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Take Note - Affordable Green Home Building Is Possible

By John Wyeth

I'm sure you've heard the argument that building an energy efficient, green home costs substantially more than a home constructed using traditional methods. Until fairly recently this was a true statement but builders specializing in green construction are now able to build efficient green homes that are approximately the same cost as standard constructed homes.

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.

Following are some of the high performance and green features that went into the construction of the home...

• Passive Solar Design
• Proper Shading of Doors and Windows
• "Thermo-Siphoning" Attic Fan
• Organic Landscaping
• Metal Roof
• Rainwater Harvesting
• Fiber Cement Siding
• Non VOC Interior Finishes
• Green Sustainable Products - Counter tops, Trim, Floor Coverings, Finishes, etc.
• CFL and Flourescent Lighting
• Energy Star Windows, Doors, Lighting, Appliances
• Solar Hot Water System
• High Efficiency Heating and Cooling System
• Structural Insulated Panels (SIPS)

Passive solar design principles are an integral piece of the overall efficiency of Heather's Home. For Texas, this means minimizing sunlight exposure in the summer months and maximizing it in winter months. A reversed scenario would be typical of a high performance design for homes built in more northern climates.

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.

Quality control is ensured using a HERS (Home Energy Rating System) test. The testing occurs during and after construction to make sure that the home meets the stringent guidelines of the EPA for energy efficiency. To ensure that the house is airtight, a duct blaster test is also performed as well as the review of a checklist for thermal bypass.

Heather's Home not only looks great, it's affordable - proof that a high performance, green, and modern home can be economically pragmatic. Thanks to the innovations of Heather's Home there is no reason that more builder's shouldn't be building green homes for the general population. Shout it from the roof tops - you don't have to sell the farm to build a green home.

About the Author

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

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