Green Homes Raleigh NC
If you're considering building or buying a green-built home in the Raleigh, NC area, you probably have some specific ideas about what's involved in a green home. Or maybe you just know that a green home is better for the environment.
Each of the five green home certification programs in North Carolina has its own levels and specifications of "greenness".
If you're considering a green home in the Raleigh area, you'll most likely see certification that involves the Green Home Builders of the Triangle program. Each green home must be independently validated and certified by a third party inspection agency. If you don't see a green home certificate, your home may not be certified green, even if it does contain many green elements.
There are three basic levels of certification, that can be attained by collecting "points" in a variety of building areas, such as:
A green home reaches bronze level certification when a total of 257 points have been earned, with the minimum amounts in each category.
Green homes with Bronze Level Certification may not have the same features and amenities - for instance, the green home can earn 5 points for minimizing slope disturbance, or 6 points for optimizing the homes location for solar resources by placing the long side of the home within 30 degrees of due south.
A Bronze Level Green Home does not often have a solar water heater or solar photovoltaic power source, but can be the least expensive type of green home built in the Raleigh NC area, depending on the choices made.
A green home in the Raleigh NC area reaches silver level certification when a total of 415 points have been earned, with again minimum amounts in each category.
Thus 61% more points must be earned to reach Silver certification - so some could argue that such a home is 61% greener!
It depends on the green homeowner or home buyers preferences and priorities - again, the points can be earned in a variety of ways.
A sealed attic is worth 8 points in the Energy Efficiency category, as is a sealed crawlspace and a solar hot water heater. From the chart above, a Silver Level Green Home requires 62 points in this category, so a combination of many different features are needed.
To earn a Gold Level Green Home Certification in the Raleigh NC area, the green home must score a total of 549 points, or more than double that of a Bronze Green Home.
Most Gold Level Green Homes that I have seen in the Raleigh area are in the $700K or higher range.
In Water Efficiency, one can gain 7 points for collecting and reusing rainwater, and 7 points for weather-based irrigation controllers (computerized).
As you can see, the types of green homes available vary quite a bit, and the combinations of green features can be almost endless.
With hundreds of "green" options available across seven different categories, you can design and build a green home that incorporates everything most important to you - and Southern Energy Management, a much-awarded local green home certifier, can help you find the combination that best fits your budget.
We'll help you get started! Contact us, or call 919-278-8070.
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Question, I have a 20 lot highend subdivision in Warren Township, New Jersey. It is heavily wooded mature high trees, roads are in, but have not cleared the lots. How do I get info on different directions of green building??
Patricia - there are at least two national green building programs.
Read the 78 page LEED Green Home guidelines here. The LEED program has been put together by the US Green Building Council.
Find out more about the NAHB Green Home program here. The National Association of Home Builders has created a full set of standards for Green Home Guidelines.
You probably also have local certification agencies. It may be best to find out who those agencies are - they should have representatives who can help you get started with a green building program specific to your area.
Thanks for the information! I think green is coming and coming fast!
that is my dream to build a green home on the lake..with moutain views...I am gathering information, about all the new technology available.....so when the time comes, I am ready!!
Allen - There's a lot to know, but many small steps can be incorporated into almost every home, starting with Energy Star Certification.
Konnie - Good for you! As you know, there are many, many different ways to build that green home, so keep researching and decide on your priorities! For some, it's low VOC paints and flooring. For others it's features like low maintenance landscaping. Then again, it can be a combination of all of the above!
Great information I appreciate the sharing of the point system, It gives me a good Idea of the differnce in levels... As a Broker, I've made it a piont with every agent here to have them get certified as an Eco-Broker We need to know as much as we can about energy alternatives and energy efficient homes. Thanks for helping with may education... Diane
Diane - glad to help. The points can be very confusing and really need an expert to help work through the choices. Glad to hear you've done so much training!
There is a lot of information on this page! It's wonderful that more and more people are asking about green. At least it seems to be - I can't tell if it's just more people are thinking about it or if I'm just noticing the ones that are? Anyways, I'm still hoping green and walkable start appearing in conversations together more often.
Lynn - green is growing, but the trend is still just beginning. In 5 or 10 years, the homes we build will probably be quite different, and a green home will help meet those new standards, today.