In Part 1 of this article we covered some basics of building/remodeling a home to a green certification program. We looked at making the commitment to build green, why certification is important and things to consider when choosing a green program.
Once you've done all of this, you need to know what it takes to actually build/remodel in a program. Well, here you go:
4. So how do you build/remodel in a program? When you build or remodel to a program, there’s a couple of things you have to do:
a. Hire a rater to work on each home – You have to have a third party rater to model the home before it is built and to test your home using the blower door test and other scientific calculations during and after construction. The rater will also work with your HVAC Contractor to get the system matched with the higher performance features you are installing. This is the same no matter which program you build to. Again, there are plenty of raters around. Find one that you like, and that can give you the best price and/or service.
b. Have the house verified to that program – When you build to a program, the certifying body need to be sure that you’re doing what the program says or they can’t certify the home. In many cases, the rater you hired to test your house is also the program verifier. However, the rater and verifier can be different people. When you’re shopping for a rater, ask if they can also verify in the program you want to build to… it will save you time and money if they can. In the CHiP Home Program, any verifier approved by NAHB or the USGBC LEED for Homes program is qualifed to be your verifier.
c. Build the home to the program – Your rater has worked with you to site the home properly, get the glazing correct and all of the other groundwork has been laid out. You’ve gone through the program and you know how to get the points needed for certification. Now…go build that house. Make sure your trade partners know that they’re building to a green program and what that means to them and their job. If the trade partner has never worked on such a house, make sure you or your rater/verifier explains anything they have to do differently to keep this house on track for certification. If one trade misses the mark, it could lose the certification for the whole house. The learning curve here is steep for your first green house or two, but you and your trade partners will get the hang of it.
d. Testing and verification – During construction, your rater/verifier will have to visit the home to do their thing. The verifier will visually inspect the home during the rough-in stage (before everything gets covered up), and keep an eye on the products/materials you’re using. You will have to keep records of all this stuff so you can get the certification, too. Again, the learning curve is steep on your first home or two, but you’ll get it. The verifier throughout construction will check everything the program deems mandatory, and items that you opt to do. Your rater will come in at the end and test the home with the blower door and other tests. This is where you find out the all-important HERS Rating of the home… the lower, the better.
e. Certification – Once all of the data is compiled and the house and accompanying paperwork is complete, you (the builder/remodeler) will send the required paperwork and fees to the certifier (USGBC, NAHB or the HBA of Greater Columbia in this case). They will review this information, deposit the check, and issue the certification for that home. Certification of a house in the CHiP Home Program is only $50. It is at least $150 per house for LEED-H and $200 per house in the NAHB Green program. Plus, we offer discounts to volume builders with a 12-month commitment.
Now you can market this home as being Certified Green in the program you chose (Check any guidelines or restrictions the program may have). Under our program, each home will be listed at www.columbiagreenbuilders.com and be searchable on an interactive map. LEED for Homes and NAHB Green do not offer this with their certifications.
Make sure the MLS Listing for the home shows that the home is certified. There are checkboxes for this in the bottom, right of the Columbia (SC) MLS form.
There you have it. We hope to have taken some of the mystery out of what you as a builder or remodeler has to do in order to build a certified green home. If you're in the Midlands of South Carolina, please contact us to start building to the CHiP Home Program today!
Showing posts with label construction. Show all posts
Showing posts with label construction. Show all posts
Wednesday, February 8, 2012
Tuesday, July 5, 2011
Green: The New Standard?
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.
Tuesday, June 23, 2009
Green Not Always an Easy Sell to Skeptical Consumers
- 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.
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.
Monday, June 22, 2009
How much does it cost to build a Green Home?
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.
- 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.
Wednesday, June 17, 2009
Think green for comfort, ecology and savings
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
Thursday, June 11, 2009
How Green Do You Want to Be?
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.
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?
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.
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.
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