Being a real estate agent here in Vancouver, Washington, I have had an increasing number of clients ask me," exactly what is a green home.?" My definition (actually my 15 second elevator speech) is as follows:
A green home is a home that minimizes its use of outside energy, minimizes the pollution that it expels, while maximizing the comfort, health, safety, and wellbeing of its inhabitants. Ultimately it is better for you, better for the earth, and better for your wallet.
So that is the opinion of just one real estate agent (me!) who is interested in eco-friendly building and living. How do organizations that specialize in the green movement and sustainable building define a green built home? Project Green Build (www.projectgreenbuild.com) based out of Portland, Or. and Clark County, Wa. define a green home like this:
A green built home is a high performance home that is built to exceed the minimum requirements of the building code, especially in the areas of indoor environmental quality and resource efficiency (including energy, water, materials, and land).
Pretty boring, isn't it? I prefer my definition just for the romance of it all. Exceeding requirements is fine and all but I believe that a home that fosters the comfort, health, safety, and wellbeing of its inhabitants is so much better. But then again, I am a real estate agent and not an engineer! They design them and my job is to sell them.
But what does it all mean to the real estate buyer? Right now in Vancouver, Washington, it doesn't mean a whole lot. The builders know that eco-friendly building is the right thing to do and they are trying to work out the kinks. (and COSTS.) They are fully aware that green building is the future of their business but they are struggling with the details. Maybe they are struggling with the definition too! I mean a "high performance home that is built to exceed the minimum requirements of the building code" shouldn't be that tough. But how can it be "high performance" and only exceed "minimum requirements?" Of course there are organizations out there which are defining green building with razor sharp precision.
LEED - The US Green Building Council's Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED for Homes) Building Rating System® is the United States voluntary, consensus-based national standard for developing high-performance, sustainable buildings. US Green Building Council's members, representing every sector of the building industry, developed and continue to refine LEED.
Earth Advantage® (www.earthadvantage.org) a leader in the sustainable building industry in the Pacific Northwest. At a minimum, Earth Advantage homes are designed to use 15 percent less energy than houses built to standard code practices. Earth Advantage homes adopt the philosophy of holistic sustainability (4-pillar approach) and are accordingly certified for energy efficiency, healthier indoor air, resource efficiency and environmental responsibility. The organization has the ability to certify homes as Earth Advantage® (Gold and Platinum levels exist).
We still have a long way to go. If a journey of a thousand miles starts with a single step, then we have only taken about 3 steps here in Vancouver, Washington! Really! Are you looking for a green built home in Vancouver, Washington? Maybe something that will be available a little quicker? Consider having one built! There are a lot of well qualified builders in the area that are just itching for a home to build. Call us for references and we can put you in touch with a builder who will gladly build you the green home of your dreams!
Photo by Jhritz
Drawing by NASA
Mark Hall
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Mark, this is very well written. I don't have anything to add here, but wanted to let you know that I thought it was great.
Mark,
One of the things that interests me has to do with alternative construction. I know that earth covered homes are more efficient, but impossible to finance. Dome homes are also very difficult to finance. As a lender, that is what I have seen problems with in the past. Anyone know how to get around things like that?
Fred, Those are the same questions being asked around here although most of the green building in the area is of a more conventional type. Ultra high efficiency systems, air filteration systems, low voc finishes, sustainable materials, etc.
I am sure that lenders will come on board when alternative methods of building become more in demand.
Mark~
FAB post!!! Succinct. And not a hint of "faux green"...I just had a real estate agent ask me where he could go to learn about the meaning of GREEN and eco friendly things...I will be pointing to your post! Here's a big Thumbs Up...
and you are a STAR for the Day
I am just amping my attention to and knowledge about green housing...this is a great summary, thanks!
Janeanne, thank you for the kind words. We have alot of "Faux Green" things happening out here. We call it "Green Washing." There is a Parade of Homes getting ready to launch here that is touting that all of the homes are "Green Built." They range in size from 3200 sq. feet to over 4500 sq. feet! Does anyone stop to wonder how much energy is wasted in heating and cooling homes of that size? Don't EVEN get me started! LOL
Thanks again,
Dear Mark, you are right on track for now and the future. Keep the information coming!
Hello, I work with a company that has just launched a new website for Pronghorn's Tesana neighborhood, which is located just outside of Bend, Oregon. We're asking for feedback about the website and about the community from people who are devoted to green living.
An exciting model of sustainability, Pronghorn golf course preserves the second oldest Juniper forest on the planet. Mature trees framing the fairways and enhancing the landscape are hundreds, perhaps thousands of years old. Pronghorn developers situated the golf courses, home sites and amenities in order to accommodate these unique trees. Great care and expense were taken In the course of development to preserve several of these ancient beings through successful transplantation.
John Anderson, Pronghorn’s Director of Agronomy received the prestigious Environmental Leaders in Golf Award in 2004 for his expertise and environmentally-sensitive development of Pronghorn’s golf courses. Designed as an example of sustainable luxury, the two Pronghorn golf courses are maintained using reclaimed water from the city treatment plant which makes 2.5 million gallons a day available to Pronghorn. Additional examples of Pronghorn’s green building practices include the re-use of excavated rock and underground placement of trash receptacles.
Please visit the website at http://tesanaliving.com and let us know what you think. Does it communicate Pronghorn's commitment to sustainability and green living? Would it inspire you to visit Pronghorn or to buy a home there?
Either add your comments here, or email info@widefoc.us.
Thanks!
Mark - nice post! And I do like your definition better, less scientific, easier for the regular folks to get their minds around. Coming from the SE where we've been dealing with a severe drought for several years, I think it would help if you added conserving water to your definition (I know, Vancouver probably has about the same rainfall as Seattle, but I thought for the rest of us I would mention it). Thanks for a great blog!
Pronghorn's Tesana neighborhood,
If you are trying to build a site that portrays the project as green and sustainable, I feel that you are missing the mark by a long shot.
It isn't mentioned anywhere in the site. I understand the need to focus on the luxury aspect of the project. People who are willing to spend the money for homes on golf courses aren't forking over their cash for a 1200 sq. foot ultra high efficiency shack with solar panels! But those same people don't mind spending their money on luxuries that were designed with an eco-friendly conscience. Is there any thing green about the homes at all? sustainable building materials? Interior air quality? Ultra high efficiency systems? Passive solar? If the answer is yes, then tell people about it. If not, then you probably aren't as green as you may think.
Golf courses as a genreal rule, although green in color, aren't considered to be very eco-friendly. Of course the obvious reason is the amount of water that is needed to keep the course healthy. You mention in your comment that they are using reclaimed water but I couldn't find any referrence to that on the web site. Some folks might ask, if you are reclaiming to water the golf course, why not use the water for other needs as well.
Water isn't going to be the biggest obstacle when it comes to a golf course. Fertilizer and chemistry is! The grass that is predominantly used for golf courses probably isn't native to that part of Oregon. That means that it will undergo a constant battery of fertilizers and weed control in order to keep it up to the demanding standards of of the course members. If your clients are using alternative methods to maintain the course then you should be telling the public about it. Especially if you are located right in the middle of the second oldest juniper forest on the planet!
Good luck with your project!
HI Mark - just checking in and I think you are right on the "mark" with your definitions and with your comments. Someday all homes will be built that minimize the " use of outside energy, minimizes the pollution that it expels, while maximizing the comfort, health, safety, and wellbeing of its inhabitants."
I'm glad you have your 15 sec commercial down so well. Once this part is explained to people most find a green house is exactly what they are looking for rather than something really weird! Great post!
Great post! I agree, this was the focus of the recent Ecobrokers Conference. Third party verification is key!
The only thing green here is our vegetation, Houston is not big on "green".
Mark,
Educating the consumer about green housing is the key to advance the concept. The seeds of it are now in the ground, we in the business just have to cultivate them and they'll flourish.
Hi Mark,
The larger footprint homes don't have to be energy wasters as you mentioned in your earlier comment. They can be built tight and efficient. I know of some green homes that are 10,000 to 12,000 sq ft and the energy bill in winter doesn't max $150.00
I was in Bend a couple weeks ago during the COBA Tour of homes as a judge for the EarthAdvantage and LEED certified homes. Some of them are equipped with solar PV and are close to net zero energy.
The only serious thing is the amount of materials used that may have an impact on the environment that aren't determined to be recycled in larger homes.
Great Post!
THANK YOU FOR YOUR BLOG. I AM NEW AT THIS AND LEARNING. I LIKE YOUR PRESENTATION
KIERAN LOUGHMAN EXIT REALTY FOUNDATIONS
Fabulous post! I like your 15 second elevator pitch. I need to bring mine down a little because mine is about 30 seconds.
and a comment on the comment by Don. A 10,000 sq ft home can built "green", but how green is it really? Does the family need all that space? Do they use all that space? Do they need all the things it takes to fill that space. Green is more than just tight. Green is a redution in resource use at every level. Or is it? Does it have to be?
Hi Andrew, Thanks for the notice on my comment. I was responding directly to Marks comment that said, "...is touting that all of the homes are "Green Built." They range in size from 3200 sq. feet to over 4500 sq. feet! Does anyone stop to wonder how much energy is wasted in heating and cooling homes of that size?"
While it is true that larger homes (to the extreme that I mentioned) don't have to be energy wasters in the heating and cooling concerns it is a factor on how much of the environment is affected by the footprint created and the type of materials used to build the home and the furniture to outfit it...for example, how about a large straw bale house with reclaimed lumber for furniture?
However, as you may know under the point systems that EarthAdvantage sets for their certified homes the threshold is under 2000 sq ft. This naturally reduces the impact on the environment in a variety of ways.
Someone may be able to report on LEED-H certified homes and other certification programs if they have footprint criteria.
Anyway, thanks for making me think about this more.
Mark,
Well said. Obviously there is a need to educate our country about Green homes and communities, and your summary is very helpful. By some comments on this article, it is clear too that there are problems defining these terms, but we can be thankful that you are helping in that regard.
I own a Green Communities website that slowly will become a source for green communities across the United States, and recently I too had someone submit thier community as if it were "Green". Upon reveiwing their site for inclusion, I found no where on their site references to sustainable living, green standards, LEED...nothing. Come to find out, they had a common green space...??!!?? THIS IS NOT a green community.
I looked at the Tesana site too, and agree with your rebuttle. We all need to be patient, look how long it took for hybrid cars to get noticed? Green homes and communities are going to be commonplace, you, I , and others need to continue assisting others, and educating them.
I would love to involve you with my site too. It is being totally re-vamped as we speak, but would love to add any green communities you have, or represent, in the site. Remember, this site is being totally re-built, it will be soooo much better looking and informative.
Keep up the good work Mark!
http://www.greenecocommunities.com/
Blog: http://www.greenecocommunities.com/blog
This is a great post and I too think it is right on target. I would like to add, though, my own perspective which is that one of the things that can do the most to lower the consumption of energy in a home is not to build a new one in the first place.
My niche is to recycle existing homes--it is less energy intensive to use an existing structure, even if it needs to have a new HVAC system installed and new windows, doors and beefed up insulation. This of course assumes proper recycling and reuse where possible of the materials that are removed and or replaced in the process. Grnted, there will be some situations where this is not true, but for many older homes, green remodeling od existing space can make a huge difference and cost less than new construction--both energy wise and money wise.
Green remodeling can be a viable alternative for people who prefer or can't afford to buy new construction. It is a good opportunity to reduce your carbon footprint by recycling and existing structure whether it started out as a living space or not and reusing the space in a new way.
Don - You are correct, larger homes don't have to be energy wasters. Unfortunately most of them are. Earth Advantage will certify homes that are larger than 2000 sq. feet (Some MUCH larger) but most groups who are behind the sustainable / green building movement will tell you that smaller homes are much much more energy efficient. I wonder how much to heating bills would be if those home were only 5000 sq. feet? or 2500? or 2000?
TY - Great work! I will log on when I have more time. I love to see what is going on and what the current trends are like in other parts of the US.
Deb - So true! Sometimes the Greenest thing to do is to leave it just the way it is.
Mark,
We just rolled out our new site, and even wrote an article on greenwashing, it goes real well with this post!
Green Eco Communities
What Is Greenwashing?
Good post, Mark! "Green" can be such a subjective term--it is truly defined by the perspective of the person asking the question. I usually start off answers to people with: "Lets talk about using less energy, what makes a home more efficient and go from there!"
I have been thinking of getting the eco broker certification but wondering if there is enough demand in my market to make the ROI worth it.
Mark ~ I enjoyed your post and look forward to more like this. Most of us have a lot to learn about what being "green" really means in our daily lives. We all know about reduce - reuse - recycle, but how it impacts us varies. I was surprised to see the comments about the golf course comunity in Bend and wondered how many trees and other botanicals were destroyed in order to build this "green" community of luxury homes?
I believe the Eco-friendly home is now going to finally come to mainstream. With more reliable solar panels, and affordable technology more buyer will be willing to accept this type of home because of the cost of energy. I lived in an earth home for 16 years, sold it recently, they are hard to resell but very efficient.
Mark , green homes use less resources to build , use less water inside & out , require less maintenance , have lower utility costs , have healthier indoor air to breathe , & of course cost more to build ! Who won't pay more for all those benefits ? Thanks for the lesson in keeping it simple ! I've also "lost" too many people by being too enthusiastic & giving way too much info. on Green . Now , if I could only make Appraisers understand ! Keepin' it Green !
Mark, Good job with the 15 second elevator speech. Sure is a heck of a lot better than the Green Build definition. Yet, my mind begs for an answer to the question, how do we make this message to the public COMPELLING? To break out of the single digits... How do we create the sense of URGENCY that's needed for broad based change. Fortunately the media has helped some with its spin, for the sake of news, but we all know how quick that changes. It is also helpful that the new administration has a keener interest in clean energy. Time will tell how that goes.
Yes, this is a process, one foot in front of the other. Yet, at times in our history, we, collectively, have made quantum leaps in our growth. So, given the premises of global warming and the need for ecologic sustainability, which we believe are correct, how can we make that quantum leap?
What is needed is a reality shift in the masses, a change of mindset within our society. Curiously, there is as a demographic that share these ideals and values, even knowing that each other exist but, don't connect, not in any BIG way. In case you haven't already, check out this website, the Cultural Creatives. Perhaps the term itself isn't perfect but the data behind it is meaningful. Something about this is perhaps the avenue for a greater change. What do you think?
Mark & Steve , we tend to avoid the whole global warming argument as the chief messengers have ruined the well intentioned message . It should be more than enough to point out all the other benefits which wind up with the intended result of a smaller carbon footprint . Keepin' it Green !
I would just like to add that in addition to the move toward green building, let's not forget the interiors. I am an interior designer, and although I certainly can't say that all I've done for my clients fits the definitition of eco-friendly, it is a topic on which I am taking the time to learn as much as I can. Whenever possible, I am helping my clients to make selections in materials and finishes that are sustainable, green, eco friendly choices. I suppose I'm thinking "baby steps" here. If, beginning today, for each choice we make about our homes, we do our best to choose the most environmentally conscious option, eventually all of those little steps add up.
I don't think that there really are any "baby steps." Any step in the right direction is a big step. Buyers are becoming more educated every day and some are starting to demand that the people who they work with are as informed as they are.