Blog » What is a Green Home design anyway?

What is a Green Home design anyway? — Mon, November 28, 2011 - 7:30:30

Q: So what is the greenest thing we can do when building a new home?

A: Start with a home designer that understands the importance of incorporating cutting-edge energy-efficiency, into their plans. Energy Smart Home Plans (ESHP) designs building science engineered, “right-sized”, beautiful homes that require significantly less energy to operate comfortably.

Q: Consuming a lot less energy sounds good, and really green, but how much savings is realistic?

A: Built to spec, ESHP designs routinely score a low 50’s HERS Index, representing energy-savings of nearly 50%, when compared to a brand new, code minimum home. That’s almost twice the energy-savings of an Energy Star home! It’s no wonder that ESHP designs are affordably built as true Net-Zero Energy Homes. With the addition of solar PV and hot water, these homes produce as much energy as they use! What on Earth is greener?

But there are additional green benefits. Energy-saving building science also results in comfortable, healthy, safe, durable, energy & resource efficient, High Performance homes. Defined so aptly by building scientist, Ken Fonorow, of Newberry Florida.

Q: So how much more does a high-performance home cost to build?

A: I’m asked this question frequently. The answer however depends on the comparison. For instance, I have customers that would never build or live in a code minimum home. Many already use products to improve efficiency but are surprised to find that with our comprehensive design, cooling & heating equipment costs are greatly reduced. We even lower the cost of insulation while improving the effective R-Value and air-tightness of the home. Finally, include the price of energy and the monthly cost of owning an ESHP designed home is significantly less than a comparably sized, code minimum home and even other so-called, High Performance homes.

ESHP high performance homes look great in any neighborhood.

My next Blog Entry will get into the building science and methods employed, resulting in unprecedented low HERS scores and impossibly low energy bills.

For detailed information regarding the HERS Index, please visit:
http://www.resnet.us/home-energy-ratings
Or our informal description:
http://www.energysmarthomeplans.com/hers_index

Dave Jenkins

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