Earth Advantage
Regionally based in the Pacific Northwest, Earth Advantage has developed a comprehensive green building strategy that involves a six-step process to guide builders through the construction and certification of an environmentally responsible home:
1. Plan review with an Earth Advantage specialist to review building plans.
2. Determining materials and methods of construction to achieve energy efficient goals while staying within budget.
3. Ongoing consultation and educational support with builder and trades to provide technical support while the home is under construction.
4. Periodic walk-throughs during the construction process to make sure installation of materials and appliances follow the guidelines.
5. Performance testing during each critical stage of construction, including a forced-air system test to rate the air loss levels in ducts and an end-of-construction blower-door test.
6. Certification of the home if the standards are met.
Earth Advantage offers both the builder and the new home owner a certificate of validation that signifies the home was build to the program's standards.
EarthCraft House New Homes
Originally established by the Greater Atlanta Home Builders Association, the EarthCraft House program has grown and expanded to become a leading source for green building certification in the Southeast. The voluntary program touts itself as a blueprint for healthy, comfortable homes that reduce utility bills and protect the environment. It now offers certification to builders in Alabama, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia and Georgia.
With a point-system approach to certification, the EarthCraft House program allows builders many energy-efficient and resource-conserving options in the home's design. Beyond just the house, the program takes into account jobsite waste, homeowner education, proximity to mass transit and even reducing light pollution. This flexibility accommodates builders of different sizes and styles looking for a green building program.
You can download the 62-page builder guidelines for the EarthCraft House program here.
The basic process for joining the EarthCraft House program is:
- Join the Greater Atlanta Home Builders Association.
- Join the EarthCraft House program.
- Attend a one-day EarthCraft House training session.
- Participate in a design review with EarthCraft House staff.
- Participate in a pre-drywall walk-through with EarthCraft House staff.
Before final certification is given, the home must score above a certain threshold on a scoring worksheet (similar to the LEED for Homes program) and pass a final inspection by an EarthCraft House inspector.
Austin Energy's Residential Green Building Program
Considered the most successful utility-based green building program in the U.S., the Austin Energy's Residential Green Building Program provides a rating system for both new and recently remodeled homes. The program operates locally in the Austin, Texas, area and uses a five-star rating system to evaluate homes on their sustainability. The more stars, the more environmentally responsible the home is.
Projects are evaluated in six areas:
- Energy efficiency
- Testing (home performance)
- Water efficiency
- Materials efficiency (recycling and waste reduction)
- Health and safety
- Community
To join the program and start the process of having a home evaluated, the builder, designer or architect simply has to become a member of the Green Building Program.
Besides the "feel good" feeling of building a home that promotes environmental responsibility, getting involved in green building programs can also be a great way to differentiate your company. Almost all green building programs have a website and offer links and contact information for participating members. Being actively involved in a program can often bring you pre-qualified customers looking for a home built to a higher, greener standard.
Andrew A. Hunt is a freelance writer currently living in Pittsburgh, Pa. For the past eight years, he has worked in the home building industry as an advocate for improving the durability, comfort, healthfulness and energy efficiency of new homes. While working at BuildIQ, he helped builders, developers and trades establish and manage training programs to improve their teams' knowledge of best-practice new-home construction methods. Hunt generates articles, blogs, newsletters and essays on home building, do-it-yourself home improvement, and sustainable building technologies. He is also a pretty good cook.
