They are not the Same Thing.
Green Building not only incorporates the best energy efficient home building practices currently available, but in addition, takes an eco-friendly approach that starts at the design phase.
Simple energy-efficient homes must have the following basic characteristics to be considered energy-efficient:
- Effective insulation in the walls, attic and floor
- Energy efficient windows
- Proper ducting Efficient heating/ cooling systems
- Energy efficient appliances and ventilation systems
Green homes not only mandate the above basic energy efficient practices, but homes built eco-friendly add many more features and are built to a higher standard (and still costs roughly the same as a conventional home). Here are just a few of the products and practices you will typically see built into your green home:
Engineered Wood Products which are recycled or reconstituted wood materials employing laminated wood chips or strands and finger-jointing. Engineered wood products such as exterior window and door headers, roof sheathing, shear walls, sub floors and siding materials provide greater strength and flexibility than conventional products. The use of engineered wood products saves trees!
Certified Sustainable Wood Products that come from forests overseen by the Sustainable Forestry Initiative (SFI), American Tree Farm System (ATFS), the Canadian Standards Association’s Sustainable Forest Management System (CAN/CSA) or the First Stewardship Council (FSC) are seen in green homes. A managed forest harvests timber at a rate that can be permanently sustained, while leaving the ecological functions intact, enhanced, or restored. Some companies actually plant more trees per year than they harvest!
Weather-based Irrigation Controllers or evapotranspiration (ET) controllers give you a leg up on Mother Nature. These devices use hourly weather data to track rainfall, air temperature, wind speed or other factors to match the water needs of your landscaping with current weather conditions. They eliminate over watering, saving water and giving you a healthier lawn.
Energy Control Systems that will monitor your energy usage throughout the day and provide you with information to help reduce your energy consumption and help save you even more money.
Hardwood Floors instead of carpeting will reduce the amount of germs, dust mites and other various types of bacteria that typically gets trapped and stored in the carpet, thus producing a healtheir home for you and your family.
Granite or Other Solid Countertops instead of tile also reduces the amount of bacteria in the home; solid countertops are less pourus and are easier to clean and keep clean.
Smart Lighting will also allow you to save money by only being on when the room is in use; the system will actually turn on and off the lights when you enter and leave the room.
Reducing Front Yard Turf is a real water saver for many California homes where over half the water used is spent keeping the grass green. By using native plants, reducing the amount of turf in the yard (frontyard = maximum 75% turf), and using high-efficiency drip irrigation systems, landscapes can save water and still look great.
Low Flow Toilets use no more than 1.6 gallons of water per flush. Low-flow plumbing fixtures save substantial amounts of water compared to conventional fixtures while providing the same utility. Low flow showerheads result in approximately three times the water savings as installing low flow toilets.
Recirculating Hot Water Systems provide hot water on demand in matter of seconds. This feature saves substantial amounts of water compared to regular systems that require residents to run the tap for longer periods while waiting for the water to get hot.
A Correctly Sized and Tested Air Conditioner and Furnace that will not only provide better air quality and comfort, but will also save money on energy bills.
Reusing clean wood on an alternative construction site or diverting for reuse. Cut-offs can be used as bridging and backing materials. Engineered wood makes use of recycled wood and results in stronger, straighter building materials.
Recycling products to appropriate facilities that will use the material in other ways makes good sense like cardboard into new paper products, wood to particleboard and drywall to pet litter.
Reducing waste with prefabricated systems or pre-cut kiln dried lumber.
Designed to allow more natural light into the home with larger windows and more open floor plans.
