Green Building Programs
ENERGY STAR for Homes
The first national program for measuring and verifying the energy performance of a home has been revised several times. The latest release of the program went into effect on January 1, 2011, and is significantly different from previous versions. The new scope of work includes addressing potential moisture problems and inspecting HVAC system installations in addition to performing energy testing on the home (blower door, thermal infrared camera, air duct leakage test, and more).
LEED for homes standard
LEED for Homes is a rating system that promotes the design and construction of high-performance green homes. It starts with ENERGY STAR for Homes program and expands that to be more comprehensively sustainable. A green home uses less energy, water and natural resources, creates less waste, and is healthier and more comfortable for occupants. Benefits of a LEED home include lower energy and water bills; reduced greenhouse gas emissions; and less exposure to mold, mildew and other indoor toxins. The net cost of owning a LEED home is comparable to that of owning a conventional home. LEED is a broad, performance-based standard that incorporates energy efficiency, indoor air quality, water efficiency, materials, and location efficiency.
National Green Building Standard
Developed by the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB), the NGBS is an ANSI-approved green building rating system. Since it provides a flexible, expansive point-based system for certification, it also offers builders a process to build affordable green homes that meets their goals, appropriate for the climate, and meets the needs of the market and homebuyers.
Passive House
The Passive House concept represents a stringent energy standard with the promise of slashing the heating energy consumption of buildings by an amazing 90%. A Passive House is a very well-insulated, virtually air-tight building that is primarily heated by passive solar gain and by internal gains from people, electrical equipment, etc. Energy losses are minimized. Any remaining heat demand is provided by an extremely small source. Passive House focuses on energy efficiency and indoor air quality as required.
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AES Position on Green Building Programs
AES’ Role is to provide education and support for any of these programs to builders and project teams. With the vast experience we’ve accumulated, we prefer to work with programs that have performance-based verification, as these programs emphasize tangible results.
Many projects we work with achieve multiple certifications. For instance many green homes work to meet Passive House, yet go beyond energy to focus on other green building attributes and verify these through the LEED for Homes program. Additionally, since every LEED home is an Energy Star home too, these programs also work well together.
Whether you choose LEED certification or another program, AES has the expertise to help you determine which programs best meet your goals, and we will help you implement them.
