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What is Green Building?
Building green means incorporating environmental considerations and resource efficiency into every step of the home building and land development process to minimize environmental impact. During the design, construction, and operation of a home, energy and water efficiency, lot development, resource efficient building design and materials, indoor environmental quality and homeowner maintenance should all be considered. Although we cannot entirely avoid affecting the environment when a house is built, green building can work toward minimizing that environmental impact.
The concept of green building isn't new — our great-grandparents built climate-appropriate homes using locally-available materials. Today's green homes incorporate not only climatic considerations, but are resource and energy efficient, safer for occupants, and often less expensive to maintain.
Learn more about what goes into a green home, what some of the benefits are, including financial incentives. The photo gallery features green homes of all shapes, designs, and sizes.
The Certified Green Professional (CGP)™ is a designation designed to teach building industry professionals strategies for incorporating green building principles into homes, including an understanding that demonstrates enhanced environmental impact and increased performance and health benefits. Find a Certified Green Professional (CGP)™ by going to the University of Housing Designations page on NAHB.org, and select CGP from the pull-down menu. If you want to check for a particular builder or remodeler, you can type the name in the keyword field.
Also look for homes with the NAHB Research Center Green Certified Mark. Because your home is inspected and certified by the NAHB Research Center - an independent, ISO accredited, third-party inspection agency - you can be assured that it's built as green and as cost-effectively as promised. It's proof that your home is green. Many of these homes are featured on this site.
What are the Benefits?
Some reasons to consider a green home.
There are many reasons for owning or purchasing a green home.
Operating Costs
The technologies and practices required to build a green home to certain criteria may result in lower costs to operate the home. Energy-efficient appliances, lighting systems, and HVAC equipment result in lower energy consumption compared to other models. Using less water through water-conserving faucets, showers, toilets, and irrigation systems may also result in less water consumption. Properly sized HVAC systems mean that less energy is needed to condition spaces. Employing technologies such as photovoltaic panels for solar electricity and water heating, and geothermal heat exchangers could reduce dependence on public utilities, too.
Maintenance
Effective stormwater management and landscaping could mean less time maintaining outside spaces. Also, green building practices lead to the use of some longer-performing materials and careful construction assemblies. Drained foundations, water spouts on gutters, and flashing around windows and doors might reduce the opportunity for system failure within the home due to moisture intrusion.
Indoor Environmental Quality
Indoor air quality is one of the guiding principles of the ICC 700-2008 National Green Building Standard and the NAHB Model Green Home Building Guidelines. Homes that allow for proper air exchange through ventilation, and low-emitting products like low- or no-VOC paints reduce off-gassing. Further, green building practices look at reducing the opportunity for moisture intrusion. The efficient HVAC systems, windows, and floor plans also mean that heating and cooling is better distributed throughout the home.
The Environment
Increased energy and water efficiency in construction could lead to decreased energy and water consumption in a home throughout its lifespan. Further, some renewable, recycled, and other efficient building products used in green home construction may reduce the impact on natural resources. Also, green homes often include resource and waste reduction and recycling amenities.
-Source: NAHBGreen.org
Helpful Resources
NAHB video overview of the National Green Building Program
Who in Maryland Builds Green?
What are the Tax Incentives for Building Green?
Score your project for free using the NAHB Green Building Standard Calculator
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