Most people agree that green building produces environmental benefits. However, the financial benefits often are perceived as minimal, or, when long-term economic benefits are acknowledged, people assume that the homes cost much more to build in the first place. In reality, there are many low-cost green building practices that can be incorporated into a home.
General design strategies
To maximize the economic benefits of green building, it’s important to incorporate sustainable building practices during the design phase of a project:
Integrate the planning and design processes. Including the general contractor and landscape designer in planning with the engineer and architect can save in energy design and streamline construction costs.
Minimize east and west-facing windows. This strategy helps to minimize cooling loads.
Leave floor slabs exposed. Eliminating carpeting eliminates costs.
Avoid structural over-design. Optimal value engineering (OVE) and advanced framing techniques can reduce material use without compromising structural performance. Learn more about OVE and other wood-efficient building practices in our related article.
Standardize dimensions to optimize material use. Reducing cut-off waste (material scraps left after usable materials are installed) saves money by requiring less material overall, reducing on-site labor for measuring and cutting, and reducing solid waste disposal fees.
Incorporate low water-use fixtures. Water-efficient equipment will help to conserve water for little, if any, additional cost.
Siting, land use, and landscaping
Proper siting, land use, and landscaping can help the home to work with its natural surroundings, creating a more comfortable indoor and outdoor environment for homeowners. Incorporate these low-cost practices for green building:
Cluster homes close to services. This reduces the cost and environmental impact of pavement, sewer lines, utility lines, and storm water systems.
Manage storm water responsibly. Rather than carry storm water off-site in storm sewers, allow for carefully planned infiltration basins and reduce impermeable surfaces.
Use native plantings. Native landscaping does not require irrigation and chemical treatments. In most cases, it costs less to landscape with native vegetation than to put in lawns.
Energy systems
Correct HVAC system design and use of outside air helps keep indoor air comfortable and healthy, and it reduces costs for homeowners. Here are some low-cost green approaches to a home’s energy system:
Model the home. During design, model the energy performance of a building so that mechanical systems can be optimized.
Expand the comfort envelope and downsize cooling equipment. Provide operable windows for natural ventilation and ceiling paddle fans for increased airflow to reduce cooling loads on mechanical cooling equipment.
Don’t run ducts to exterior walls. Less ductwork is required, which saves money. Additional Best Practices® for duct design and installation can be found in BuildIQ University’s
online training course, Mechanicals: HVAC.
Products and materials
Using recycled-content materials certainly helps green a home. In addition, consider looking at conventional building materials in a new way to achieve a green effect:
