Green Building
Why Be Interested in Green Building?
The new Green building practices offer an opportunity to create environmentally sound and resource consumption-efficient buildings by using an integrated approach to design. Green buildings promote resource conservation by including design features such as energy efficency, use of renewable energy and water conservation. In turn this focus creates healthier and more comfortable environments, reduces ongoing operation and maintenance costs, considers environmental impacts of building construction and retrofit and concentrates on waste minimization. In short, Green buildings operate better and offer healthier environments in which to live.
Do Homeowners really care about Energy Efficiency?
An independent survey of 1,530 home buyers of new low-rise homes in the Greater Toronto and Ottawa- Carelton regions revealed the following views.
84% of residents said that energy efficiency is important to them
90% said
their next home will be an energy-efficent one
89% believe that builders
should build energy efficient homes as the standard
80% strongly agreed that
paying up-front for energy efficiency is worth it
50% said they had already
purchased an energy-efficient home
In general the survey revealed that
purchasers are ready and willing to pay for energy efficiency.
How Satisfied are Owners of Green Homes?
A recent US survey conducted by NAHB and McGraw Hill Construction screened out those who had purchased green homes revealed they are more satisfied and highly motivated by cost savings. It found:
63% of buyers are motivated by the lower operating and maintenance costs that come with energy- and resource- efficient homes
50% say they are motivated by environmental concerns and their family's health
These same buyers report they are extremely satisfied with their investment and 85% say they are happier with their new green home than their previous, more traditionally built home.
Is Green Building more Expensive?
Green homes are just slightly more expensive to build primarily because they incorporate better systems, feature higher quality insulation factors and use superior building materials. These same elements also make them more economical to operate in terms of maintenance, water consumption and energy consumption.
Two reports from different industry authorities found that from this perspective it's both more profitable and financially responsible to be environmentally aware and build green.
"While the the environmental and human health benefits are widely recognized,
this comprehensive report confirms that minimal increases in upfront costs of 0
- 2% to support green design will result in lifecycle savings of 20% of total
construction costs - more than 10 times the initial investment. In other words
an initial upfront investment of $100,000 to incorporate green building features
into a $5 million project would result in savings of $1 million in today's
dollars over the life of the building."
Aileen Adams, Secretary of
State and Consumer Affairs for the state of California quoting from The Costs
and Financial Benefits of Green Buildings report.
"We are now at the point where you can build to LEED standards and it is
not one penny more expensive than conventional buildings. We are more
experienced now. We have a proliferation of green building products and services
from which to choose."
Rick Fedrizzi, CEO of the U.S. Green Building Council as quoted in the Miami Herald.
