| For today's sophisticated homebuyers, things like | | | | line. It is designed to reflect the sun's warmth and |
| clawfoot tubs, pedestal sinks, beadboard trim and | | | | thereby reduces the amount of natural sun heat |
| wide rocking chair porches are the coolest. There's | | | | entering the home. It will certainly keep the living |
| just something about the character of houses built | | | | areas cooler and the HVAC costs lower, and should |
| almost a century ago that draws people to them like | | | | save the homeowner hundreds of dollars in Atlanta's |
| magnets. As for the day-to-day maintenance of | | | | sweltering summers. |
| those homes, however, only 21st century | | | | In fact, you may not need to turn the air conditioning |
| state-of-the-art will do, thank you. Most want a | | | | on at all during some of the summer days. That's |
| home that looks charming, but that also functions | | | | how good it is. On a performance scale, it definitely |
| well - where they can live comfortably, aesthetically | | | | gets an A+ and a letter of referral. |
| and affordably and, where they can live - well, 'green'. | | | | Buyers hoping to invest in a green home should also |
| Increasing interest and demand for green living has | | | | look for things like a wood burning fireplace which can |
| been fueled by economic and environmental | | | | be used to cost-effectively heat the home during the |
| concerns. But how do we evaluate eco-friendly | | | | winter months. Other basic items which will help you |
| design? Green building is still relatively new, and the | | | | operate your home more efficiently are ceiling fans, |
| majority don't know how it can positively affect their | | | | compact fluorescent lights, low flow faucets and |
| lives or their homes. Nearly everyone wants a green | | | | shower heads, low flush toilets, programmable |
| home, but few know the first thing about how to | | | | thermostats, insulation on pipes leading to the hot |
| find and evaluate one. That is until now. | | | | water heater (or a tankless water heater), a heat |
| First it is important to note that a green-built home is | | | | pump or other high efficiency system, higher than |
| built like every other home. The difference is that the | | | | normal insulation in the attic and laundry room, as well |
| builder has taken extra precaution to use sustainable | | | | as in the ceiling, floor and wall cavities, and low E |
| materials and techniques that improve the air quality | | | | windows and doors. |
| inside of the home and that reduce the amount of | | | | Also, be sure to ask what the home's HERS Rating is. |
| energy required to operate the home. The builder | | | | HERS stands for Home Energy Rating System. It is |
| also takes steps to ensure that the home contributes | | | | determined after an analysis of the home's |
| positively to the outdoors environment. | | | | construction plans and on-site inspections, and after |
| Arts and Crafts | | | | tests for leakiness in the ducts and leakiness in the |
| Atlanta's artsy Reynoldstown neighborhood is home | | | | home are conducted. Each point below 100 scored by |
| to an eclectic mix of Bungalows, Shotguns, | | | | the home corresponds to a 1% reduction in energy |
| Craftsman Cottages, Lofts and Moderns, | | | | consumption. A HERS rating of 76 means the house |
| Reynoldstown now boasts a growing population of | | | | is 24% more efficient than the standard HERS |
| certified green homes as new construction replaces | | | | reference home. |
| some of the older inventory. | | | | Exterior Green Benefits |
| Bungalows are so interesting and you can have loads | | | | Living green means choosing a healthier lifestyle. That |
| of fun with them. The Art Deco movement inspired | | | | means the eco-friendly benefits of your home do not |
| bold colors and inventive design like tall baseboards, | | | | stop at the back door. They carry on outdoors. If a |
| tall doors, decorative molding and picture perfect | | | | home is Intown, and close to a variety of amenities - |
| baths. In fact, the Bungalow's inherent design makes | | | | libraries, parks and other entertainment - and it has |
| it naturally suited for green building. Let's take a walk | | | | the advantage of easy access to the expressway |
| through a typical energy efficient construction and | | | | and all parts of the city - and if it's walk-friendly - |
| identify the features we should look for when | | | | close to dining and public transit - then the home |
| shopping for a green-built home. | | | | provides extra green benefits. Exterior green points |
| Size Matters | | | | are awarded, because it saves the homeowner the |
| One of the best ways to reduce a home's energy | | | | cost of gas and reduces environmental emissions. |
| consumption is to reduce its size. So, one simple thing | | | | The more places you can walk to from your home, |
| you can do, if you want to live greener is to look for | | | | the better. |
| a smaller house. Just think about it - smaller homes | | | | Use It Again |
| use less of everything. If enough thought is put into | | | | If the yard has a smaller footprint than what you |
| a home's planning and design, then a smaller home | | | | would typically find, there is less grass to cut and less |
| can look and feel more spacious than it actually is. | | | | water needed to make the landscaping thrive. By |
| And sure, you get a little less space. But you gain | | | | recycling leftover materials on site during the |
| that back in efficient use of each room, utility | | | | construction process, the home reduces waste, |
| savings, comfort, charm and aesthetic appeal. | | | | enriches the soil and sends a lot less to the landfills. |
| Healthy Air in There | | | | Take Our Word For It |
| All open air spaces from the tiniest to the obvious | | | | All green homes will not contain each and every one |
| should be sealed, as even the tiniest of air leaks can | | | | of these items. As mentioned earlier, builders have |
| cause more damage than you know. Sealing areas | | | | the right to choose which green items they will |
| like windows, doors, plumbing fixtures, attics, floors, | | | | incorporate into a home's design. But if a home is |
| walls, light fixtures and outlets will tighten the building | | | | truly green, it will contain a good number of these |
| envelope, reduce energy consumption and keep out | | | | items. Some homes will even contain much more |
| the bad air. More importantly, it keeps out the bugs. | | | | extensive greening like solar panels, geothermal |
| The ladies of the home will appreciate that. | | | | energy, and even green rooftops. There are many |
| Be wary, if you walk into a house and see | | | | more green features to choose from depending on |
| wall-to-wall carpeting, as carpet tends to trap dust | | | | how far up the green tree (and money tree) you |
| mites. If a house has carpeting installed, it does not | | | | want to travel. |
| necessarily mean it is not a green-built house, | | | | Any home constructed according to Energy Star |
| because builders have a right to choose which green | | | | guidelines and certified by independent third party |
| features to incorporate into their design. There are | | | | inspection and testing programs like Earthcraft House |
| different levels of green building. Just remember that | | | | or LEEDS will provide the homeowner with immediate |
| if a home has carpeting, you are going to have more | | | | savings. Reduced energy bills and water savings are a |
| dust to contend with and that will likewise reduce the | | | | doubly attractive benefit for home buyers in today's |
| air quality inside of your home. | | | | economy. |
| Though it won't be obvious to the eye, you should | | | | If you are not certain whether or not a home meets |
| always ask what type of paint was used on the | | | | the official green test, be sure to ask to see the |
| walls. You want a non-toxic paint where no chemicals | | | | stamp of approval from a third party certification |
| were used. Paint made with no volatile organic | | | | program like EARTHCRAFT House or LEEDS. They |
| compounds (no VOC) or low VOC works best. | | | | have already done the work for you and determined |
| Another feature that will improve a home's air quality | | | | that the home in question is certified green. |
| and create a healthier living environment is having a | | | | The next time you go looking at homes, take this |
| detached garage. People don't realize that by | | | | checklist with you. If you are lucky enough to find a |
| purchasing a home with a garage that is detached | | | | place that attracts your eye and fits your needs, and |
| from the house, you avoid possible exhaust | | | | it also happens to be green built, snatch it up and be |
| emissions that can enter the home from the garage | | | | proud to call it 'home'. As an extra bonus, you will |
| and contaminate the air you breathe in your home. | | | | enjoy substantial energy and utility savings and will |
| One of the most impressive green features a home | | | | also enjoy a healthier daily living environment. Be |
| can have is a product called Techshield, which looks | | | | prepared to pay a little bit extra up front for your |
| like an ordinary piece of plywood with aluminum foil | | | | green home. There are some added costs involved in |
| on one side. This plywood is called OSB board, which | | | | making a home energy efficient. But those costs are |
| is an engineered wood panel. The aluminum side | | | | mitigated by utility savings, energy tax credits, and |
| provides a radiant barrier which is laid along the roof | | | | fewer visits to the doctor. In the long run - you win! |