Green vs. Green

Green vs. Green

Let's say you are looking for a green home, so you hit the net and on any given day end up with 4 million pages of Google with all things "green home" related. You scroll through builders' websites, catching the words "green", "energy-efficient" and "eco-friendly" in every paragraph; you see pictures of living spaces, all bright and airy and designed to give you that warm and fuzzy feeling of comfort. At the end of the day, how do you, the consumer, choose the builder of your new green home, with so many builders essentially presenting the same info, the same buzz-words, and making essentially the same promises of comfort, durability and energy savings?

My recommendation would be to peel the layers of pretty photos, and take a peek beneath the paint to discover the various shades of green and find the one perfect for you.

For some builders Green means using post-consumer materials throughout the home. For example, a frame home that uses recycled wood products in construction can, indeed, be called Green - after all no trees had to be cut to produce it, and it is certainly one example of sustainable building practices. It is Earth-Friendly, and should definitely be encouraged wherever possible. On the downside, this construction method alone will not result in an energy-efficient, durable and storm resistant structure. By adding spray foam insulation to these homes, their efficiency will improve somewhat, however there are still the issues of indoor air quality, termite protection, and overall durability and comfort of the structure.

One of the best ways to determine potential energy-efficiency of a home is to know the R Value. Briefly, the R value is used to determine how well the home will stand up to temperature variations. The bigger the number, the better insulated, and more energy efficient the home is. For example, standard frame construction walls generally carry an R value of 13. Standard concrete block walls can boast R value in the low 20s, if insulated. By comparison, our walls, built with reinforced ICFs have an R-value of 47. Ask your prospective builders what the R-value of the insulation and materials used in the construction of your home will be, and choose accordingly. One way to understand what the R-value of the home means to you is to look at it in terms of difference in temperature in various spaces in your home. For example, during the hottest months in Florida, the temperature in the attic or crawl space in traditionally constructed homes can be up to 20 degrees higher than in the rest of the home. ICF homes with Icynene roof insulation usually result in only a 2-degree difference. This has much more of an effect on your utility bills and energy utilization than any number of EnergyStar appliances could give you, saving the consumer up to 70% on energy costs.

Another useful parameter to keep in mind is uncontrolled air infiltration. Air leakage can account for 40% of wasted energy in a home, so it is important to ask your prospective builder how air-tight their homes are. Please note that while some spray foam insulations do result in a tighter building envelope, used alone even the best insulation will not prevent air leakage. Talk to your builder about the methods they use to seal the home's envelope. With proper controlled ventilation, tighter structures provide better indoor air quality, while keeping dust, pollen and other pollutants safely at bay.

Lastly, with so many green options now available, it is now easier than ever to locate green building and home improvement resources in any area. Do some research and ask relevant questions before you commit to a contract. Some builders, who specialize in building Green Homes, do not charge any more than those using more traditional construction methods, so cost is not always an issue. EnergyStar appliances, dual flush toilets and recycled carpets are easier to identify as Green than all that science that goes into walls, roofs and foundations, but at the end of the day, it's all about the basics of how your home is built. Of course, most responsible Green Builders won't put in inefficient lights, appliances and plumbing anyway, but that's a subject for another day.

Florida Green Homes, LLC is a builder of certified Green Homes in Palm Coast, Jacksonville, St. Augustine and Daytona Metro Areas. We only build Earth Friendly People Friendly Homes. Our homes start at 112,9K on your lot, and superior Green construction and energy efficiency come standard.
Visit our site at www.MyFloridaGreenHome.com