Green Builders Raleigh NC
Green Building Certification - Water Efficiency
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 4 - Water Efficiency & Quality. Read more here about Lot Preparation, Resource Efficiency, and Energy Efficiency.
Section 4 Green Building Guidelines - Water Efficiency & Quality
A Green Home in the Raleigh/Triangle Area might include green features to support water efficiency & quality, like:
- On demand water heaters
- Specially planned water heaters with minimum pipe length to point of service
- ENERGY STAR dishwashers and washing machines
- Water efficient showerheads with flow rated less than 2.5 gallons per minute (gpm)
- Ultra low flow toilets
- Low volume, non-spray irrigation systems
- Weather-based irrigation controls
- Rainwater collection
- Greywater systems
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.
No matter what individual features are chosen, a certified green home has an integrated and comprehensive approach to energy-efficient design of building site, building envelope, and mechanical space conditioning systems.
For Bronze Level green home certification, you may see water-saving features like these:
ENERGY STAR Appliances
You should see a water-conserving dishwasher in the kitchen. These models use approximately 40% less water than a conventional dishwasher. An ENERGY STAR dishwasher can be chosen by the homeowner or builder, and comes in a variety of styles and colors.
Water-Efficient Showerheads
Use less water in every shower by installing a low flow showerhead. There are quite a variety of models available, ranging from entry-level to luxury, that offer a flow of 2.5 gallons per minute or less, without sacrificing the quality of your shower.
Water-Efficient Sinks
An aerator installed at a sink faucet can reduce water waste during common activities. These aerators must restrict the flow to less than 2.2 gallons per minute. They can be installed into almost any faucet.
Of course you can add other features as your desires and budget see fit!
How does Green Home Certification work?
In order for a 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 9 points in the Water Efficiency category.
The points earned may vary, depending on the site conditions, location, and desires of the homeowner. There are over 100 ways to earn points in this category alone.
Silver and Gold certification requires additional points.
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.
Copyright 2008 by Stanton Homes, all rights reserved.
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Great post - and it can be confusing for consumers with the Energy Start Certified rpogram and LEEDS. We work with two green builders. Had an expo with vendors this fall at one of the model homes and will do so at another site in January. We had a great turnout and it is a lot of work.