Green Home Certifications

Some people have been asking me about the different kinds of green certification programs out there. So here’s an explanation…

Energy Star Qualified

To earn the ENERGY STAR, a home must meet guidelines for energy efficiency set by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. These homes are at least 15% more energy efficient than homes built to the 2004 International Residential Code (IRC), and include additional energy-saving features that typically make them 20–30% more efficient than standard homes.

ENERGY STAR qualified homes can include a variety of ‘tried-and-true’ energy-efficient features that contribute to improved home quality and homeowner comfort, and to lower energy demand and reduced air pollution:

1. Effective insulation.
2. High-performance windows.
3. Tight construction and ducts.
4. Efficient heating and cooling equipment
5. Efficient lighting fixtures, appliances, and water heaters.
6. Third-party verification.

Home Energy Rating/HERS

A home energy rating involves an analysis of a home’s construction plans and onsite inspections. Based on the home’s plans, the Home Energy Rater uses an energy efficiency software package to perform an energy analysis of the home’s design. This analysis yields a projected, pre-construction HERS Index. Upon completion of the plan review, the rater will work with the builder to identify the energy efficiency improvements needed to ensure the house will meet ENERGY STAR performance guidelines. The rater then conducts onsite inspections, typically including a blower door test (to test the leakiness of the house) and a duct test (to test the leakiness of the ducts). Results of these tests, along with inputs derived from the plan review, are used to generate the HERS Index score for the home.

Environments for Living

The Environments For Living program is product neutral and does not require any specific manufacturer’s products. The prescriptive, performance-based program structure was developed with the assistance of nationally recognized experts in the field of building science, Building Science Corp. and Advanced Energy. The program meets the requirements of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) ENERGY STAR® program and, at the Platinum energy level, meets the U.S. Department of Energy Building America® specifications.

In 2007, the Environments For Living Certified Green program was introduced, combining the energy and building science platform of the program with added environmentally beneficial features and benefits, such as indoor water efficiency and appliance and lighting efficiency. It, too, was designed to be compatible with other green building programs nationally and locally.

LEED for Homes (USGBC)

LEED for Homes is a rating system that promotes the design and construction of high-performance green homes. A green home uses less energy, water and natural resources, creates less waste, and is healthier and more comfortable for occupants. Benefits of a LEED home include lower energy and water bills; reduced greenhouse gas emissions; and less exposure to mold, mildew and other indoor toxins. The net cost of owning a LEED home is comparable to that of owning a conventional home.

LEED is an internationally recognized green building certification system, providing third-party verification that a building or community was designed and built using strategies aimed at improving performance across all the metrics that matter most: energy savings, water efficiency, CO2 emissions reduction, improved indoor environmental quality, and stewardship of resources and sensitivity to their impacts.

Developed by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), LEED provides building owners and operators a concise framework for identifying and implementing practical and measurable green building design, construction, operations and maintenance solutions.

National Green Building Certification (NAHB)

The National Green Building Certification is administered by the NAHB Research Center. The Research Center accredits verifiers and acts as the sole certifying body for the National Green Building Program.

Certification is based on the NAHB Model Green Home Building Guidelines and the ICC 700-2008 National Green Building Standard™. The Standard includes provisions that define green attributes for developments, multi-unit dwellings, remodeling projects, additions and single-family homes.

There are three green certification levels available in the Guidelines – Bronze, Silver, and Gold. The Standard includes an additional level, Emerald. The green levels and certifications address key green construction areas including – Lot & Site Development, Resource Efficiency, Energy Efficiency, Water Efficiency, Indoor Environmental Quality, and Homeowner Education.

National Green Building Certification assures homeowners and the community that your projects meet the requirements of either the NAHB Model Green Home Building Guidelines or the ICC 700-2008 National Green Building Standard, and truly are green.

Tags: Energy Star Certification, environments for living, green home certifications, HERS rating, LEED certification