A Nearly Perfect Score For Green Homes

November 20, 2007 – Vol.12 No.35

A NEARLY PERFECT SCORE FOR GREEN HOMES.

A US Court of Appeals found against the Bush Administration’s decision to exempt SUVs and light trucks from fuel-economy standards met by cars. SUVs and minivans aren’t cargo carrying trucks, they’re passenger vehicles designed from scratch to carry people, not bales of hay and bags of concrete, and should be regulated as such, the court said.

A small, but notable, skirmish was won in the battle to increase fuel economy and reduce emissions from the nation’s vehicular fleet.

But America loves its fuel hungry cars and trucks. Americans fear that Uncle Sam wants to tell them what to drive. The battle for greener cars is not yet won.

But Americans love their homes too. Even McMansion owners might admit, a smaller monthly energy bill would be appreciated.

Maybe in the building industry, government, even local government, can help bring relief to energy bills while cutting the environmental impact at the same time. Government can make a ruling, then look to the free market for a willing player.

As an example of how local government and industry can work happily together to cut the environmental impact of homes, communities in the US should look north of the border.

For a new development now underway in the Town of Newmarket in Ontario, Canada the town decided to green up its new housing stock. As a condition on the sale of 34 lots on which new homes would be built, homes would be required to use at least 25 percent less fresh water, have 60 percent less discharge into the storm and sanitary sewers, produce 60 percent less greenhouse gas emissions, and use 60 percent less energy compared to conventional homes.

Tough goals to meet.

But Rodeo Fine Homes said sure, we can do that and better, with homes they’ve dubbed Eco Logic.

To reduce energy consumption the homes will be super insulated with increased basement wall, underslab, wall and attic insulation. Heat will be mostly from solar heated water with just a small high efficiency tankless gas boiler serving as the secondary heating source.

Further, so that no heat goes down the drain, as it were, heat recovery units will be attached to plumbing drains and ventilation exhausts. More energy reduction comes from the use of daylighting where possible. When the sun goes down the compact fluorescent or LED lights will be put to work.

Rodeo Fine Homes will exceed all of the town’s goals, as much as doubling the water conservation target. The US Green Building Council’s Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design - LEED for Homes rating system will give its highest rating, Platinum, to the homes. To meet the Platinum rating homes need to get 90 points in the 7 categories. The Eco Logic homes will earn 96 points, a nearly perfect score.

Purchasers can choose from single story or two story designs that range from 2200 to 3500 square feet on 40, 45, and 60 foot wide lots. While pricing is not finalized on the project, the homes will cost approximately 10 percent more than conventional homes. However, the increased mortgage payments will be offset by the monthly energy cost savings. On the bottom line the homes are expected remain quite price competitive.

In terms of greenhouse gas emissions, homes are about the same as cars. Energy efficiency improvements in NEW homes is fairly easy with technologies already available. However, it’s all those old homes - those already standing and occupied - that will be troublesome.

Links:

Rodeo Fine Homes
http://www.rodeofinehomes.com

US Green Building Council
http://www.usgbc.org