On the sixth of February I started a 16 hour course with Earth Advantage to learn about Sustainable and "green" building. At the end of the course I tested and was certified as an EA S.T.A.R agent. S.T.A.R stands for Sustainability Training for Accredited Real Estate Professionals. As one of only about 300 agents that are certified from this program I have the ability to highlight "green" characteristics on homes and explain the benefits that these amenities offer for both the environment and the wallet of the client. Green and sustainable products are at the point where they are not only more affordable, but they are made to the same high standards that consumers now expect.
Earth Advantage is a Portland based organization that acts as a third-party rating organization for new and existing homes. It sets the bar in four different categories so that builders and re-modelers have guidance in creating homes that provide the greatest comfort, enjoyment, durability and health while providing the least output of energy and pollution. Earth Advantage uses four categories to rate their homes, and they are:
1) Indoor Air Quality-Promoting a healthy indoor environment as people spend more than 90% of their time indoors. Ventilation and filtration of the air is key.
2) Energy Efficiency-Do the appliances and home use energy in the most efficient way possible and still provide comfort and reduce costs? Earth Advantage homes use Energy Star appliances and also stress the whole system of the home and its orientation to save energy. This includes correct insulation, installation of CFL light bulbs, and even the position of the home toward the sun if possible. Southern exposure, for example, helps to heat the home in the Winter, and if the roof shades well in the summer it eliminates a lot of the captured heat and uses less energy to cool. All third party organizations conduct blower door tests to determine the energy efficiency of a home before certification.
3) Resource Utilization-Using the least amount of resources in the construction or remodeling of a home. Are the materials of high quality and are they durable? The cost of the material over its lifetime is the most important aspect. Green materials that last are more important than those that might save money initially but will have to be replaced later. Can the home utilize rainwater or sunlight by collecting it and using it in the overall system of the home? These are some of the issues that are examined.
4) Environmental Impact-Are the materials used easily replaced naturally and is the process to produce the product harmful to the environment? For example, bamboo is a great product because it grows quickly and easily but most bamboo is imported from Asia. The impact of the delivery on the environment does not yet make this a completely ‘green" product. The goal of the Earth Advantage home is to have zero negative impact.
This is an overview of the organization, and I invite you to learn more by visiting their website. It is a different organization than LEED, and uses different ratings and criteria for certification. Regardless of the differences or similarities, Earth Advantage is one of the leaders in third party certification for "green" homes. I am curious if others outside of Portland have access or knowledge of other third-party organizations that are doing work like this?
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