Do you know your Asheville “Green Building” certifications?
September 17th, 2008 categories: Building Green
 
As awareness grows on the impact we make on this earth and it’s environment, I think many of us are more interested in what we can do to make a difference. The Green Building business is booming, no, exploding! So today I’m going explain what some of the terms mean. A recent wave of certification programs has emerged to prevent greenwashing, and to provide a marketing edge for builders who are willing to make human health and enviroment top priorities.
In Asheville, there are three certification programs for green building:Â Energy Star Homes, North Carolina Healthybuilt Homes and Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design for Homes.
Let’s begin with a name I think most people know, Energy Star. It’s become a very common household name for appliances, but what is an Energy Star Home? Similiar to Energy Star appliances, the standards are created by the Department of Energy and inspected by a third party. Energy Star home go beyond just efficient appliances: Each house is built to be at least 15 percent more energy efficient. Each home is first computer-modeled to determine its energy useage, then inspected by a nationally trained home-energy rater to ensure it will perform as planned. Energy Star homes are more comfortable, durable and energy efficient. A plus for the homeowner, Progress Energy and Duke Energy currently offer utility-rate discounts for certified Energy Star homes.
The N.C. HealthyBuilt Homes Program was created in 2004 through a collaboration between the N.C. State Energy Office, the N.C. Solar Center and building professionals throughout the state. Every HealthyBuilt home is also an Energy Star home. These homes are divided into seven sections: site; water; building envelope; comfor systems; appliances; lighting and renewables; indoor air quality; and materials. Three years since it’s inception, there are approximately 100 HealthyBuilt homes certified, and 492 currently under construction in Western North Carolina.
LEED is a green-building rating system created by the U.S. Green Building Council. The LEED Rating System is a nationally recognized standard for green building, but has until recently primarily focused on commercial construction. After years of development, pilot runs and review, LEED for Homes is a voluntary rating system, similar to the statwide N.C. HealthyBuilt Homes program. As of October 2007, 134 homes were certified and 336 were registered across the United States.
For more detailed information about the certification programs:
Great informative post. Many people don’t realize that having a “Green” home is not only good for the environment, but can increase your quality of life inside your home too. Having a “green” home can result in less asthma and lower cancer risks to name a few.
This is such an explosive area in building and home improvement that being up to date on local, state and national standards is a must. You have offered a real service to your readers and clients.
Michael
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