What’s The Point Of “Building Green”?

© Ashley Cooper/Corbis

Being green is all the rage nowadays, and no less so where building a new house is concerned.  But what does “green consumerism” really mean, and how can it affect you?

Green Consumerism

“Green consumerism,” a phrase first coined around the mid-80’s, has a multitude of nuances, but at its most basic level, it means “buying green (i.e., environmentally-friendly) products” (source: Gosden).  According to Julia Hailes, the “triple bottom line [of green consumerism]” is that it is “economically viable, environmentally sound, and socially responsible” (source: Hailes). In other words, it’s not being green just for the sake of being green; it’s being green as long as it makes sense financially to be green.

“Light Green” or “Dark Green”?

Don’t misunderstand – most consumers realize that simply switching to fluorescent bulbs is not going to save the environment.  But then again, at its most basic level, simply “consuming” runs counter to saving the environment.  That’s why some devout environmentalists – Paul Hawken, for instance – believe that “The phrase [green consumerism] itself is an oxymoron” (source: Hesse).  In reality, “The greenest option [is]: don’t buy!” (source: Hailes)  Because of this split, some have begun to differentiate being “dark green” (efforts made to truly try to save the planet) from being “light green” (efforts to just do our part in helping the environment).

What This Means For You

So what does this mean for you?  Before you begin building your new “green” home, you need to answer some basic questions, the first being “Why do I want to build green?”  If saving the environment is something that ranks high on your list of priorities in life, then you are most likely going to be more concerned about the impact on the environment than on the cost.  If, however, you are a more middle-of-the-road environmentalist – or perhaps even just a concerned consumer – you will be more likely to incorporate the green features that pay you back.  Either way, information is going to be your biggest asset.  As an informed consumer, you should:

• not build green just because it is a trend.  While this “light green” form of environmentalism is popular now, it might not be all the rage when you get ready to sell, and that could hurt your bottom line.

• not be afraid to ask your builder to calculate the time it will take to pay off green features in your home.

• question any builder who tries to push you into a decision rather than simply inform you.  Whether you go “light green” or “dark green” should be up to you.  It’s your money, after all.

• consider looking into LEED certification.  According to the U.S. Green Building Council’s “Green Home Guide”, “LEED for Homes is a voluntary rating system that promotes the design and construction of high-performance green homes” (source: USGBC).  This is a great source for information when looking to incorporate cost-effective green features into your new home.

Top 5 Kitchen Trends for 2010

There is possibly no more important room in your house than the kitchen. The kitchen is the hub of activity, the source of sustenance, and the number one room a potential buyer will consider when choosing a new home. That is why designing the kitchen must be done with an eye to the current trends. Here are just a few of the trends we found for 2010.

• Kitchens are getting bigger. “It seems as though families are getting smaller and at the same ti me, kitchens are getting bigger. Designers are using industrial appliances, state-of-the-art cabinets and countertop materials, and including a kitchen island whenever possible.” (source: http://interiordec.about.com/od/kitchenislands/a/a_kitchenisland.htm)
• Kitchens are getting to be more earth-friendly. “Eco-friendly is all the rage these days, but most notably in the kitchen where a few small changes can make a significant impact. You can use inexpensive recycled or natural materials such as recycled glass counter tops or formaldehyde-free bamboo for work surfaces and flooring. Convenient built-in recycling centers and food composters can save space and make recycling simple. The overall idea is making the kitchen effortlessly eco-friendly so that being green isn’t a sacrifice, it’s just an easy part of your everyday life.” (source: http://ezinearticles.com/?Best-Kitchen-Trends-For-2010&id=3162648)
• Kitchens are focusing on being both convenient and multi-purpose. “This year’s kitchen features products that are…all about convenience-meets-multifunctionality.” (source: http://www.thisoldhouse.com/toh/photos/0,,1637271,00.html) What does that mean? Well, “sinks with accessories, such as built-in preparation boards, colanders, and/or drain trays…storage that is both stylish and highly engineered…Cupboard inserts and custom storage areas with adjustable dividers and pull out baskets…appliances set on wheels or movable islands which allow you to easily rearrange the kitchen for convenient preparation, cleaning, and entertaining… which is not just multi-functional, but also kind of fun.” (source: http://ezinearticles.com/?Best-Kitchen-Trends-For-2010&id=3162648)
• Kitchens are becoming more colorful. Color trends change regularly, but the top color choices for kitchens include “Creamy Neutrals, Veiled Violets, A Gamut of Grays, Pale & Punchy Greens, Bold Turquoise” (source: http://www.kitchens.com//design/color/color-trends/color-trends-2010.aspx). Also consider that “Unexpected flashes of color and bold shapes are all the rage, and offer a nice juxtaposition to the earthy mellowness of the eco-friendly trend.” (source: http://ezinearticles.com/?Best-Kitchen-Trends-For-2010&id=3162648)
• Kitchens are becoming more high-tech. “Just like every other aspect of our lives, kitchens are featuring more technology than ever. A lot of this technology is focused on making the kitchen more enjoyable and adding a bit of the “wow” factor. From flat-screen televisions and computer-based entertainment systems to retracting ventilation hoods and gas burners, technology can make the kitchen more fun, convenient, and cool. The kitchen is both a social and functional space in the home. Small additions, like a small mobile device charging station, really illustrate this point. Imagine your family returning home in the evening, immediately plugging in their mobile devices, and congregating in the kitchen to catch up with each other.” (source: http://ezinearticles.com/?Best-Kitchen-Trends-For-2010&id=3162648)

Hot Links For The Home Blog

Every week we come across articles that we think our readers might find interesting.

• Zillow is reporting here that the 30-year fixed mortgage is at 4.80%!
• In this article, entitled “The kitchen is still king”, Steve Kerch of MarketWatch talks about the trends in new homes today. It’s not surprising that #2 is: “Energy-efficient appliances, high-efficiency insulation and high window efficiency.”
  
• And on that note, read here about Low-E Argon windows, explained in a way that makes sense.
• Fortune magazine writer, Michael V. Copeland, has written an excellent article about the popularity of the LED bulbs in American households.  In the article he says, “By the end of the decade, analysts predict, LEDs will be the dominant source for commercial and residential lighting.” Click here to see the rest of the article.
• Finally, for some great tips on lowering your energy bills, click here.
  

So what do you think? Should we make this a weekly part of our blog?

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Permits And Codes And Fines, Oh My!

When we were building our home a few years ago, I was fascinated by the amount of red tape that our builder had to wade through in order to move from one phase of building to the next. And while I admit that I did not bother to learn all the details of this process, I was glad for the checks and balances the system provided.

Generally speaking, a building permit is required whenever there is new construction. According to Webster’s Online Dictionary, a building permit is “A document authorizing the holder to construct a building of a particular kind on a particular lot.” These permits allow the person holding them to construct the building, but they must follow codes that are area-specific. Again, the most general definition of a building code is a “Set of standards established and enforced by local government for the structural safety of buildings.”

The key, then, is knowing and understanding the codes, and they can be difficult to navigate, especially by someone not familiar with a particular area. Again, generally speaking, you will need the approval of:

• A local HOA (Homeowners Association) or Architectural Committee
• The city in which you will reside
• Possibly your county
• In some cases, your state
• You may also need the approval of the EPA or other government agencies, depending on specific situations, such as drainage or location in a flood plain or environmental impact.

It would be great if it was up to the city to notify the state and county of your intentions to build and so forth, but for the most part, these agencies do not communicate with each other or your builder. It’s up to your builder to notify them – or be faced with massive fines because there was an agency he missed (like, Water District #10, for instance).

So, the upside of all the red tape is that you are (somewhat) protected. The downside is that construction might be delayed while awaiting an inspection, or worse yet, you might be fined for not having all the right permits. But there does seem to be one obvious conclusion to draw from all of this: do your homework and find a builder with an excellent track record!

Below is an overview of the permitting process. While this process will differ from place to place, this is an idea of how it works:

So what do you think? Are codes and permits just an annoyance or do you think they do their intended job of protecting the investor?

5 Reasons To Consider – or Reconsider – Building

Right now is perhaps the closest thing to the perfect time to build a new home we will ever see. If you have been holding off breaking ground on your new home, it may be time to reconsider your position. Here are the top 5 reasons why we think now is the time to build:

1. Mortgage rates dropped to a near record low, even as recently as this week, but are expected to start moving up again soon. “Experts say it’s time to get a loan now, or end up with a higher rate later…Mortgage professionals believe rates are poised to jump sharply within a few weeks.” (source: http://www.bankrate.com/finance/mortgages/mortgage-rates-drop-to-2010-low.aspx).

2. Home prices continue to fall, but not as drastically. According to CNNMoney.com, while home prices have fallen another 2.5% during the last 3 months of 2009, that was a “big improvement over the past three years.” This means that the trend down may be about to change, and housing prices may be about to start trending up instead of down. (source: http://money.cnn.com/2010/02/23/real_estate/2009_Case-Shiller_report/index.htm)

3. The price of materials will inevitably start to go up as building resumes. CNNMoney.com reports that “Home Depot said it returned to a profit in its fiscal fourth quarter after posting a loss a year earlier, with earnings of 18 cents per share, two cents better than expected.” (source: http://money.cnn.com/2010/02/23/markets/markets_newyork/index.htm)

4. Land prices are at an all-time low.  While this is, of course, specific to your region of the country, in Austin, TX, the general belief is that these prices are only going up from here. “January 2009 was the low point of this cycle…with steady improvement throughout 2009 that continued in January 2010, we can see that we’re one year into the recovery in Austin.” (source: http://www.bizjournals.com/austin/stories/2010/02/15/daily52.html?ana=from_rss&utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+bizj_austin+%28Austin+Business+Journal%29)

5. Tax credits have been extended. “The Worker, Homeownership, and Business Assistance Act of 2009 has extended the tax credit of up to $8,000 for qualified first-time home buyers purchasing a principal residence. It also authorized a tax credit of up to $6,500 for qualified repeat home buyers.” (source:http://www.federalhousingtaxcredit.com/)

The Skinny On Energy Efficiency

Google's PowerMeter

When faced with building a new home, you may be surprised at the number of options available for lowering your energy consumption, and thus, your utility bills. However, some ideas are better than others, and a good rule of thumb, according to Bethany Jenkins, Vice-President of Jenkins Custom Homes, is to evaluate the product and choose those with a 2-4 year payback. One of the benefits of building a new home – as opposed to purchasing an existing – is the flexibility you have in design. Here are some of our favorite ways to control energy costs:

1. Start with a great design. Your home’s orientation on the lot, as well as the location of windows and doors, can take into consideration cross-ventilation and the direction of the sun in both winter and summer months.
   
2. Have a carefully planned “thermal envelope”. The thermal envelope is a technical term for the insulation in your home. Think of it like a thermos – the quality of the insulation is what determines how hot or cold your liquid inside remains. The same is true of your home. Putting your money into a high-density foam insulation and highly efficient windows will keep your home warmer or cooler, therefore reducing the number of times the A/C or heater has to cycle on and off.
   
3. Require high-performance mechanical systems (heating and cooling systems, hot water heaters), as well as appliances.
   
4. Employee technology when cost-effective (occupancy sensors for lights, A/C & heater, for instance).
5. Carefully placed trees can shade your house from cold winds or the summer heat, and drought resistant landscaping will lower your water usage.  A good landscape architect can design your green space with eye toward lowering your energy costs.