The U.S. Green Buildings Council works in conjunction with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to educate citizens about the importance of environmentally friendly home construction. More builders are building green homes than ever, as most of the components of a house can be made more environmentally friendly than traditional components.
Importance of Green Home Construction
According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, buildings are responsible for 38 percent of all carbon dioxide emissions and 68 percent of all electricity consumption in the United States. Additionally, the EPA suggests that building a green home will produce environmental, economic and social benefits.
Green Home Upgrades
There are several facets to home construction - each of which can be made environmentally friendly. Builders can upgrade windows, insulation and flooring to help conserve heat and cooling. Energy Star approved metal roofing can save up to 40 percent on home energy costs and lasts for many decades. Low-flow water faucets, toilets and shower heads help conserve water. Look for zero or low-VOC paints to help eliminate VOC (volatile organic compounds) emissions in your home. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency says that VOCs are responsible for nine percent of ground level ozone emissions.
The U.S. Green Building Council´s Green Home Guide provides geographical information on green home construction. Website users can sort green building resources by U.S. cities. Some cities incorporate ecologically friendly building codes and ordinances to encourage energy efficient home construction. For example, the City of Dallas adopted a set of city ordinances that went into effect on October 1, 2009 that regulates energy efficiency, water conservation and green construction requirements.
Benefits of Environmentally Friendly Homes
There are tax benefits for having a green home. These incentives come on both the state and federal level in the form of credits. Items eligible for tax credits include metal roofing, exterior doors and windows and major appliances. Taxpayers receive a portion of the purchase price as a tax credit. Additionally, homeowners benefit financially from lower energy and utility bills month after month.
Energy efficient construction usually comes with higher upfront costs. Green appliances, air conditioners, hot water heaters and other home components often cost more than non-energy efficient ones. Installing these upgrades in new home construction will add more to the cost of the home, but will eventually pay for itself in low energy costs.
