Are you a homeowner or are you considering buying or building a sustainably built home? This is where you can find out about basic principles of green building, the value of owning a certified energy efficient & green home.

Some of the Green Home Benefits

• Ventilation and moisture control can keep small particles, allergens and molds out of your indoor environment and ductwork.

• Energy-saving features in a certified green home reduce energy consumption by at least 15% compared to a home built to code requirements.

New Home Construction

Better Than The House Next Door

Building a certified green home is a way of ensuring that your new home provides you with an energy saving, healthy, and resource-efficient environment for you and your family. The home must perform well as a unified system and must be verified to meet green building standards by independent consultants through on-site checks and quality testing.

Earth Advantage Certified-Green Homes Look Like Your Home

Certified green buildings can look like just like any other home on your block or in your neighborhood, and don’t need to cost any more than a conventional home. Building green is not about building differently -- it’s about building smart. Green builders still use standard processes and typically use standard materials, but they use best practices and techniques that help seal the house for energy efficiency and that ensure adequate air flow. They choose lumber that has been certified as sustainable, and they use paints, finishes, cabinetry and carpeting that emit fewer harmful fumes.

Environmental Benefits

Reduce Your Carbon Footprint

Green certified buildings use fewer resources and are built to minimize their footprint on the land. Sustainable building practices, techniques and technologies enable the builder to conserve vegetation, materials and energy, while the home or building itself allows occupants to conserve and use resources wisely.

THE FIVE PILLARS OF CERTIFICATION

• Energy

By using high performance equipment and increased insulation, this home’s monthly energy bills can be significantly lower than those of a traditionally built home, saving you money from the day you move in. The home’s reduced energy needs will cause fewer carbon emissions and require less fossil fuel. Comfort is also improved by increased air sealing of the home, which reduces drafts.

• Health

Indoor air plays a major role in overall health and lifestyle. This home contains fewer products that off-gas harmful chemicals. It also incorporates a ventilation and filtration system that reduce airborne contaminants, diminishing the chances of allergies, asthma, and other more serious health risks.

• Water

This home was built using water-wise technologies that help lower utility bills and reduce the total amount of water needed to maintain a comfortable lifestyle. Water shortages are a primary concern in the 21st century, and this home addresses water conservation needs.

• Materials

New home construction and upkeep depend heavily on natural resources. The use of locally manufactured products is encouraged, because they are environmentally responsible and durable. This helps the environment by reducing the amount of future materials needed to maintain the home.

• Land

Development Practices used during the construction of this home diminish land degradation and deforestation, promote healthy landscapes, reduce waste, and prevent potential erosion associated with lot development during the construction process.

EARTH ADVANTAGE NEW HOMES CERTIFICATION

New homes certified as Earth Advantage® and ENERGY STAR® meet strict green building and energy standards. They have been verified through third-party inspections and performance testing.

An Earth Advantage Certified house incorporates design elements, systems and materials that create superior indoor air quality, use natural resources responsibly, protect land, and lower water usage. Combining these benefits with the energy efficiency standards
of ENERGY STAR ensures that this home exhibits superior performance and environmental responsibility compared to a traditionally built home.

THE VALUE OF THIRD-PARTY CERTIFICATION CREDIBILITY

“Green” has become a marketing buzzword, and some companies make exaggerated advertising claims. Having a home certified through a third-party like Earth Advantage Institute means the home has a seal of approval that the homebuyer can trust.

Third-party certification offers many benefits to a homeowner. Most important is that a third-party such as Earth Advantage Institute has assisted the builder and verified that systems and materials are properly installed. Third-party testing and an Energy Performance Score audit has confirmed that this home is performing to its highest potential.

A large number of tradespeople and subcontractors work on each home: carpenters, plumbers, electricians, HVAC technicians, etc. These workers require a clear understanding of what is expected of them. A certifier such as Earth Advantage Institute assists with training workers and then evaluating their work to ensure that it meets standards.

Each home receives at least two inspections. The first is to assess insulation, mechanical equipment and window installation, check moisture levels and inspect building techniques. The second inspection evaluates the operation of heating and cooling systems, the finished products, and the overall air tightness of the home. The certification tells a homebuyer that these systems and materials installed by different parties conform to the Earth Advantage certification and manufacturersʼ standards.

These organizations and government agencies offer monetary incentives for energy efficiency projects and products:

• Energy Trust of Oregon
• State of Oregon - Dept. of Energy
• City of Ashland
• Avista Utilities
• IRS Tax Credits - Energy Star Programs
• USDA

*Earth Advantage Institute is a nonprot organization that works with the building industry to help implement sustainable building practices. Its mission is to create an immediate, practical, and cost-effective path to sustainability and reduction of carbon in the built environment.

www.earthadvantage.org