Green Defined:
Healthy, efficient, disaster resistant, mold
resistant, pest resistant, low maintenance,
low environmental impact, built for life.
First, Here's the Math: Mortgage + utilities
is LESS in a green home - you put more
money in your pocket at the end of the
month, after paying your bills. The five to
eight
percent more on construction costs (financed
by the bank) is paid for, plus extra
spending money, by the 60 to 75 percent on
utility and maintenance costs.
The Six Key Systems Approach
1. Poured Solid Concrete Wall or
Structural Insulated Panel: Avoids
trapping
moisture in walls for mold growth, stronger,
better insulation, better sound resistance,
better best resistance, more accurate,
faster construction.
2. Sealed Attic Construction: Using
either Biobased water-blown healthy foam
insulation sprayed on the underside of the
roof deck, or a structural insulated panel
roof
(such as HPRS), provides a sealed,
conditioned attic space, keeping heat, dust,
moisture, pests and wind out. Attic
temperatures are reduced from the typical
130 to
140 degrees F to 80 to 85 degrees. Now the
attic is dry, cool, usable storage space.
This saves on A/C costs, improves indoor air
quality, and helps protect the roof in high
winds.
3. Efficient, Impact Resistant Windows:
Choose windows that are both energy
efficient and protect the building envelope
against wind forces getting inside to lift
off the
roof. This completes the "green" shell of
your building.
4. High Efficiency Air Conditioning,
Dehumidification and Fresh Air: We
recommend looking at water-cooled air
conditioning, able to keep Summer A/C costs
up
to 50 percent lower than even the most
efficient air-cooled equipment. Houses need
more fresh air to flush out toxins. Fan
recycler or energy recovery ventilation is
recommended, along with a humidistat to keep
humidity at 60 percent or lower.
5. Passive Solar Water Heating: The
single most powerful energy saver of the 6
Key
Systems. Reduces water heating costs by 70
to 95 percent (overall electric bill
reduction of more than 20 percent). Has no
moving parts, doubles the hot water supply
for the house, provides hot water when power
is out, and offers a 30% Federal Tax
Credit to the home buyer.
6. Brac Greywater System:
Self-contained system that cleans and
recycles shower
and laundry water to use for flushing
toilets. Typical savings of 30% of household
water
and sewer use.
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