Green Homes Can Be Affordable - Heather's Home Is Proof

Many people will tell you that building a green, energy efficient home is much more costly than a traditionally constructed home. In the past, this would likely have been a true statement, however, some builders are now able to construct green homes that are comparable to or even less expensive than traditional construction.

Built by Ferrier Custom Homes, Heather's Home is an affordable, three bedroom, 2,000+ square foot home located near Ft. Worth, Texas. The home is incredibly energy efficient - Heather's Home rates in the top one percent of high end Energy Star homes built today. For Heather, that will mean an average monthly heating and cooling bill in the $15 range. And when it comes to summers in Texas, that's saying a lot.

The home was built under NAHB Green Home Building Guidelines and is the first home in the nation to be certified under the new, more stringent, American Lung Association's Healthy Home guidelines. Heather's home has been accepted into the Department of Energy's Building America Program. It is the third home in the nation to receive LEED's (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Platinum certification and the first home in Texas to receive LEED certification. Heather's Home was also awarded gold, the highest honor in the Energy Value Housing Awards, by the National Association of Home Builders, the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, and the U.S. Department of Energy.

Some of the more notable green and high performance features of the home are

Structural Insulated Panels (SIPs)

High Efficiency Heating and Cooling System

Structural Insulated Panels (SIPS)

Non VOC Interior Finishes

Metal Roof

CFL and Fluorescent Lighting

Energy Star Windows, Doors, Lighting, Appliances

Fiber Cement Siding

Passive Solar Design

Proper Shading of Windows and Doors

Energy Star Windows, Doors, Lighting, Appliances

Solar Hot Water System

Proper Shading of Doors and Windows

Structural Insulated Panels (SIPS)

Passive solar design principles are an integral piece of the overall efficiency of Heather's Home. For Texas, this means minimizing sunlight exposure in the summer months and maximizing it in winter months. A reversed scenario would be typical of a high performance design for homes built in more northern climates.

Hot water is generated from solar panels on the roof. This feature alone can cut as much as thirty percent off of an electric bill. Although full-fledged solar power systems can be pricey, the cost of a solar hot water system can be as little as $3,000.

Quality control is ensured using a HERS (Home Energy Rating System) test. The testing occurs during and after construction to make sure that the home meets the stringent guidelines of the EPA for energy efficiency. To ensure that the house is airtight, a duct blaster test is also performed as well as the review of a checklist for thermal bypass.

If you're looking for proof that green, high performance homes can be built at a comparable cost compared to traditionally constructed homes, look no further than Heather's Home. The innovations and availability of green construction materials and components today are making affordable green home building a reality. Let's hope more home builders begin to ride the affordable green building wave.

Article Source: http://www.share.onlypunjab.com

Green home building can be affordable if you find the proper general contractor employing the proper products and techniques. John Wyeth writes informative articles for homegreenhome.info - a blog about building, financing, powering and living in your green home.

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