Conservation is key in home building

The concept of green building is not new.

Thousands of years ago, the Anasazi Indian tribe of the Southwest built whole villages where homes received solar heat in the winter to cut down on wood usage. Yet the contemporary green building movement didn't surface until the oil price increases and environmental movement of the 1970s, which led to the need for more energy efficiency and renewable energy sources.

During the green building gained popularity and today builders are increasingly offering an array of green features and options in their new homes.

Tomorrow green building could be the norm.

So what's happening on the green scene now? Well it depends on with whom you speak.

One thing builders agree on is that homebuyers see good air quality and potential energy savings as most important to them and their families.
In a recent survey by William Ryan Homes, people said they would pay more money for these two aspects of green building, but wouldn't pay more money for a home just because it was green, said Debbie Beaver, vice president of marketing for William Ryan Homes.

"Although they love the idea of getting materials from local sources less than five miles away, it's a feel good fuzzy thing that doesn't affect their buying decisions,” Beaver said.
Suburban builders offer several green features and options in their new homes, but have their own approach to green building.

William Ryan Homes made a commitment that during the downturn when they experience reduced costs, they will pass the effect of that on to their customers.
“We would rather build a better home and give people more included features with a lot of that relating to energy-efficient green materials,” Beaver said. “As we reduce costs by paying less for drywall and drywall labor, less for framing, and with everyone making less — plumbers and electricians — we take that money and make our homes better.”
 
Builders want to create a comfortable and safe environment in their homes, and many select green features that improve air quality. For example, some builders offer alternatives to carpeting such as recycled wood, cork or bamboo flooring. Hard surface floors do not hold dust, molds and allergens, and are very durable.

For better air quality, William Ryan Homes features fresh air intakes on their furnaces rather than recirculating stale air in the home; they use fresh air and direct vent water heaters that use fresh air from the outside; and every appliance is vented outside, including microwaves and hood fans. They also have a vacuum ridge vent that helps to better circulate air in the attic.

Builders also focus their attention on energy savings for homebuyers, an aspect of green building that's at the top of buyers' wish lists. William Ryan Homes offers many standard money-saving green features including a 90 percent high efficiency furnace with programmable digital thermostat and energy efficient power-vent 50-gallon water heater. They also feature bath fans with timers that will automatically go off as set.

For insulation, they use R-38 ceiling insulation, R-18 wall insulation, insulating blanket around the basement walls, Dow Weathermate house wrap and insulated steel entry door.
Also for heating and cooling efficiency, all its homes include dual-pane low-E glass windows, which also extend the life of flooring and furnishings. This means the home uses less energy and costs less to heat, cool and power.

William Ryan Homes uses 13 SEER air conditioning, and  Energy Star appliances and other more common inclusions such as compact florescent lighting.
Builders are also concerned with water efficiency and conservation, and they may offer dishwashers that use less water and have no-heat drying. Low flow toilets and showerheads also reduce water usage.
 
Preserving natural elements such as wetlands, riparian buffers, mature trees, steep slopes, floodplains and woodlands presents another green opportunity for builders.