Green Means Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design 

By Shannon Scott
deepgreenresults@gmail.com

Want to build a green home?

The guidelines from Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) are an excellent place to start. LEED encourages environmentally sustainable design, construction and development practices through a building rating system. Buildings are awarded points in several categories, based upon their total ecological impact and energy efficiency.

The U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) developed LEED guidelines in 2000. Despite the name, it is a private corporation, not a government agency. The USGBC offers support for green industries by educating architects and engineers who are interested, or have a demand from clients, for more sustainable structures. LEED design professionals create homes and commercial buildings that will qualify for one of several LEED ratings. Owners pay substantially higher fees for LEED certified professionals, and pay additionally to apply for one of the LEED ratings. Many developers, schools, and corporations want to save energy costs and wear the LEED label for marketing purposes. You don’t need LEED pros unless you care about your home having a designer LEED label or your construction budget has nearly unlimited funds. An efficient healthy home can be designed and built by one’s own self, or using local engineers and builders, without pricey middlemen or advertising that further supports the USGBC.

The USGBC was granted 501(c)(3) status as a non-profit. It is a business that makes money off membership, classes, publications, and certifying trade professionals – a lot of money. 2007 revenue totaled just over $46 million. $10 million of this went to general administration costs (mostly salaries). Conferences and membership advocacy (soliciting membership) cost the organization just over $11 million. Only $5 million went into education courses – most all of which were fee based and factor back in to revenue.

If you are an owner-builder LEED for Homes will inform you about what factors make a home sustainable, green and efficient. Know LEED guidelines and incorporate them into your design and construction process. Your home will be energy efficient, environmentally responsible, and sustainable for generations. That said, be reasonable when looking at LEED. LEED encourages minimal site disruption. However, we followed U.S. Forest Service fire protection tips, and made certain that we had 100 feet of defensible space. We live in wildfire country and aren’t about to lose our home. LEED rating guidelines for homes, adapted from the USGBC website:  

Site Sustainability

When selecting a building site or constructing: reduce human impact on waterways and ecosystems; use area appropriate landscaping; manage precipitation runoff; reduce erosion; minimizes light pollution (excess lighting) and heat islands (urban areas that are significantly warmer than their surrounding natural environments); maximize construction materials; avoid construction on previously undeveloped land; and consider smart transportation options.
 
Water Efficiency

  LEED promotes efficient water use inside and outside of buildings. This means more efficient appliances, quality water saving plumbing fixtures, drip irrigation, shade trees, water catchments, and perhaps grey water recycling. Grey water is used water from sink basins, showers, or laundry. Grey water systems must be appropriately designed for health concerns as they can have significant e-coli numbers and other harmful bacteria.  

Energy Efficiency and Air Quality

  Install energy use monitoring systems; ensure efficient design (passive solar) and construction (consider how much energy is used during actual construction); energy smart appliances; efficient mechanical systems; energy saving lighting; and renewable and clean sources of energy; and electrical sources other than grid supported.  

Materials and Resources

Savvy, budget conscious builders know how to reduce waste and get the maximum use out of materials. We reused much of our lumber from building concrete forms to use as studs or framing. Anyone who has built anything knows that you don’t want to get the sawdust from chemically treated lumber in eyes or accidently breathe it. LEED strongly supports the use of sustainably grown, harvested, produced, and transported products. Materials should also be minimally treated or treated with non-volatile organic chemicals that don’t off gas into interior spaces. Recycle construction materials and reduce waste. Indoor Air Quality The EPA estimates that we spend up to 90% of our day indoors. This is terrible, considering how nice the outdoor environment is. Indoor air quality can often be significantly worse than outside air. Take actions and buy products to make indoor air safer, provide access to natural light (windows) and improve acoustics (reduce noise pollution). All elements that make indoor living space feel good. Locations A home’s location significantly impacts its natural environment. Home builders or developers should not build on virgin, previously undeveloped land, or in environmentally sensitive areas, such as wetlands. Homes built near existing developments or services receive credit in that they affect overall energy use impact when considering transportation. A home’s outdoor environment should also offer access to open space for walking, biking, or other activities and space for time outdoors.  

Education

Home owners should know exactly how their homes function, why they are green and energy efficient. Real estate professionals, current owners, and potential buyers need to know a particular home’s features and how it compares to a built-to-code home. Every one need to know how best to care for and operate their homes for maximum efficiency and minimal environmental impact.