Kingswood Homes
Phone: (970) 586-6551 Fax: (970) 586-5148
Mailing: 152 Stanley Circle
Estes Park, CO 80517
email: info@homesbykingswood.com
Green Building Information
Green Building
At Kingswood Homes, we are committed to building homes which are environmentally friendly and healthy to occupy.
In recent years, numerous organizations have formalized their view of what green building means to them. In some cases, it means using materials and components which are easy for the environment to reproduce and/or minimize the use of energy. For some standards, the focus is on a home package that is healthy for the residents.
At Kingswood Homes, many of the ideas used in green building have been the standard ways of building our homes. However, there are
some green building components which we offer to our clients as options.
The local and national green building related techniques and standards which we monitor are:
Energy Star - a joint program of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Department of Energy helping us all save money and protect the environment through energy efficient products and practices.
Energy Star Website
Built-Green Colorado - is one of oldest and largest green home building programs in the nation. A voluntary industry-driven program of the Home Builders Association of Metro Denver offered to builders across the state. The purpose of Built Green Colorado is to encourage home builders to use technologies, products and practices that result in homes that are better built and better for the environment.
Built-Green Website
Leed - The Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Green Building Rating System™ encourages and accelerates global adoption of sustainable green building and development practices through the creation and implementation of universally understood and accepted tools and performance criteria.
Leed Website
American Lung Association of the Upper Midwest® Health House® -
Their mission: "Raising the standard for healthier indoor environments."
Health House Website
Why Build Green?
Energy Star Benefits for Homeowners
ADDED CONFIDENCE
Home buying is complex enough without having to know all the details of energy-efficient construction. Instead, look for the government-backed ENERGY STAR label to easily identify homes that are truly energy efficient. Find the house of your dreams and enjoy peace of mind knowing that it also meets strict energy efficiency guidelines.
LOWER OWNERSHIP COST
Compared with standard homes, ENERGY STAR qualified homes use substantially less energy for heating, cooling, and water heating-delivering $200 to $400 in annual savings. Over the average 7 to 8 years you may live in your home, this adds up to thousands of dollars saved on utility bills. Additional savings on maintenance can also be substantial. Financing your home purchase using an energy efficient mortgage can also lead to savings.
BETTER PERFORMANCE
Properly installed energy-efficient improvements deliver better protection against cold, heat, drafts, moisture, pollution, and noise. An energy-efficient home helps ensure consistent temperatures between and across rooms, improved indoor air quality, and greater durability.
SMART INVESTMENT
To date, more than 5,000 home builders have partnered with EPA to construct more than 840,000 ENERGY STAR qualified homes. By the end of the decade, more than 2 million homes are expected to earn the ENERGY STAR. The trend is clear. By choosing a home with the ENERGY STAR label, you can be confident that it will have an increasingly valued feature when the time comes to sell.
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION
Did you know that your home can be a greater source of pollution than your car? In fact, 16 percent of U.S. greenhouse gas emissions are generated from the energy used in houses nationwide.
Energy used in our homes often comes from the burning of fossil fuels at power plants, which contributes to smog, acid rain, and global warming. Simply put, the less energy we use in our homes, the less air pollution we generate.
Health House® home
A Health House® home gives you the satisfaction of knowing that your new home has a healthy, safe, durable and energy efficient environment. Homes are built to the most stringent building standards in the U.S., which include site inspections during construction and performance testing upon completion.
What are the advantages of building a Health House® home?
- Improved air quality and a comfortable living environment
- Materials and building products that are less toxic and environmentally friendly
- Greater durability and energy efficiency
- A program that helps you make informed choices
- A better performing home requiring less maintenance
- A home that retains its value over time
- A marketing tool for resale
What are the typical components of a Health House® Home?
- Foundation waterproofing and moisture control
- Advanced framing techniques
- Air sealing and advanced insulation techniques
- Energy efficient, high performance windows
- Energy efficient and sealed combustion appliances
- High efficiency air filtration
- Whole house ventilation
- Humidity control
- Carefully selected and reviewed interior finishes
Does building a Health House® Home Cost More?
Construction of a Health House home costs 3-5% more than traditional construction techniques. However, building to the Health House Guidelines can actually save you money through a reduction in your utility bills, ranging from 30-40%. Building to these Guidelines can actually increase your monthly cash flow. Because these homes are built to such strict standards, your home qualifies for energy efficient mortgage programs, which can increase your purchasing power.
Built-Green Homes
There are many benefits to building or buying a Built Green home. Some of the most compelling are:
- Better energy efficiency means comfort and savings for the homeowner and less pollution for the earth.
- Healthier indoor air means comfort, health and peace of mind for the family.
- Reduced water usage means savings for the homeowner, less strain on our limited water supplies.
- Preserving natural resources means leaving more for future generations to enjoy.
- Durable materials means reduced maintenance, savings and more leisure time for the home owner.
Excerpt from the Built-Green website:
People seldom talk about the cost of not building green. Perhaps it's because
this is the inverse of the "green building cost savings" argument. But the shift in thinking
may have some benefit. Buyers who don't buy green pay a substantial cost. The increases come in the form of higher utility costs, higher maintenance costs and more frequent replacement of less durable materials. The average U.S. household energy expenditure in 2004 was $1,680 (from the 2006
Buildings Energy Data Book).
An energy-efficient green home these days can save 40 percent to 60 percent, is no longer a pipe dream for new homes. At the 40 percent level, not building green has already cost that home owner an average of $672 a year,
and those dollars also are leaking out of the local economy, which is generally not thought to be a good economic strategy for any community.
A well-thought-out green home will have quality control built into the process: Heating and cooling systems will be checked for proper operation; duct systems will be sealed and tested; proper moisture control will lower the risk of structural as well as interior damage. The buyers, if properly informed about the benefits of their green home, will have an added level of confidence in the performance
of their home (which translates to referrals). Absent these green features, the risk of call-backs is increased, and call-backs can get pricey. There is also the added cost of using more materials than necessary. According to the Partnership for Advancing Technology in Housing, standard material costs are $1,000 more for a 2,400-square-foot home when optimum value engineering techniques are not used.
There are also the fuzzier cost implications that are certainly real, but not easily quantified. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, asthma is the most common serious chronic disease of childhood and the third-ranking cause of hospitalization among children under 15. Common triggers of asthma (eliminated or significantly reduced in green homes) include PVC, formaldehyde and volatile organic compounds found in paints and glues. So it turns out that not building green can often cost more to build, and most certainly cost more for the occupant. Perhaps this is a subtle difference in perspective, but confidently promoting green homes as less expensive than a standard home should get your prospective buyers' attention.
Leed Rated Homes
Consumer Benefits
- Healthier Indoor Environment
- More comfortable
- More durable
- 30-60% more energy-efficient
- More environmentally responsible
How much does a LEED Home Cost?
What Type of "Green" Options Exist?
Alarms
Carbon monoxide sensors
Appliances
All Energy Star appliances
Cabinets
Cabinets/furniture made with hardwoods, not particle board
Floors
Carpet - 100% nylon yarn, polyester, or wool pile
Floors
Flooring - Cork, bamboo, eucalyptus
Floors
Smooth surface floors (minimal use of carpet)
Framing
Advanced framing (less framing, more insulation)
HVAC
Baseboard heat
HVAC
Bathroom fans with timers
HVAC
Electronic air filters
HVAC
HEPA forced air filters
HVAC
In-floor radiant heat
HVAC
Kitchen hood fans
HVAC
Programmable Thermostats
HVAC
Super high efficiency forced air furnace
HVAC
Ventilation - Energy Recovery Ventilation system - ERV
HVAC
Ventilation - Heat Recovery Ventilation system - HRVS
