Green Builders Raleigh NC

Green Building Certification - Lot Design, Preparation, and Development

Why Should I Buy a Green Home?

There are many different reasons to purchase a green home. 

- Lower energy bills

- Less carbon footprint

- Healthier indoor air

- Reduced warranty claims

- Improved durability and less maintanence

- Better resale

A Certified Green Home is "graded" across 7 categories, to ensure standards are met and environmental impact is limited.  Today we'll talk about Section 1.

Section 1 - Lot Design, Preparation, and Development

Resource-efficient site design and development practices help reduce environmental impacts.   Green design principles might include saving trees, constructing onsite storm water retention/infiltration features, and orienting the home for maximum passive solar heating and cooling.

Remember, there are three different levels of Green Home Certification using the third party certification programs in the Raleigh/Triangle area:  Bronze, Silver, and Gold.

For Bronze Level green home certification, you may see features like these:

Certified Green Training

- the builder team has been carefully trained to uphold green principles throughout the building process.

Protected Home Sites

- Limits of clearing and grading carefully marked on site plan

- Areas to be cleared and graded in preparation for building home are clearly marked on site with flags, etc.

Natural Vegetation

- Turf grass and other vegetation are selected that are native or regionally appropriate (such as drought-resistant species in the Raleigh area)

Hydrozoning

- Plants with similar watering needs are grouped together

Control Erosion

- Install and maintain sediment and erosion controls

Limit Impact on Land

- Stabilize disturbed areas within 14 day period

Share Driveways or Parking

- A shared driveway for two homes can minimize impact on both homeowner's land.

Optimize Solar Resources

- Site the home and other built features to optimize solar resources by placing the long side of the home within 30 degrees of due South. 

How does Green Home Certification work?

In order for this new home to be "certified green" through the Green Home Builders of the Triangle third party certification program, a total of 257 points must be earned across 7 categories.  Bronze level certification requires 12 points in the Lot Design, Preparation, and Development category.

The points earned may vary, depending on the site conditions, location, and desires of the homeowner.  There are over 40 ways to earn points in this category alone. 

Silver and Gold certification requires additional points. 

Find out more about green home certification in the Raleigh NC area:

Green Building - What's In a Green Home?

Guiding Principles of Green Building - What Makes a Green Home Different? 

Green Building - How Do I Know I'm Getting a Green Home?  

Interested in Finding out More About Building a Green Home?

With hundreds of "green" options available across seven different categories, you can design and build a green home that incorporates everything most important to you.  Almost any floor plan CAN be built in a certifiably green manner, though there are some floor plans that are more conducive to green building than others. 

For more information,  Contact us, or call 919-278-8070. 

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