Take Note - Affordable Green Home Building Is Possible

In the past and even today most people assume that constructing a green, high performance home will cost you a great deal more than building a traditionally constructed home. Whereas, in the past this was a true statement it is becoming less and less true everyday. Many green builders today are constructing highly efficient, environmentally sound homes at prices in line with homes built employing standard construction methods.

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

Heather's Home is the first home in the United States to be certified under the new and more strict American Lung Association's Healthy Home guidelines. Additionally, it was built under the NAHB Green Home Building guidelines and has been accepted into the Building America Program sponsored by the Department of Energy. Even more accolades include being the first Texas home to receive LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certification and the third home in the country to receive LEED's Platinum certification. Heather's Home was also awarded the top most honor (Gold) in the Energy Value Housing Awards by the United States Department of Energy, the National Renewable Energy Lab, and the National Association of Home Builders.

Some of the more notable green and high performance features of the home are

Solar Hot Water System

High Efficiency Heating and Cooling System

"Thermo-Siphoning" Attic Fan

Energy Star Doors, Windows, Appliances, Lighting

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

CFL and Fluorescent Lighting

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

Non VOC Interior Finishes

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

CFL and Fluorescent Lighting

Attic Fan for a "Thermo-Siphoning" Effect

Solar Hot Water System

High Efficiency Heating and Cooling System

"Thermo-Siphoning" Attic Fan

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

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

Ferrier Custom Homes uses a HERS (Home Energy Rating System) test to ensure quality control. Raters inspect and test the home during and after construction to verify that the home meets EPA's strict guidelines for energy efficiency. The process includes a blower door test (to test the leakiness of the house), a duct blaster test (to test the leakiness of the duct system), and review of a thermal bypass checklist (inspection of common construction areas where air can flow through or around joints and insulation).

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

Article Source: http://www.a1-articledirectory.com

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

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