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The Bottom Line - How Much Green Does it Take?
New Construction/Major Renovation

A "green" home is self-sufficient and strong enough to survive wind, hail, ice and floods. It is designed and built to last, sheltering many generations.

The bad news ... depending on where you live "green" building/remodeling will cost anywhere from 4% to 40% more than conventional construction. The good news is, the sustainable home typically saves more than it costs.

As with everything else, Green building material costs are determined by supply and demand. The cost of Going Green is considerably lower than it was 5 years ago, and prices will continue to drop as consumer demand and the availability of building materials increase.

Ultimately, how much you spend will be determined by which Green Building Standard you choose, and how many "green" and/or self-sustaining features you incorporate into your home.

Green Building Standards / Seals of Approval

There are currently 3 Green Certification Programs:
ENERGY STAR^®, Earth Advantage and LEED.

ENERGY STAR^® qualified homes offer homebuyers all the features they want in a new home, plus energy-efficient improvements that deliver better performance, greater comfort, and lower utility bills.

ENERGY STAR^®home certification focuses on energy efficiency and clean indoor air, with at least 20% more energy efficient than a standard code-built house, with cleaner indoor air.

An Energy Star-certified house will cost, on average $5,000 to $7,000 more than a standard code-built house.

ENERGY STAR^® Home Certification Links
Benefits for Homeowners
Features of ENERGY STAR^® Qualified New Homes
Tour an ENERGY STAR^® House
Find an ENERGY STAR^® Builder in your area , in Ohio/Cincinnati
Find local builderswho offer four "must have" features.
.Independent Inspection and Testing

Earth Advantage houses are energy-efficient and healthier to live in, and contain numerous other features that make them "greener," such as the use of recycled or sustainable materials, and construction techniques that create less waste.

In addition, Earth Advantage offers various levels of "greenness," with silver, gold or platinum ratings. A new house that meets both ENERGY STAR^®and basic Earth Advantage standards will cost $10,000 to $12,000 more for the silver category, and roughly 30% more for the Platinum level.

Earth Advantage Certification Links
Tour an Earth Advantage Home
(FLASH - menu is in the unmarked colored blocks on the right)

Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design

LEED for Homes is a voluntary rating system by the U.S. Department of Energy, that promotes the design and construction of high-performance green homes, including affordable housing, mass-production homes, custom designs, stand-alone single-family homes, duplexes and townhouses, suburban low-rise apartments, urban high-rise apartments and condominiums and lofts in historic buildings.

LEED certified homes are Safer, Healthier, More Comfortable and More Durable, with lower energy and water bills, reduced greenhouse gas emissions and fewer problems with mold, mildew and other indoor toxins.

LEED certification is something that consumers can look for to readily identify homes that have been third-party inspected, performance-tested and certified as truly green homes that will perform better than standard homes. Homebuilders using LEED are able to differentiate their homes as some of the best on the market.

LEED sets the bar somewhat higher than Earth Advantage, and also offers graduated degrees of certification.

Costs for a LEED certified home is about the same or slightly more than an Earth Advantage house

More information on the LEED program can be found at the U.S. Green Council
LEED Guide for Homes
Green Home Rating Guide Guide for Green Renovation
Green Remodeling

See Also:
    Trends - The Green House
    How Do You Define Green?
    Bottom Line - How Much Green Does it Take?
    Choosing Green Fixtures & Appliances

Links to Related Websites:

    153 ways to go green
    Green Remodling
    Building Green

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