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 According to the Department of Energy, the U.S. has 76 million residential buildings and nearly five million commercial buildings. Together, these buildings use one third of all the energy consumed in the U.S. and two thirds of the electricity. They also account for 49 percent of the sulfur dioxide emissions, 25 percent of nitrous oxide emissions, and 10 percent of the particulate emissions -- all of which degrade air quality. Today's buildings also produce 35 percent of the carbon dioxide emissions that are producing the greenhouse effect.
By 2010, it's expected that the U.S. will have built another 38 million buildings. The challenge, of course, is to construct them so that they use a minimum of nonrenewable energy, produce a minimum of pollution, and cost a minimum of energy dollars, while increasing the comfort, health, and safety of the people who live and work in them.
Fortunately, there are many smarter home-building techniques that increase costs by less than 10 percent. In fact, many important green-home features cost nothing more than a little forethought. Here are the basics of building a greener home:
Recycling applies to building as well as bottles. One of the biggest trends in green construction is to re-use older materials or refurbish older buildings.
Select / layout every building site with an eye toward maximal solar access. Design for at least 25 percent to 30 percent passive solar heating and lay out windows to encourage daylighting of most rooms.
Insulation is the key to a thermally efficient home. For most parts of the U.S., the Department of Energy recommends R-38 for ceilings, R-21 walls, R-10+ foundations, and insulated doors. Consider alternative forms of insulation, too, such as walls constructed around straw bales.
Using air-sealed construction with mechanical ventilation will not only increase thermal efficiency but also may also prevent mold and other allergy problems.
Locate all forced air ducts inside the conditioned spaces.
Control heating with a digital thermostat that can be set for each zone of the home. This can save 10 percent to 15 percent on heating and cooling costs.
Consider a solar hot water system with a heat-recovery device and avoid low cost but expensive and pollution-intensive direct electric water heating.
Install ceiling fans in major rooms. This will make possible seasonally higher or lower thermostat settings.
· Forego a fireplace, and instead use an air-tight woodstove with outside an air supply.
Specify low/no VOC emission building products [adhesives, sealer, paint, cabinets, etc should not produce much "off-gassing" of harmful or irritating chemicals
Utilize at least 50 percent documented "sustainable" wood products, preferably from within a 250-mile radius of building site.
Conserve water with the use of tap flow controls and low-flow toilets. Instead of exterior wall hose-bibs, install a gray-water recovery system for drip-watering landscaping.
Finish the exterior in a light color and use a high-reflectance roof covering.
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