The 4 Basic Elements to Building a Green Home

by Paul L. Nettles

The 4 Basic Elements to Building a Green Home

Green building is more than the actual construction of your home, though that is a big part of the process. It is a beginning to end process which begins with the selection of your land, the design of your dream home, the materials and practices used during construction and finally, how you operate and maintain your dream home once it is completed. You can incorporate as many or as few of these elements into your home’s design as you choose.

You decide how “Green” you want to be.

Let’s look at the four basic elements in Green Building:

1. Increasing energy efficiency

2. Materials selected for building your home

3. Increasing the efficiency of water usage both in and outside of your home

4. Improving air quality, which improves the health and productivity of your family

There are many parts to each element. Let’s look at each of these in a little more detail

1. Increasing Energy Efficiency

Advanced Framing – Use a framing contractor who can apply advanced framing technique during the construction of your home. This creates a structurally sound home with improved energy efficiency, and lowers material and labor costs. This technique replaces lumber with insulation material and maximizes the wall that is insulated, improving the R-value of the home. On average, advanced framing uses 30% less lumber, which reduces the building costs and saves 2% to 4% of the total energy use. Hot Water Heater – Water heating can account for 14% to 25% of the energy consumed in your home.

To increase the efficiency of your hot water heater, locate it near the highest point of usage. This is typically near the shower followed closely by the clothes washer. Pipes – Insulate the hot and cold water pipes within 3 feet of the hot water heater. This reduces standby heat loss. Your hot water heater is continuously heating the piping and water in it, even when no water is being used. Household Appliances – A green built home features appliances that are as energy efficient as possible. The U. S. Department of Energy and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency have developed a program called Energy Star which labels those appliances meeting strict energy efficient criteria. The typical household spends ,900 a year on energy bills.

ENERGY STAR qualified appliances incorporate advanced technologies that use 10-50% less energy and water than standard models. Just look for the Energy Star label. The Federal Trade Commission requires that refrigerators, freezers, water heaters, washing machines, dishwashers and window air conditioners be labeled with an Energy Guide Label. The label for a hot water heater is shown here. This hot water heater uses 268 therms per year of energy and is being compared to other similar models which use anywhere from 238 to 273 therms per year. This model’s estimated yearly operating cost is 2.When comparing different appliance brands for your new home, be sure to look at their estimated energy consumption. This will impact the operating cost of your home for years to come.

Air Sealing – This is advanced caulking which is a part of the airtight drywall approach (ADA). Specifically, caulk or gasket drywall is installed on exterior walls at the top and bottom plates, windows and door frames; on interior walls at the intersections with exterior ceilings; and at electrical, plumbing or mechanical penetrations in the drywall. This approach minimizes heat loss in your home. Work with your drywall contractor to see if he/she uses this method. Radiant Barrier – Reflect heat away from your home by installing a radiant barrier (a sheet of aluminum foil with paper backing) on the underside of your roof. This significantly lowers your cooling costs by reducing your heat gains through your ceiling by 95%. Insulation – Add insulation to your attic to keep the heat in your house. There are some environmentally friendly insulation products made from recycled blue jeans, soybeans, cotton or newspapers.

Solar Power – If the sun shines on your home for most of the day in the winter, you have the potential for solar power to reduce your energy costs. A good solar design allows the winter sun to reach a thermal mass like a tile floor which holds heat and radiates it into your home for a period of time.

Lighting – Install high-efficiency lighting systems with advanced lighting controls. This allows you to only use the light when you need it. Replace traditional incandescent lights with energy-efficient compact fluorescent bulbs. These bulbs will use 75% less electricity and last up to 10 times longer. When designing your home or remodeling project, introduce natural daylight into as many places as possible.

Thermostat – Use a programmable thermostat to provide you and your family the comfort you want day and night while minimizing heating use when you don’t need it. Ducts – Seal your ducts with mastic and insulate them to R-11. This minimizes the heat loss from your home. Paints – You can mix non-toxic ceramic powder into your interior paint to insulate your walls and reduce the amount of heat passing through to the outside. These ceramic particles create a radiant barrier that reflects the heat back into the room. Redirect The Heat – If you have a ceiling fan, redirect the heat back into your room by reversing the direction of the blades to counterclockwise. This brings the heat back down into your room.

2. Materials Selected for Building Your Home

Plastic Lumber – This product can be used for non-structural applications such as fences, benches, decks, retaining walls, and picnic tables. It is weather and insect resistant, and will not crack, splinter or chip. It does not need painting and will not leach chemicals into the ground or surface water. By doing this, you minimize the amount of lumber used in your home, reduce your ongoing maintenance costs, and you won’t harm your local habitat. The US is home to 4.5% of the population but is responsible for over 15% of the world’s wood consumption. Engineered Wood – This combines the raw materials of wood veneer and fiber with adhesives to produce such laminated lumber as wood veneers, I-beams and roof and floor trusses. The manufacturing process uses fast growing, small diameter trees, allowing more than 80% of the log to be used in the end product. This produces a product which is very consistent and stable while decreasing the impact on a natural resource.

Fiber Cement Siding – This is a composite of cement and wood fiber reclaimed from wood processing waste or small diameter, fast growing trees. It produces a siding which is durable and low maintenance. Many fiber-cement composites offer a 50-year warranty, which increases the value of your home and decreases the maintenance costs. Brick -The process of extracting clay for brick results in limited wasted material. Brick has a limitless lifespan and can be recycled or salvaged after demolition. Recycling – The efficient use of materials when building Green comes in two forms. First, recycle construction waste and use reclaimed building materials during construction when appropriate. Once your home is finished, practice responsible recycling of the materials you use every day. Design – When working with your architect or designer, use standard dimensions, engineered wood and stacked floor plans to reduce the overall volume of lumber used as well as the volume of waste.

3. Increasing the Efficiency of Water Usage Both In and Outside of Your Home

Porous Paving Schemes – Watertight, or “impervious,” surfaces suchas paved driveways, walkways and patios don’t allow storm water runoff to infiltrate into the ground’s aquatic systems. Using uncompacted gravel, crushed stone and open or porous paving blocks for walkways and other light traffic areas minimizes the number of impervious surfaces on your property, allowing storm water runoff. Rainwater Collection – Rainwater collected from your roof is a free source of landscape irrigation water. This collection system consists of a suitable roof and guttering system, a storage tank and a simple filtration unit.

Low Impact Development (LID) – This innovative approach mimics your land’s original method of water run-off instead of disposing and treating storm water in large, costly, end-of-pipe facilities. This can come in the form of open spaces, vegetated rooftops, reduced street widths and curbs, pervious parking lots and sidewalks, medians and other buffer zones using more vegetation. Plumbing – Design your home to use recycled water for toilet flushing. Use ultra low-flush toilets and low-flow shower heads. Some older toilets use 3-7 gallons per flush while an ultra low-flow toilet uses less than 1.6 gallons per flush.

A family of 4, each showering for 5 minutes per day will use 700 gallons of water per week – a 3 year drinking supply for 1 person in the US. Using a high performance shower head uses 1 – 1.5 gallons of water per minute – up to 60% less than a traditional shower head.

In Your Yard – Mulch exposed soils in your garden beds and improve that soil with compost to a depth of 8-13 inches to increase the ability to hold water. Select plants that have low water and pesticide needs. Planting trees not only beautifies your yard, but will also increase the value of your home while decreasing your impact on the environment. A single mature tree can provide nearly 0 in energy and resource values in terms of cooling, erosion and pollution control. Plus they reduce your “carbon foot print.” Putting the right plants in the right place and developing quality, healthy soil means less watering in the summer, less need for chemicals and less waste to worry about. Chemicals – Avoid outdoor chemicals and fix oil and other fluid leaks to prevent contamination of the water runoff.



According to the NY State Attorney General’s office, 95% of pesticides used on residential lawns are considered possible carcinogens by the EPA. Hot water – Use recirculating systems for centralized hot water distribution or utilize “on demand” systems vs. traditional hot water tanks.

4. Improving Air Quality, Which Improves the Health and Productivity of Your Family

The EPA ranks indoor pollution among the top 5 environmental risks. Unhealthy air is found in up to 30% of new and renovated buildings. The electricity generated by fossil fuels for a single home puts more carbon dioxide into the atmosphere than 2 average cars. Carpet – Using a low pile or less allergen attracting carpet and pad greatly improves air quality. Wool or PET carpet (made from recycled pop bottles) are good choices. In addition, at installation, have the carpet tacked down, not glued, to reduce pollutants. Many Green Built designs minimize the use of carpeted surfaces, replacing them with hard surfaces which don’t have these pollutants and are easier to keep free of dust, mold and mildew. Paints – Use low-VOC (Volatile Organic Compounds, such as formaldehyde) paints. Ventilation – While you want to seal your home to prevent heat loss, this creates a need for mechanical ventilation. Ventilation can be provided by quiet fans with automatic controls or by heat recovery ventilators. Talk to your HVAC contractor for the best system for your home’s design. Construction materials – To prevent microbial contamination, select materials that are resistant to microbial growth. Drainage – Provide effective drainage from the roof and surrounding landscape, as well as allow proper drainage of air conditioning coils. Window treatments – Avoid synthetic window coverings or those that cannot be cleaned easily.

Even though there is a lot to think about when using Green Building techniques and principles, it is manageable and doable. We here at UBuildIt can help you work with your architect or designer, subcontractors and suppliers to help you build or remodel your dream home while minimizing your impact on the environment. Taking the time to plan and build or remodel your dream home using UBuildIt and Green Building will positively impact you and generations to come.

Chuck Warrender, an experienced custom builder, opened UBuildIt in 1988 to show people how to become Owner-builders and save money or gain equity on their own custom home building and remodel projects. Chuck designed the UBuildIt System for Owner-builders who want to build more home for their money by directing their own construction projects. UBuildIt’s Construction Consultants guide Owner-builders every step of the way and provide a proven system, professional advice and trusted resources. UBuildIt now has over 100 franchises across the US. Learn more about Chuck and how to build or remodel your own custom home at UBuildIt.com

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Atlanta Reviews Recycling Rainwater for Potable Uses

As reported in the Sunday Paper
Water independence

Facing higher water bills, a resident pursues rainwater use. And the City of Atlanta takes a pioneering step in sustainability.

By Mark Woolsey

     A meeting last week at Atlanta City Hall may enable residents to reduce their reliance on the City’s water system. But some important technical and logistical hurdles remain. At issue is the city’s first rainwater catchment system built for potable residential use. Potable means water for drinking, showering, food preparation and kitchen use, as opposed to non-potable systems for laundry, flushing toilets and lawn-watering. The city already has some of the latter, non-potable systems, in place.

    The roughly $15,000 system of two 1,700 gallon tanks, pumps and filtration equipment constructed for Mary Stouffer's Virginia-Highland home has been complete since February, but has yet to be permitted by the City of Atlanta. Last week, all the parties involved attended an informational tutorial aimed at city plumbing inspectors, the Bureau of Buildings, and the Planning Department.

   “We were able to get into a candid discussion about what works and what doesn’t work in other jurisdictions,” says Mandy Mahoney, the City’s sustainability director. “We are still at the information-gathering stage. The rainwater guys would like to be moving yesterday, but we have got to be thoughtful and deliberative about our policies.”

   One of those “rainwater guys” is Bob Drew, the Founder of ECOVIE Rainwater Collection Systems, who built Stouffer’s system. He and others say this is the first system in the city aiming for official governmental approval, although they suspect other “bootleg” potable systems have already been operating.

    “This is a collaborative process. It’s not antagonistic,” Drew says of the meeting that brought together Drew, city officials and the president of the American Rainwater Catchment Systems Association, plus a microbiologist who has worked with the group, to explain how such rainwater rigs work in other parts of the country.

    Drew has worked with Cumming-based RainHarvest Systems, a supplier of rainwater catchment components, which last year tried to get official blessing for a rainwater-trapping system for a local craft brewer, but problems arose with the lack of technical standards or a permitting process.

   “We tried to get a state permit to operate a public water system with rainwater as the source,” says Russell Jackson, the firm’s sales director. “The Environmental Protection Division grants the permits and they didn’t have the authority to recognize rainwater as a potable source of water. Right now we are working with the City to permit residential systems. We have backed off the commercial.”

    But city officials have found a state law passed a couple of years ago allowing rainwater collection for commercial and residential non-potable use. They’ve also found that local jurisdictions have the authority to regulate potable use upon getting permission from the state Department of Community Affairs.

     So as the city was getting its permission letter from DCA, Drew was tying the Stouffers’ downspouts into their filtration system. Now the family of five, including three kids, is awaiting the official OK to proceed with establishing a degree of independence from the Dept. of Watershed Management. (The city water supply would function as a backup.)

     Mary Stouffer says last year’s drought, coupled with Atlanta’s dependence on Lake Lanier, brought to mind her Florida childhood. In Florida, she says, “you could tap into aquifers, which is one thing, but being here and dependent on a lake makes you feel differently. The drought put the seed in my head that water is not a renewable resource.”

    The Stouffers are currently using their system to water their lawn. 

“And we have tested it inside and it works just fine,” says Stouffer. Once fully operational, she expects to recoup the $15,000 investment within 12 years, while mostly avoiding City of Atlanta water rates, which are already high and poised to go higher: another 12.5 percent hike is planned for next year.

  Not only is the City of Atlanta raising water rates to pay for its $4 billion sewer upgrade, a federal judge last year ruled that the city must reduce its use of drinking water to 1970s levels within three years, because Lake Lanier was never intended for that purpose. About 3 million residents in the metro area get their water from Lanier.

    Drew and other experts say a proactive rainwater collection system could reduce Atlanta’s daily water demand by 50 million to 100 million gallons a day. He says that would cover 25 percent to 50 percent of the expected shortfall of 200 million gallons from Lake Lanier, if the judge’s ruling stands.

    But there are some things to be done first.

    One is an ordinance that would set up plumbing codes, guidelines and technical standards for potable rainwater use, but Mahoney says it’s premature to discuss them at this point.

    Another issue is the cost of treating the excess water once it enters the city’s wastewater facilities. Mahoney says some cities charge residents for such services while others don’t. Currently, Atlanta water and sewer charges are assessed based on metering when city water enters a home. Clearly, a different approach would have to be used for homes that don’t use city water.

    “I would be a proponent of people not paying any sewer or water charge if they’ve taken the bold step of using rainwater for drinking water,” says Drew.