Building a “green home” will give you a warm, fuzzy, doing-the-right-thing feeling, but just meeting the requirements to certify your new home “green” can leave much to be desired.
A recent study by the US Green Building Council found a that up to a quarter of the buildings certified by the LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) program don’t save the energy projected and don’t track their energy consumption. The council is planning revisions to the LEED program to address this issue.
Residential energy efficiency is much easier to deal with than a commercial building. The homeowner who pays the bills will be much more conscious of the small steps he/she can take to reduce energy use and energy bills. Simple steps, turning off lights and computers and televisions when not in use, setting the thermostat a little lower in the winter and higher in the summer, planting drought resistant plants…little things…can amount to a large annual savings.
Timber frames are built to be resource efficient, from the timbers used to the energy efficient enclosure. A timber frame home, from design through move in, can easily meet and exceed green certification standards for most programs.
As you plan your new timber frame home, plan not only to use the most sustainable products, but to have an energy efficiency as a key goal. Work with your architect or designer to identify ways to develop a home plan that takes into consideration the way you live and the space you need.
An energy efficient home, be it a renovation or a new home, is the first step in reducing not only your costs, but the use of resources.
That said, I’ll sign off for now.
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