Green homes are “in” these days and for good reason. A typical Energy Star Qualified home is 20 – 30% more efficient than a standard home; a home built to Homes Inspired by ecomagination specifications offers the home owner as much as $1,500 in annual energy cost savings. These homes are good for the environment, good for new home sales and good for the homeowner’s pocket book.
Okay, so going green sounds good, but how does a green home differ from the norm? You may be surprised that environmentally friendly homes have more green features than than just a few appliances and CFL lightbulbs. Here are some green features that Marnella Homes in Oregon offers in every home they build. If your builder is green, they’ll probably use many of the same designs, materials and products found in every Marnella Home.
House Wrap – The house wrap gives the home a weather-resistant barrier, which helps protect against mildew, mold and fungus. At the same time, it lets moisture inside your home escape. The house wrap reduces energy loss and the home owner’s energy bill.
Rain Screen Wall System – A rain screen wall system uses fully recyclable materials and protects your home from terrible weather without the use of grout or sealants. The rain screen wall system prevents moisture, mildew and mold and requires no maintenance. The life expectancy is over eighty years.
HVAC – The more efficient HVAC is a heating and hot water system that is over 95% efficient. It eliminates roughly 2 tons of wasted energy per home each year, and provides excellent indoor air quality while reducing energy use.
Recycled Rock Sub-Grade – Recycled rock construction is a substitute for disrupting natural areas. Crushing rock onsite uses less water, saves energy and increases air quality.
Water-wise and Green Landscaping – The use of water-wise landscaping products saves water and the green design helps maximize water efficiency and reduce downstream contamination.
Engineered Floor Joints – Engineered Floor Joints reduce waste and minimize sound and vibration. They are more economical than traditional floor joints.
Shaw Flooring – Shaw carpeting uses innovative features that make it softer, stronger and stain-resistant. The carpet contains recycled fiber and is 100% recyclable, which reduces waste in landfills.
Appliances and Lighting – Energy Star qualified appliances take advantage of innovative technologies making them more efficient. These appliances and light bulbs use 10-50% less energy than standard appliances.
Cabinets – Marnella Homes offers cabinets from suppliers that encourage sustainable forestry practices, which help protect threatened species. The cabinets are all stained and constructed of real wood doors. The cabinets are high in quality and last longer than standard cabinets.
Framing – Marnella Homes are framed with kiln dried lumber, which is more than 2 times as strong and stiff as non-kiln dried lumber. The lumber is more receptive to glues, fasteners, and bonding agents.
Blown in Wall Insulation – This insulation is densely packed fiberglass insulation, which eliminates voids, cracks and compression – common problems with fiberglass batt insulation. A better insulated home is quieter and uses less energy for heating and cooling.
Windows – Marnella Homes uses Milgard Windows, which are energy efficient and also able to protect your carpet and furniture from fading. These energy efficient windows save on monthly energy consumption and costs.
Many of the above materials and products are used by home builders to build new homes in communities across the nation. These products, materials and techniques helped many in the new home industry deliver a superior product, a product that lasts longer and consumes less. If you’re thinking of buying a green home, visit our green home builders section to locate a builder with homes for sale in your area.
*The above information was gathered from www.MarnellaHomes.com/GreenBuilding.php and is considered accurate and reliable. Contact a Marnella Homes associate today for more information about their new homes for sale in Oregon.
See Also:
Features of Energy Star Qualified Homes
Energy Star Qualified Products
ecomagination Home Builder Program
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This is a great list of characteristics of a Green Home. I plan to use it as a check list for homes I look at that claim to be Green Homes. There is certainly more than I realized to making a home really Green. Thanks
.-= Jill´s last blog ..Houston’s August market posts the lowest numbers of the summer =-.
Great synopsis of what constitutes a “Green Home”. As this technology becomes more mainstream, the cost for these homes should decrease. This will allow more homeowners to purchase them which will increase the positive effect on the environment.
.-= Augusta Real Estate´s last blog ..All Brick 4 BR 2 BA In Columbia County =-.
The blown in wall insulation makes a huge difference. Here in Las Vegas, Energy Star is the standard and quite a few companies exceed the standard by 30% or more. They are close to the LEED certification but true “green” homes are still rare.
.-= Chas@Las Vegas Real Estate´s last blog ..Las Vegas Property Auctions – Deal or No Deal? =-.
There are so many ways to be green with home building it is astounding. Most people don’t realize what a huge contributor homes are to the effects of global warming.
Kalia homes incorporate many of these green practices to reduce their carbon footprint. It’s so important that developers focus on the sustainable building practices, every home really does make a difference.
I’d recommend thinking about composite roofing and ridge vents when re-roofing. Both protect your home from destructive elements and help your roof last longer.
Hey, I love being green, if we all do it it can really make a difference. You’ve got a nice list of items anyone can follow even to make improvements in existing homes.
.-= Jeff @ Stainless Steel Canister Set´s last undefined ..If you register your site for free at =-.
What about built in recycling and compost areas? We have this great new LEED restaurant in our area that produces nearly no waste. This would be an interesting philosophy for homeowners. Not only a green home but green living too.
This list is very helpful! It is imperative to understand that going green can be a progressive action. One “green” alteration can lead to many, and all that it takes is a small effort and some will. We all want to dave the world, and by going green it essentially helps us top better our future generations lives.
I love it learning new stuff still – I never thought about the cabinets and type of wood they are made of. If you really want to go the extra “green” mile you can make your own electricity using solar panels and by using windmills, they are both very expensive to buy but there are plenty of guides that are out there that will teach you how to make your own.
.-= dave@home improvements´s last blog ..How To Get Rid Of Garden Pests =-.
You have mentioned all the things I need to know. Would keep this in mind when we purchase our new home this second quarter of 2010.Cheers and Happy New Year!
.-= manny@home mold removal´s last undefined ..(Enjoy 10 returned posts for Christmas) =-.
It’s nice to see that more people are really starting to care about the long term impact of going green. Nice list.
Wow, I didn’t know that there were so many different factors which make a home considered green. I do know that the next home I buy will be a new “green” home.
I hope a lot of these energy-saving practices become a standard part of the construction industry.