Allegro Custom Homes

Go Green

Isn’t green building just another “fad” in the new  construction industry?  Isn’t it just another way of saying “energy efficient homes?” 

No and no. Interest in green building has been growing by leaps and bounds in the past decade - and the push comes largely by the consumer, as well as the
conscientious builder. In general, a “green” consumer is one who wishes to build a home that is healthier to live in, is affordable to operate and maintain and will be a sustainable structure for generations to come. A “green” consumer also wishes for their new home to have a minimal negative impact on the local and global environments and is concerned about reducing the amount of waste generated by construction.

Being GREEN is so much more than being energy efficient - there are as many as six major areas to consider when designing a home with Green Building Guidelines: site planning, renewable energy, energy efficiency, water conservation, indoor-air quality, and materials).

Green building is also more than just picking the right products.  Here are some other things to consider when designing your “green” home:

  • Energy-efficient design and construction—where windows are located, size of overhangs, how much insulation is needed, how air leakage is controlled, and placement of outdoor vegetation.
  • House size – not building a larger home than is needed for your family’s lifestyle.
  • House location on the site—so to disturb the site as little as possible, to protect natural areas (wetlands, bio-swales, natural drainage areas, etc), and to take advantage of passive solar radiation.
  • Details in the construction process—to insure that the carefully chosen products are installed according to their design and to avoid moisture problems.

Scary statistics that make Green Building sensible:

  • 90% of our time is spent indoors. The EPA ranks indoor air pollution among the top 5 environmental risks to public health.
  • Unhealthy air is found in 30% of new and renovated buildings.
  • From 1980 to 1994 the number of asthma cases grew 75 percent
  • Vacuuming carpet removes only 30-60% of the dust.
  • Infants ingest 5 times more dust particulates than the average adult.
  • Homeowners in the United States use over 25% of the worlds energy resources.
  • A 2,000 square foot home uses 1.5 acres of forest.
  • An average U.S. household uses 350 gal of H2O per day.
  • Almost 50% of the average utility bill is spent on the use of appliances and lighting.
  • Passive solar design can reduce heating requirements by 40-50%.
  • Appropriately placed trees can reduce a building’s air conditioning needs by more than 40%.

Geo-Thermal  

So what is a geo-thermal system and why do I want one? The geothermal concept is a fairly easy one—the ground below the frost line (typically below 42”) is at a constant 57 degrees Fahrenheit all year long.  During the winter, the heat pump absorbs heat from the ground and uses it to heat your home.  In the summer, the process is reversed, pulling the heat from the building and transferring it back into the ground.  Ground source heat pumps can be categorized as having closed or open loops, and those loops can be installed in three ways: horizontally, vertically, or in a pond/lake. The type chosen depends on the available land areas and the soil and rock type at the installation site.