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by Craig Kobe, JVA Inc.
There is a lot going on in the “green” building industry that relates to a variety of building types including residential, both new construction and remodels. It can be a bit overwhelming to all parties involved including the design professionals, builders and homeowners. As an introduction to green building, this article will highlight some of the rating agencies as well as outline the benefits of building green.
The purpose and key benefit of having a project certified by a third party agency is having the knowledge that the project was built in compliance with strict energy efficient guidelines. It is a means of measuring the level of energy efficiency of the construction which includes the building envelope, equipment, appliances and lighting. The following are three rating agencies that are common in Colorado:
- ENERGY STAR - a joint program of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Department of Energy.
- LEED (Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design) – a program developed by the U.S. Green Building Council, an independent non-profit organization.
- BUILT GREEN COLORADO - a program of the Home Builders Association of Metro Denver which is offered to builders across the state.
Each individual rating agency has their respective guild lines and checklists that need to be met in order to become certified. As an example, both ENERGY STAR and BUILT GREEN require blower door tests by a third party energy auditor which measures the extent of leaks in the building envelope. The blower door test is an essential piece to determining the HERS (Home Energy Rating System) which is an integral piece to the certification process.
Through building green, the homeowner stands to benefit in many ways from cost savings to overall comfort. Below are some of the significant benefits:
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Energy efficient homes have greater indoor air quality and a tighter building envelope which translate to greater comfort and a healthier living environment.
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Operating cost of an energy efficient home is less than that of a standard home because of the level and type of insulation and equipment efficiency.
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Energy efficient homes have less of an impact on the environment (pollute less, demand less natural resources, less strain on the water supply and land fills).
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A third-party certification can add to the home’s resale value.
There is a abundance of green building resources that can be found on the internet, as well as many training opportunities advertised in this newsletter. Take the time to get educated. | 
