| Everyone is talking about Green Building. Every | | | | green certified homes have held their value, and in |
| channel you flip to or page you turn has another | | | | many cases increased in value. Green homes |
| reminder that green building is the talk of the | | | | save money every single month because they |
| nation. The number of contemporary home plans | | | | lower water, electric, and gas bills. Green certified |
| that are built with eco friendly features will rise | | | | commercial buildings enjoy these benefits as well |
| from 2% in 2005 to an estimated 10% in 2010 | | | | as increased worker productivity. All Green |
| according to a study by the NAHB and | | | | certified homes have what is called a Home |
| McGraw-Hill. That is 1 out of 10 homes and a five | | | | Energy Rating (HERS rating). Homes with Green |
| hundred percent increase over a five year period! | | | | Certifications, HERS ratings, and better indoor air |
| I can only make observations and guesses at | | | | quality will continue to enjoy these higher resale |
| what market conditions are driving these | | | | values similar to the way that gas guzzling SUVs |
| increases; so instead, I want to talk about why | | | | are filling used car lots while their fuel efficient |
| we should build green in the first place. | | | | counterparts remain in demand. |
| 1. Green Buildings save Energy. Buildings account | | | | 5. Green Buildings Protect our Waterways from |
| for 39.4% of the total U.S. energy consumption. | | | | Pollution. Buildings and their pavement replace |
| That is the TOTAL energy consumption. Every | | | | natural surfaces with impermeable surfaces. This |
| time you fill up with gas, or get a utility bill you are | | | | creates runoff that washes sediments and |
| reminded of the ever-increasing demand for | | | | pollution into our waterways. This runoff is the |
| energy. Through some relatively simple changes in | | | | fourth leading source of pollution in rivers, third in |
| a building's design and solar orientation, air sealing, | | | | lakes, and second in estuaries. On the Gulf Coast |
| high performance windows, efficient HVAC, and | | | | we all understand the value of the waterways, |
| increased insulation this demand can be cut in half | | | | and many of us are attracted to lake home plans |
| or even more. | | | | near water because of these natural resources. |
| 2. Green Buildings save Water. Occupants of | | | | Green buildings help to prevent this runoff by |
| Buildings use 12% of the total water consumed in | | | | reducing impermeable surfaces, minimizing soil |
| the U.S. per day. Some easy ways to cut our | | | | disturbance and erosion, and managing storm |
| water usage in half is to use low flow faucets and | | | | water by using low-impact development. |
| shower heads, low flow or dual-flush toilets, | | | | 6. Green Buildings Reduce Waste. Construction and |
| energy star or water sense dish washers and | | | | demolition (C&D) debris accounts for nearly 60% |
| clothes washers, and native and draught resistant | | | | of our total non-industrial waste each year. Green |
| landscaping with water sensing or weathermatic | | | | building works to prevent this type of waste by |
| irrigation. Every gallon of water that we conserve | | | | creating efficient floor plans, utilizing advanced |
| also means less energy to purify and deliver it to | | | | framing techniques, using materials that use fewer |
| the home, and treat and return it to the | | | | resources, using renewable resources, and |
| environment. | | | | reclaimed or recycled materials. |
| 3. Green Buildings are Healthier. The levels of | | | | 7. Green Buildings Reduce our Carbon Dioxide |
| indoor pollutants may be two to five times higher | | | | Emissions. When I think about CO2 emissions I |
| than outdoor levels, and on average, Americans | | | | usually think about cars and trucks as the worst |
| spend about 90 percent of their time indoors. This | | | | offender, but buildings account for 38.1% of the |
| can lead to problems such as cancer and asthma. | | | | U.S.'s total CO2 emissions. Green buildings reduce |
| More than 20 million people, including 6 million | | | | our carbon footprint by reducing energy |
| children have asthma. That is about 1 in every 15 | | | | requirements, and the amount of materials and |
| people. Green buildings improve indoor air quality | | | | resources needed for construction. Green |
| over traditional house plans by air sealing, proper | | | | development also works to site homes and |
| ventilation, air filtration, moisture management, and | | | | businesses near essential services and sources of |
| avoiding potential sources of pollutants such as | | | | mass transit. In 1969 48% of students walked or |
| VOCs and formaldehyde. | | | | biked to and from school compared to less than |
| 4. Green Buildings are a Great Investment. Now, | | | | 15% in 2001. By changing the focus of our |
| there is high demand for green homes even | | | | developments from automobiles to humans we |
| though the past 3 years have been extremely | | | | can impact the CO2 emissions that come from |
| rough on the national housing market. Homes | | | | autos. |
| have lost an average of 12% of their value, but | | | | |