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Q: What does Green Building
mean?
A: Green Building, also known as sustainable building,
is essentially the use of design and construction methods and
materials that are resource efficient. It takes into
account the relationship between the health of our built
environments, the health of our natural environment, and our
own health, ensuring that our actions and decisions today do
not inhibit the opportunities of future generations.
Q: Why Build Green?
A: The built environment has a profound impact on our
natural environment, economy, health and productivity. In the
United States, buildings account for:
Breakthroughs in building science, technology and operations are available to those who want to build green and maximize both economic and environmental performance.
Environmental benefits:
- Enhance and protect ecosystems and biodiversity
- Improve air and water quality
- Reduce solid waste
- Conserve natural resource
Economic benefits:
Health and community benefits:
Q:
What is Earth Advantage?
A: Earth Advantage is a green building
certification program that was originally founded in 1999 by
PGE, but has transformed itself over the past decade from a
utility-based conservation focus to a fully encompassed
sustainability program. Today Earth Advantage is a freestanding
nonprofit organization, acting as the Northwest's best
recognized green building program.
Homes certified as Earth Advantage are designed to be at least 15 percent more energy efficient than those built to state code. They also promote resource efficiency, healthier indoor air, resource efficiency, and environmental responsibility.
Q: Why is the Earth Advantage program
important?
A: Earth Advantage homes incorporate building
practices and materials to increase their energy efficiency.
And because the homes are sustainable, they also conserve
natural resources for the future and provide a healthier indoor
air environment.
Q: How does a home become Earth
Advantage certified?
A: Periodic on-site inspections during
construction ensure the proper installation of materials and
appliances. Performance tests are also completed throughout the
building process. For example, a forced-air system test rates
the air loss levels in the ducting. At the end of construction,
a blower door test determines the air changes per hour in the
home. At the end of the process, if the standards are met, the
builder and the owner receive certificates that signify the
home meets Earth Advantage standards.
Q: What is ENERGY STAR?
A: ENERGY STAR is a government supported
program designed to help protect and sustain our environment.
The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) introduced the
ENERGY STAR program in 1992 as a means for providing a
healthier environment for future generations, and reducing
pollutants emitted into the atmosphere. In 1996, through a
partnership with the US Department of Energy, appliances,
lighting, and office equipment were developed with ENERGY STAR
label. Today, there are over 40 ENERGY STAR product lines to
help make your home as environmentally friendly as
possible. www.northwestenergystar.com
Q: Why is ENERGY STAR important to me?
A: ENERGY STAR qualified homes are designed,
built, and performance tested to provide enhanced comfort,
healthier indoor air, energy savings, and a better future.
These homes are at least 15% more efficient than a
typical home in Oregon. There is a plethora of tax
incentives associated with ENERGY STAR. www.northwestenergystar.com
Q: How does a home become
ENERGY STAR certified?
A: An independent, third-party verifies the home to be
at least 15% more efficient than a standard home built to state
energy code. These savings are based on heating, cooling, and
hot water energy use and are typically achieved through a
combination of:
Q: How will I know if a home is
certified as
ENERGY STAR?
A: Look for the ENERGY STAR label, which should be
prominently displayed on the circuit breaker box. You can also
ask your builder for the home's ENERGY STAR certificate. This
optional certificate indicates that the home has been verified
to meet EPA's ENERGY STAR qualified new homes performance
guidelines.
Q: What is Passive Solar?
A: The method of capturing sunlight, and using
non-active ways to distribute the captured heat. Passive solar
operates on the theory that heat can be stored in materials
throughout the home, reducing the need for electrical output
and consequently minimizing energy costs. Items in the home
such as windows, walls, and floors, can all collect, store, and
distribute heat in the winter and eliminate heat in the summer.
The home needs to be oriented properly on the lot to
effectively utilize the passive solar approach.
A completely Passive Solar house is designed with five elements:
Q: What is Active Solar?
A: Active solar systems use solar collectors
and additional electricity to power pumps or fans to distribute
the sun's energy. The heart of a solar collector is a black
absorber which converts the sun's energy into heat. Either
liquid or air is used as the heat transfer fluid.
There are two basic types of active solar heating systems. These are liquid or air systems, based on the type of fluid heated in the collectors. Liquid systems use water or an antifreeze solution to capture, transfer, and store heat produced by "hydronic" collectors. Air systems use air to capture, transfer, store, and distribute heat from the "air" collectors. Both of these systems collect solar radiation, then distribute and store the heat that the collectors produce.
Active solar energy systems are usually designed to provide 40% to 80% of the home's heating needs. During the winter, an active solar energy system will significantly reduce heating costs as well as minimizing the number of pollutants released into the atmosphere. The alternate solar heating source allows minimal use of standard methods of heating like electricity or natural gas.
Q: What is the US Green Building Council
(USGBC)?
A: The USGBC is the leading organization representing
the building industry on environmental building matters. It
works to promote construction that is environmentally
responsible, and produces healthy places to live and
work. www.usgbc.org
Q: What is LEED?
A: Leadership in Energy and Environmental
Design. LEED was developed by the US Green Building Council as
the leading nonprofit organization with a commitment to
sustainable building. Commercial buildings are rated in areas
like energy and water consumption, indoor-air quality, and use
of renewable resources. Those which receive the LEED
certification demonstrate the highest standards of energy
efficient, healthy buildings co-existing in harmony with the
environment. LEED has only recently established a new
residential rating system, which similarly certifies
residential property. www.usgbc.org/LEED/
Q: Will I qualify for any tax credits if I
"build green?"
A: Yes. Your SolAire home qualifies for
numerous Oregon and Federal Tax Credits, as well as many utility cash incentives or rebates.
See the Tax Credits, Rebates & Energy Savings
section for additional information.
Q: How much money will my green,
energy-efficient home save in utility expenses?
A: Your savings will vary depending
on the features in your SolAire home. However, each SolAire
home is built Earth Advantage and
ENERGY STAR certified, so your home will operate at a 15%
greater efficiency than the standard home. With the typical
U.S. family yearly expenditure of $2500 for energy bills, that
represents an estimated $375 yearly savings on utility expenses
alone! As energy costs continue to rise, the estimated savings
will only increase as well.
Q: If I build green, don't I get a really
strange looking house?
A: No. Building with solar awareness has come
a long way in the last twenty years. SolAire's homes are
virtually indistinguishable from other well-built Central
Oregon homes except in the energy bill. We build with passive
solar awareness, smart design and the latest materials to take
advantage of the energy that is free.
Q: Does it take longer to build a
green home?
A: No. SolAire generally
constructs a 2000 sq. ft. home in 4 months. This includes time
from when the foundation is poured until SolAire presents you
with the keys to move in. Some variables that may affect the
time estimate are size of home, type of finish (ie: hardwood
can add a week), and time of year.
Q: Does SolAire Homebuilders offer green
floor plans?
A: Yes, we have a portfolio of passive solar,
environmentally-friendly homes available. Our home
coordinators work with you to select from one of our home designs, and then apply a
Silver, Gold, or Platinum package to the home style of your
choice. Each level has an increased value bundle package
that offers a unique combination of features including energy
efficiency, creature comforts, aesthetics, life cycle cost
savings and solar power attributes. The standard SolAire
silver package exceeds Earth Advantage and
Energy Star standards. SolAire can also build your
custom dream home on
your land incorporating our green building methods!
Q: Are you use my existing plans, and build
a green home?
A: Yes. We're happy to build from your own plans, and may even be
able to add in some good ideas for your consideration.
To download a pdf of this information, please click here.
