Geodesic domes might look cool, but the higher construction cost relegates them to the homes of futurists, environmentalists and oddballs.Today, country-style ranch homes crammed with technology can actually have higher LEED ratings.
Do your homes need to look like they were designed by R. Buckminster Fuller to be energy friendly? No way. Is it going to cost you 20 percent more to build a green home vs. a conventional home? Nope. Can the technology you put into a home be a differentiator in today's slowing market? You bet.
These are three key questions that many builders are asking these days as they look to create a niche in green building. Fortunately, the outlook is good. The U.S. Green Building Council's Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) is tailor-made for builders seeking to include technology in their homes.
LEED is a system that designates an energy and environmental rating for a structure. It ranks various aspects of homebuilding, assigning a numeric rating to each (see chart at right). With the advent of more environmentally friendly building materials available at lower costs and the prospect of building homes that save homeowners up to 30 percent on their energy bills, the time has come for LEED guidelines to be mainstream for every home!
According to the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB), there are more green building products than ever, namely insulation, chemically neutral paints and flooring, and natural landscaping products. Compact fluorescent bulbs, which use 70 percent less energy, and advances in solar roof panels and shingles, wind turbines, and efficient appliances make green technology less expensive than even a few years ago.
Meanwhile, geodesic domes might look cool, but the higher construction cost relegates them to the homes of futurists, environmentalists and oddballs. Today, country-style ranch homes crammed with technology can actually have higher LEED ratings than those domes.
Take for example this issue's cover story (p. 22) on A Home by Corbo, a small spec builder in the Northeast. The company specializes in constructing homes that you would swear are 100-plus years old from the looks. In fact, owner Ralph Corbo was recently paid the ultimate compliment when he accidentally activated the alarm system at one of his new homes. When the police arrived, the officer said, "I didn't know that this old home was even here."
The fully networked rustic homes not only have home theaters and multiroom audio throughout, but also energy-saving touches like weatherstripped interior doors, staggered studs, extra insulation, and strategically placed windows or glassblock allow more natural light into every shower in the home, for example.
Another company, Cherokee Investment Partners, is hoping its 'Mainstream GreenHome' project in Raleigh, N.C., shows builders and homeowners that green building can be achieved in a typical suburban subdivision. (see Energy Star Focus, p.62). According to the NAHB, experienced green builders say it doesn't have to cost more to construct eco-friendly homes because you are often using fewer materials. In fact, one study shows that an LEED home averages just 1.84 percent more in construction costs to build.
Is it a differentiator? Yes, but the fear of higher costs, lack of product awareness and consumer reluctance to pay are among the reasons many builders shy away from it. When I asked Corbo why other builders in his area weren't including more technology, his answer was a simple, "I don't know."