qualifying windows as part of renovation projects he completed over the winter. Home owners can visit www.dsireusa.org for a list of incentive programs where they live.

In a statement last week to the House Ways and Means Committee, NAHB urged Congress to extend the section 25C credit past its December expiration date and to reinstate the section 45L $2,000 tax credit for builders of energy-efficient homes, which expired at the end of 2009.

A more generous credit for appliances that use renewable energy is in effect through 2016. The section 25D credit applies to 30% of the total cost of solar panels for electricity or hot water, wind power equipment and the installation of geothermal heat pump systems. This credit can be used in conjunction with new or existing homes.

“These renewable systems are more expensive up front, but may offer significant savings in the long term,” said NAHB Chairman Bob Jones, a builder in Bloomfield Hills, Mich. “Both the 25C and the 25D credits are worth investigating, and you’ll get helpful information from the NAHB Web site, your local home builders association or the NAHB remodeler member you choose to help you with your renovation and improvement plans.”

- from the April 19, 2010 issue of NAHB's Nation's Building News

It's a Great Week to Be Green

2010-03-31T10:39:00.000-04:00

This week is a great week to be green in Columbia, SC and it is the beginning for many more great weeks to come.

First, our community service project got a nice write up in The State newspaper. We'll have a full presentation on that project in the coming weeks on this blog and our website. Stay Tuned!

Second, Mayor Bob Coble announced the new Green Building Incentive Program for the City of Columbia. Members of our council and other green building professionals worked on this program with the City of Columbia Climate Protection Action Campaign (CPAC) Building Committee for many months. The program has $100,000 of Federal Stimulus money to start. Click here for more information and to register a project in the Columbia Green Building Incentive Program.

And finally, the SC Energy Office opened the SC Appliance Rebate Program this morning, March 31st. The program offers rebates to consumers who purchase an Energy Star (TM) Appliance and turn in their old appliance. Rebates range from $50 to $500, depending on the appliance. Learn more about this program here. Don't delay, there is a limited amount of rebate money available, and it's available on a first-come, first-serve basis.

So if you're in Columbia, SC and you're looking to go green - it's your week!

Green Building Council Community Service Project

2010-03-29T10:13:00.001-04:00

Members of the Green Building Council of Greater Columbia and other HBA Members are currently working on a community service project in Columbia. We're repairing a women's shelter home and adding as many cost-effective green features as possible. We have been taking photos and video of the process and plan to make a presentation on this project for the web in the near future. The goal is to show what can be done to the typical Columbia home to help use less energy and be more efficient.

Thanks to Pete Williams of A-Therm Remodelors for spearheading this project and to the many GBC and HBA members who are working together to get this project completed. Below is an article that ran in The State newspaper on March 27.

http://www.thestate.com/2010/03/27/1218227/rantin-home-builders-put-skills.html?story_link=email_msg

Again, keep an eye on this blog and our website (columbiagreenbuilders.com) for a presentation on this project.

- Green Building Council staff

2010 ConocoPhillips Energy Prize

2010-03-17T11:44:00.000-04:00

The 2010 ConocoPhillips Energy Prize, sponsored by ConocoPhillips and Penn State. The program, now in its third year, will award up to $300,000 for the best concepts that promote advances in energy diversity, improve energy efficiency, or combat climate change.

The ConocoPhillips Energy Prize will accept entries through May 21 and is open to all U.S. residents who are at least 18 years of age at the time of entry. Entrants must submit a comprehensive proposal via the Internet at www.conocophillips.com/energyprize or by mail.

It is our hope that by fostering innovation no matter where inspiration may strike, we can create a path to a more secure and environmentally conscious energy supply.

Join me this weekend at The Carolina Classic Home & Garden Show as the Green Building Council of Greater Columbia Presents:

2010-03-11T15:31:00.002-05:00

“Be Green to $ave Green”

Green Statistics
• 128 Million Residential Housing Units 2007
• 7.188 Million Built New from 2005-2009
• 4.9 Million Office Buildings in 2003
• 170,000 New Commercial Buildings Added Every Year
Green Statistics Energy
• Buildings Account for 39% of ALL Energy Use
• 72% of Electricity Use
• 8% of Energy goes to treating, pumping & Heating water
• 7% of all Electricity use goes to Refrigerators
• Each person generates 4.62 pounds of trash every day
• Construction accounts for 26 % of all waste
Green, what does it mean?
• Who gets it?
• Where is the Demand?

When you buy a car, do you look at the sticker on the window and see what kind of gas mileage and features the car has? Do you look under the Hood? Average person spends $21,000 on a new car. When you buy a new or used home, what sticker do you look at to tell what kind of efficiency that house has? Can you look under the hood? Can you take it for a test drive? No one knows, and yet it is the biggest investment we make from $150,000 to $400,000.
If I asked you how much you paid for gas per gallon this week, you could probably name the gas station with the best price. You could probably tell me how much you paid ten years ago for a gallon of gas. Do you know how much you pay your electric company per kilowatt hour used? When was the last time they raised the price? How many Kilowatts do you use in a month? Is there anything you can do about that? Or do you just shrug your shoulders and stroke the check?
When you go to work and your car is parked in the parking lot, how much energy does it use? That’s right, none. But while you are at work how much energy is your house using? No one probably knows because the average person doesn’t know how much energy their house used each month they only know how much they paid on their last bill. We have got to understand that we control how much money we spend on energy by being energy efficient. We have come up with 5 Simple Steps for you to be Green and $ave Green. Come join me at the Home and Garden Show Friday the 12th at noon or 4pm, Saturday the 13th at 1 pm, or Sunday the 14th at 1 pm for a seminar dedicated to saving your Green. I look forward to seeing you there.

Join us at the Carolina Classic Home & Garden Show March 12 - 14

2010-03-04T09:29:00.000-05:00

The Carolina Classic Home & Garden Show is the Midlands largest show for consumers to see the latest in home building, home improvement, landscaping and more! A special focus this year has been placed on energy efficency.

Members of the Green Building Council of Greater Columbia will be at the show throughout the weekend to give seminars on the value of going green and to answer your questions.

Members will be in a booth in the Moore Building with the SC Energy Office. The SCEO will be there to talk about the forthcoming SC Appliance Rebate program, and our members will be there to answer your green building and remodeling questions.

If you don't catch us in the booth, we will have seminars each day of the show. Join chairman Bill Wichlei, CGP for "Be Green to $ave Green" on Friday at 4:00 p.m., Saturday at 1:00 p.m. and Sunday at 1:00 p.m.

The USGBC Columbia Chapter will also be at the show for a joint meeting with our council. The public is invited to attend our joint seminar "The Value of Going Green" on Friday at Noon. (Free with paid admission to the show.)

Click here for more information on the Home & Garden Show, and we hope to see you there!

Join Diggerslist.com and promote recycling

2010-02-25T15:49:00.000-05:00

This post is regarding diggerslist.com, a website similar to Craigslist, but for building materials and home improvement classifieds. The CSC Habitat for Humanity's ReStore is the sponsor to get it up and running in Columbia. The site, just like the ReStore, will help keep usable materials out of the landfill. Once we get 100 people to sign up, (FREE to sign up and post to) the Columbia site will go online. (Spread the word!)

This is a great opportunity to promote going green! Oh, and if you have usable items collecting dust, we pick up! Check out our new website at www.cscrestore.org!
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dig•gers•list n. a free online home improvement and construction classifieds that helps homeowners, contractors and do-it-yourselfers save money, find jobs and complete projects.

Central South Carolina Habitat for Humanity ReStore and diggerslist.com are teaming up to help Columbia Go Green! You can sign up for free here.

It is free to post and sell, so don’t trash it, cash it! Help keep usable materials out of the Midland’s landfills!

Also, HBA of Greater Columbia members are allowed to recycle old refrigerators through the Columbia ReStore. This will come in very handy when the SC Appliance Rebate Program begins on March 31.

- Cole Fisher [cfisher@habitatcsc.org], CSC ReStore

Newton: Give energy efficiency a boost - Editorial Columns - TheState.com

2010-02-16T12:52:00.000-05:00

Green Building Council of Greater Columbia member Larry Newton wrote a guest column in the Tuesday, Feb. 16 issue of The State newspaper where he examines the difference between building a nuclear reactor and making existing homes more energy efficient, PACE Bonds and more. Click the link to read the article.

Newton: Give energy efficiency a boost - Editorial Columns - TheState.com

Gentlemen - Grab Your Caulking Guns

2010-02-10T09:40:00.001-05:00

A featured article in today's State newspaper business section, “Plan encourages home upgrades” says that the Electrical Cooperatives of South Carolina want to tie the cost of retrofitting homes to monthly utility bills. If approved, the Co-ops expect to retrofit 225,000 homes over the next 10 years at a cost of $750 million. This represents about 1 in 10 of all the homes in South Carolina.

The proposed Legislative Bill provides a huge opportunity to put a lot of people back to work, and help transform the "leaky sieve" of our older housing stock into energy efficient homes.

Read the story in The State newspaper here

See the Bill that would make this happen

Macon Plant Turns Recycled Bottles Into Roofing

2010-02-08T13:29:00.001-05:00

HBA and Green Building Council of Greater Columbia member Tom Hamilton of Freudenberg Texbond, LP has been telling us about his company's product for over a year now. Learn about this innovative roofing underlayment made from recycled plastics in this article:

http://addthis.com/bookmark.php?v=250&pub=mianalytics

The Actual Value of Green Retrofits and Remodels

2010-02-08T11:37:00.001-05:00

This article was submitted by GBCGC member David Watkins. The article is by By Steve Hargreaves, staff writer for Yahoo! Finance, on Thursday February 4, 2010, 12:39 pm EST

This is a problem that the green-home movement faces on the whole... despite being the right thing to do for personal and environmental reasons, spending money to make a home more energy efficient does not make financial sense in the short-term. Home appraisals and the value they assign to energy-efficiency (or lack thereof) is the main offender.

Click here to read this article

NAHB: Cost-Effective Green a Trend to Watch, NAHB Says

2010-01-25T09:51:00.000-05:00

NAHB: Cost-Effective Green a Trend to Watch, NAHB Says

January 21, 2010 - The key to the mainstreaming of green is to make sure that consumers understand the value of green upgrades – and exactly how cost-effective that sustainable construction can be in the long run, according to four green home building professionals who spoke at a press conference on Wednesday at the National Association of Home Builders’ International Builders’ Show.

Builders, remodelers and product manufacturers are beginning to green their processes and incorporate more energy-, water- and resource-efficient features. They are learning how to reduce waste on the job site to save enough money to pay for these upgrades – and help ensure that the builder makes a profit, said consultant Steve Bertasso, who helps builders achieve these measures.

Green building has truly reached the tipping point because it’s moving out of the custom home market into the realm of high-production homes, he added. "This year is going to be a big change in the production [building] environment," Bertasso predicted. "Consumers are asking questions they didn’t ask two and a half years ago and contractors are making better decisions."

The key to reducing the nation’s energy use is to green existing homes, said Philip Beere, who is remodeling distressed properties near Phoenix’s new rapid transit line. Adding insulation, improving the ventilation and air conditioning systems and replacing turf grass with landscaping more appropriate to the Southwest’s desert climate doesn’t cost much more than a traditional remodel, but "retrofitting these homes to be green is a good solution," he said.

Connecticut home builder Jim Pepitone called himself a "late adopter," but one who has finally seen the green light – and believes the rest of the industry can’t be far behind. Builders need to educate consumers on air sealing, the importance of right-sized heating systems and good insulation, and the advantages of rooms that can serve more than one purpose so the home can be smaller and less expensive. "We need to make sustainable attainable," he said.

Read the Original Article Here

Geography

2010-01-15T07:38:00.003-05:00

Green features! Many green programs award points for NOT having certain items: garages, air conditioning, etc. Is this fair?

Just because a builder is from the Northeast or Northwest and can build without an air conditioning system (try building a house in the Southern states with out A/C) or the geographical regions that detached or no garages could be built, should they get more points in the program?

My question is this: Should points or recognition be given for this or should we be held accountable to provide the best performing system for the geographical area that we build?

- Posted by GBCGC Executive Committee Member Thom Chumney.

When a home energy audit pays - Jan. 7, 2010

2010-01-08T13:10:00.003-05:00

When a home energy audit pays - Jan. 7, 2010

This article appeared on CNN Money on January 7, 2010. Green Building Council Member Larry Newton forwarded it to our attention. Larry is an instructor of the Building Performance Institute (BPI) classes offered locally at Midlands Technical College. For more information on this story and BPI certification, please contact Larry Newton by e-mail at lnewton@sc.rr.com.

Posted using ShareThis

Answers About Green Roofs

2009-09-08T14:39:00.003-04:00

We received an e-mail with a question or two about green roofing materials. We sent this question to council member Nancy Rye of Columbia Wholesale, Inc. She sent the question to Mike Vance, a Certain Teed sales representative. Thanks for the question, and here's the answers we've got so far. We'll post more as they come in.

Information on Green roofing materials from Mike Vance of Certain Teed:

Inherently, the lighter color shingles(Landmark AR Mist White and Silver Birch) are the two regular priced, 30 year shingles that have qualified with an SRI of 29 or greater. SRI is an index used to measure reflectivity. This is the real advantage of these products. Insulation can help tremendously but reflecting all the sun and heat is equally important. And don't forget the importance of proper ventilation on the roof as well.

Now the only way to get Energy Star rated shingles outside of the light colors is to use the new Solaris or similar shingle with solar reflective granules. The Solaris is a Landmark Premium product with a lifetime warranty versus the 30 year warranty on regular Landmark. This warranty difference is key as the push for "green" building incorporates sustainability as a major component....hence a limited lifetime warranty on the Solaris. We could have made the product in a 30-year but that would have defeated the purpose and given us more SKU's which affects capacity.

There are some things to consider in deciding on the higher priced Solaris versus a standard 30-year. Cost savings is one...energy cost reduction over the long haul can be substantial. In addition, we have discovered several municipalities and utilities across the country who are giving credits, reduced rates, etc. on their monthly electric charges. And, in the case of a re-roof, you can also take advantage of the Tax Credit available for Energy Star rated products.

Thanks Mike!

Here's a link to the Energy Star website page that deals with this information.

SCE&G proposes energy savings - Business - The State

2009-07-01T09:48:00.002-04:00

This article from The State newspaper gives an overview of the SCE&G energy efficiency plan. The power/utility company met with many different groups for input in developing this plan, including the Green Building Council of Greater Columbia. We are pleased to see the utility company is taking these steps and will keep appraised of the plan as it develops and moves forward. See the article here:

SCE&G proposes energy savings - Business - The State

How to Keep Cool Without Turning Down the A/C

2009-06-30T10:00:00.002-04:00

We got a question from a writer named Sara Novak who's writing a story for One Million Acts of Green with ideas for staying cool this Summer without turning your thermostat down. Green Building Council member and Immediate Past Chairman Mark Bostic of Square One Designs answered with this:

1. Q: How can fans help keep things cool? How should they be set up in the home? A: Fans are great and they keep you cool by moving around the air, but I think the top levels of technology would be the archaic ceiling fan or attic fan already in use. If I was looking for either one, I'd get an Energy Star model, so it would be the most efficient.

2. Q: Are there more efficient AC systems? A: Yes there are more efficient AC systems. The way you compare units for their cooling ability is by SEER. Higher the number, better the efficiency. The untold part of the story is the ductwork. If your ducts leak, all of the efficiency of your unit is essentially wasted. And the worst part is it's invisible, so you can't see it, and neither can your HVAC guy, no matter what he tells you. The only way to find out is to test it with the tools an energy rater uses. The test is much cheaper than the unit you're putting in, too.

3. Q: Do you have other ideas for reducing AC costs? A: While you're testing the ductwork, the same guy can test your bulding envelope. Now that you've got the air that leaks from the ductwork, you need to address the air that leaks from the house itself. Door and window penetrations, under the baseboards, out of the attic stair hole and through plumbing penetrations and can lights. Sealing these spots makes your home use less BTUHs of AC so the unit can be smaller and still work. As with ductwork you can't see it so the only way to know for sure is to test before and after.

I know this stuff might not be as interesting or cool as the public may want it to be, but believe me, take these steps and other like these, and instead of saving money by not being comfortable, you can save extraordinary amounts of electricity and maintain complete or even more comfort than before.

Mark Bostic, CGP
Square One Design Service
www.squareoneplans.com

Green Not Always an Easy Sell to Skeptical Consumers

2009-06-23T09:37:00.002-04:00

- This is a portion of an article from the June 22 issue of Nation's Building News Online. See the full article here.

Although “green” is now very much in the nation’s vernacular, green builders should not assume that consumers are sold on sustainability, Suzanne Shelton, president and CEO of the Shelton Group, told the NAHB National Green Building Conference last month in Dallas.

Shelton said that prospective buyers of green homes are more concerned about what sustainable features will do to improve their lives than to save the planet, and at a time when the state of the economy is the leading concern, consumers are looking to save money on energy but also to avoid paying some of the higher prices they associate with green.

Education is key to motivating mainstream consumers to make sustainable choices, she said, and the trick is to provide information that doesn’t overwhelm them.

Armchair Environmentalists

Green builders need to know what they’re up against, and Shelton said that they can use data such as findings from her company’s surveys and focus groups to talk to customers about what they really care about.

For instance, one of her surveys found that 96% of the public doesn’t know that electricity is bad for the environment; two-thirds don’t know that electricity is generated by burning coal. A small majority correctly identifies coal-fired electrical generation as the leading cause of global warming; most think it’s traffic.

“Consumers know enough about green to get them through a cocktail party conversation,” Shelton said.

More than half of those surveyed agreed that it’s important to have a green house, but only about a third could name a green home feature.

“People say one thing and do another,” she said. “They are great armchair environmentalists, but not great at doing it themselves.”

While 49% of consumers say a company’s environmental policies are an important factor in making a decision to make a purchase, only 21% say they have actually bought a product this way and only 7% can name that product.

“There’s a fuzzy cloud around what’s green,” Shelton said, “and consumers are afraid of making the wrong decision. When they don’t know what to do, they do nothing.”

- This is a portion of an article from the June 22 issue of Nation's Building News Online. See the full article here.

How much does it cost to build a Green Home?

2009-06-22T10:59:00.003-04:00

This is a very popular question with a complicated answer. The situation depends on what the customer is looking for. First, you should determine what level of Green is right for you. The best way to do that is to figure out your goals in these six categories of Green.

- Lot Design – Do you want to purchase a lot that takes full advantage of Green aspects or is lot selection less of a priority?

- Resources – Are you interested in using only sustainable, recycled, and renewable materials that are designed in the most efficient way or do you prefer using only a few of these practices and products in the home you’ve selected?

- Energy – Do you want to use every possible method to make your home as energy efficient as possible, including the use of solar energy to generate energy, or would you rather use methods that give the best results for a smaller initial investment?

- Water – Do you want to reduce water usage, reuse water where possible, and capture rainwater for irrigation, or do you want to utilize low-flow fixtures and other economical choices, such as a centrally located water heater?

- Air Quality – How much of a priority are filter systems and low VOC (volatile organic compounds) which help reduce chemicals and allergens?

- Operation, Maintenance, Education – How involved would you like to be in the operation of your new home – are you looking for a home that is both economical and low-maintenance or are you looking to build a system that uses the best of technology and design to reduce your carbon footprint?

The next step is to determine the type of builder to use. Are you interested in a builder that has the education and experience to work directly with you to achieve the level of Green you desire or a builder who uses the Green label simply to charge more for a home by meeting only the basic, minimum requirements.

Paradime Construction, Inc. is set up to build Green as a standard but some minimum eco-friendly steps do cost more. For example, the Green verification process will add to the cost of the home. Energy efficient windows cost more than those of standard builders’ grade. These products and techniques do increase the price of turning a starter home into a Green Home.

The bottom line is that the cost really depends on the level of Green desired, in both the design and construction costs of your home. As a base guideline, a home that costs more than $250k would not see much of an increase to build to minimum Green standards. For a home in the lower price ranges, it may cost anywhere from $5k to $7k above the base price to bring it up to such standards. Obviously, the sky is the limit and there are many products on the market now that, while environmentally-friendly, can greatly increase the cost of Green Home construction. You can even add solar products and become much more energy-independent for the right price.

Paradime Construction, Inc. works with each of its clients to determine exactly which level of Green is both comfortable and cost-effective. The main goal is to have a home that performs better, uses today’s technology to balance the costs, and achieves the level of eco-impact our clients want.

- Submitted by Stan O'Brien of Paradime Construction, Inc.

Set it to 78 degrees?? I think not!

2009-06-18T10:18:00.004-04:00

I was reading the "10 Energy Efficency Tips" on our power company's website untill I got to number two:

"The best setting for your thermostat is 78. Each degree lower than that can significantly increase your cooling costs, especially in older homes with less thermal efficiency."

Had to stop right there. Geez what's wrong with this country anyway? Set my thermostat to 78 degrees? Why even have one? I don't know about you guys but if I set my thermostat to 78 degrees it would last until my wife got home then I'd be DEAD! This is Columbia not Texas! We don't have anything that even resembles dry heat. We've got the wet sticky kind...

They need to switch that tip to "crawl up in your attic and have a look at your ductwork, better yet have it tested." Do you know that 80% of homes have leaky ductwork? If it's over 10 years old it's not even sealed with mastic, just some old duct tape. Go feel around the joints and see if you can feel some leaks. I did. Man was that a surprise. Get some sealing mastic and get after it. Or you can call someone at the green council to test it, and fix it for you. Probably lots cheaper than all that money you're spending on your power bill.

That's the cool thing about green. You can build a new green home if you want, or you can green up the one you have. Energy isn't free anymore. It's not even cheap anymore. That said, there's no reason someone should suffer just to be able to pay the power bill. It's such a great feeling to realize that it's not me and my family wasting all that power, it's the house! And guess what guys, the house can be fixed!

- Submitted by Mark Bostic of Square One Design Service - www.squareoneplans.com

Think green for comfort, ecology and savings

2009-06-17T10:27:00.009-04:00

Identify the areas in your home that are the major causes of energy loss and expense such as:

- Insulation defects – Missing, wet or insufficient insulation levels.

- Air infiltration – Exterior points that allow outside air to displace effectiveness.

- Exterior doors and windows – Insulation performance and seal effectiveness.

- HVAC duct leakage – Supply and return air leakage to and from the outside can reduce your systems performance and increase energy cost due to lost conditioned air that never enters your home.

Whether you are building, renovating, or considering a home purchase, investing in an energy audit allows you to make an informed decision that can not only save you money, but enhance the value and comfort of your home.

Utilizing state of the art equipment, we analyze the condition of the insulation in the exterior walls, attic and crawlspace of your home. In addition a air tightness test is performed on your home that produces the same effects that external winds generate. All tests are non destructive, do not require special preparations and can be performed with occupants in the home.

Combining the data from thermal imaging with the air tightness test, we generate a full report detailing the type and location of energy leaks. Documentation of this information about the home can make a significant impact in your negotiations, renovation plans or energy conservation plan.

Best of all, "An informed decision is one that you never regret."

- Submitted by Joseph Gilmore of Gilmore Consulting Services, LLC

Clayton Homes Brings Green to the Masses - CNBC.com

2009-06-11T10:42:00.001-04:00

People, Planet & Profit: iHomes - CNBC.com

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How Green Do You Want to Be?

2009-06-11T09:59:00.003-04:00

This entry deals not with how green is green, but how green do you want to be? Green building and living means different things to different people. Some of the guys I work with regularly call it the "shades of green" discussion. For some guys cutting your power bills by two thirds is enough. Others are interested in the sustainable green discussion, knowing that their home will last for 100 years instead of 20.

Then there's less stuff to the landfill green, I take great pride that my new home sent almost nothing to the landfill in an industry that sends more to the landfill than almost any other. There are discussions on less water wasted green. This can be accomplished by a variety of means, more efficient devices, or by using water more than once, or saving water in the exterior areas of the residence. Lots of people realize that a green home can be a healthier home for the occupants because of measures taken by the builder to keep harmful chemicals removed from materials used to build the home. And then there are those that take certain pride that through the way they construct and live in their homes that they are playing a role in saving the planet.

- Contributed by Mark Bostic of Square One Design Service. Mark is the Immediate Past Chairman of the Green Building Council of Greater Columbia. See more entries from Mark at his blog.

Why does Paradime Construction, Inc. build Green Homes?

2009-06-11T09:54:00.003-04:00

The initial driving force behind our interest in building Green Homes was purely economic. For our customers, paying a large utility bill just didn’t make sense. One way to cut down on these bills was to build more efficiently. This also saved on the overall cost of construction. Through “value-engineering” (an early form of Green design) and focusing on building a well-insulated home, the customer saved money up front and continued to see these savings throughout the life of the home. Paradime Construction, Inc. has always used “value-engineering” principals as both the designer and the builder. Through our years of experience in both fields, we are able to save our clients money right from the start, beginning with our design process. Also, by utilizing resources that use less waste and more renewable products whenever possible, significant savings can be seen in both construction costs and home maintenance expenses.

With the introduction of the approved standards by the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB), Green Homes were clearly defined and all aspects that go into their design and construction are now measurable and verifiable by qualified third parties. For Paradime Construction, Inc., implementation of this program was both logical and simple, as we were already using many of these techniques in several aspects of our business, and they can now be verified by a third party and receive the seal of approval from the home-building industry.

There are varying degrees of Green when it comes to new homes. You can achieve both a well designed and energy-efficient home with small but deliberate steps. There is also the extreme option of an off-the-grid home that provides its own energy. Most Green Homes fall into the middle of these categories. People want Green Homes for various reasons and that is why these programs allow the homebuyer to customize the level of Green they are looking for in their new home.

Paradime Construction, Inc. is pleased to provide these services to our clients. Planet Earth has only a finite amount of natural resources. Through Green design and construction, today’s homes can do their part to conserve both energy and resources. At Paradime Construction, Inc., new construction is the perfect place to take advantage of the ever changing technology and products that allow our Green Homes to outperform other standard homes, easing the impact on both the wallet and the environment.

- Contributed by Stan O'Brien of Paradime Construction, Inc. Stan is an Executive Committee Member of the Green Building Council of Greater Columbia.

What is "Green" in construction?

2008-01-28T13:28:00.001-05:00

Green is everywhere you turn these days from homes to cars, and clothes to furniture. Green is a new concept for the mass-market and there really is no uniform definition for what it means. This can be confusing to the consumer who is looking for green products and services.

Our program, Build Green Greater Columbia, is based on the NAHB Model Green Home Guidelines and takes seven categories into account. Each home verified as green in our program must acquire points in each of the seven areas or it will not be green. The categories are: Lot Design, Preparation and Development; Resource Efficiency; Energy Efficiency; Water Efficiency; Indoor Environmental Quality; Operation, Maintenance, and Homeowner Education; and, Global Impact.

Homes that are simply energy and water efficient are not necessarily green in our program. The builder must also properly plan the house for the best results, manage existing resources on the homesite properly (trees, green space, etc.), use building materials efficiently and recycle waste during construction, educate the consumer as to how to use the house properly, and so on.

What is your take on green in residential construction? Leave a comment here, and let us know what's important to you when looking for a green home.

Suggest a post / General comments

2008-01-18T10:06:00.000-05:00

To start out on our new blog, we have it set up so that only the GBC staff can start a new post. If you'd like to suggest a post or just leave a general comment, please do so under this post.

Green Building Council Blog

2008-01-14T14:27:00.000-05:00

The Green Building Council of Greater Columbia started this blog in order to help get the word out on green residential construction in the Columbia, SC area. Council members are invited to submit articles of interest to this blog by e-mailing bin@columbiabuilders.com. Questions from the public and members are also encouraged.