February 8th, 2008

LEED for Homes Unveiled

Posted by Shayna Prunier

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You may have heard of LEED for Homes and thought “what exactly does it mean?” We’re here to lift the veil. The LEED for Homes program, newly released by the United States Green Building Council (USGBC), is a rating system that promotes environmentally responsible design and the construction of high performance green homes. LEED stands for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, and the LEED methodology first became popular in the commercial building sector. The USGBC has recently come out with the LEED for Homes program and it is causing quite a stir in the green building and sustainable living communities.

The program is comprised of a point system adding up to a final score for a home. Builders and designers (and homeowners) can earn points by employing green strategies and technologies throughout the construction process. Certifying a home comes at a cost (see below), but will depend on the size and level of certification. You can go for Certified (45 – 59 points), Silver (60 – 74 points), Gold (75 – 89 points), or Platinum (90 – 136 points).  Although there is no way we can summarize 136 points in this blog entry, hopefully we will help you make an informed decision by providing some key strategies and information about resources available to you.

Ratings Categories

LEED for Homes measures your home through 8 categories of performance. You can earn points in any and all of these categories. Location and Linkage (LL) compares your home in relation to the larger community.  Sustainable Sites (SS) looks at the property and impact of your home on the site.  Water Efficiency (WE) identifies indoor and outdoor water saving practices.  Energy and Atmosphere (EA) analyzes energy consumption and efficiency.  Materials and Resources (MR) encourages the use of environmentally preferable materials and ways to minimize construction waste.  Indoor Environmental Quality (EQ) measures the improvement of indoor air quality and exposure to pollutants. Innovation & Design Process (ID) identifies exemplary performance above and beyond the rating system requirements.  Finally, Awareness & Education (AE) provides education to the homeowner, tenant, and/or building manager about the operations and maintenance of the green features.

If you are interested in going for a LEED rating, the first thing we have to caution you about is the size of your home.  Bigger is not better in the LEED for Homes rating system, which penalizes people for building a larger home.  The rating system states that “A 100% increase in home size yields an increase in annual energy usage of 15% to 50%, depending on the design, location, and occupants of the home”.  Not only does the energy consumption increase with a bigger home, but consequently the materials and resources used increase as well.  Minimizing the environmental impact of your home will gain you more points, so think small and Low Impact!

The biggest impact our homes have on the environment is in energy usage. Thus, the category that gains you the most points in the LEED for Homes rating system is Energy and Atmosphere. However, cutting your energy use must go deeper than just using compact fluorescent light bulbs. It has to be a lifestyle change by analyzing every mechanical system, every appliance, and every household habit that consumes energy in your home. The LEED rating system emphasizes insulating your home properly, having energy efficient windows and doors, using Energy Star appliances and lighting, and offsetting consumption with renewable energy sources like solar and wind power. Extra points can be gained for home orientation and passive solar design.

Specifying green materials and considering environmental attributes will impact performance, maintenance and value.  The use of high performance materials will save money on the maintenance and operating costs of a home.  The LEED rating system encourages the use of durable green materials that are manufactured locally, have recycled content and are recyclable.  Reclaimed lumber, for example, is more durable since it is from old growth trees, is structurally more exact in sizing, and is clear of any toxins like formaldehyde. Using materials that are sourced, manufactured, and delivered within a 500 mile radius of the building site will support local companies and cut down on packaging and shipping.  Often we do not think about where the products come from, how they are made, or even the culture of the manufacturer.  Selecting materials for your home using the LEED guidelines helps to recognize that there is more to materials than aesthetics.

Good air quality in a home is not only good for your health and happiness, but is also good for the environment.  The LEED rating system encourages the introduction of natural air and light into our homes.  The air that we breathe is often linked to many allergies and illnesses, and temperature control is crucial to occupant comfort.  Chemical sensitivities are a major issue for many individuals and have been a driving force for sustainable design.  According to the EPA, indoor air can have up to ten times more concentration of toxins than outdoor air no matter where you live.  The most common examples that we associate with bad air are paints, cleaning supplies, and pesticides.  But did you know that many building materials like wood, furnishings and textiles, office equipment and even craft supplies give off gaseous fumes?  The LEED rating system calls for operable windows, thermal controls should be manually controlled and programmable, and all household cleaners, paints, pesticides, and any other volatile liquids should be stored in ventilated areas or areas that are separate from living space.

Costs of the Program

The base cost is $1,750.00 for members of the USGBC and $2,250.00 for non-members for projects under 50,000 sf.  We should hope that there would not be any homes built over 50,000 sf, but if there are, than it is an additional $.04 - $.05 per square foot on top of the fixed cost. There are also added expenses based on the level of certification attained; the USGBC estimates there will be a 5% cost increase in overall design, construction and building costs for the basic certification, and as much as 10% for Platinum certified.  For any of you going through the process now, we’d love to hear your thoughts on these cost estimates in the comments section of this blog.

Resources

The LEED for Homes rating system itself may seem overwhelming, but there are many resources to help you through the process.  The USGBC provides applicants with official Green Raters to assist with the process who perform inspections and help individuals with their sustainability goals on a local level. There are also 70 additional programs throughout the country with state specific green rating systems. To find the green rating system in your area, click here. Or if you have additional questions you can send an email to us here at Low Impact Living, where we have two LEED Accredited Professionals who will be happy to answer your questions. Just email info@lowimpactliving.com.

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