Down to Earth

Say "green building," and one of two images is likely to pop into your head: either a house that's literally painted green or one with walls of dirt, grass growing on the roof and a windmill churning away out back.

Even if you're familiar enough with the term to realize that it simply means using earth-friendly, energy-efficient designs and materials, you're still likely to picture a home that's the residential equivalent of a Birkenstock sandal-comfy and practical, but a long way from the high-style look of Jimmy Choo footwear.

Not true. A green-built home can look as fancy, or as plain, as any other. It can stand out or blend into a neighborhood. And the principals of green building can be applied to homes in every style and price range, from simple bungalows to majestic mansions.

You'll likely hear more about green building in the months to come. The National Association of Home Builders recently developed green building guidelines, while the Northeast Florida Builders Association, in conjunction with the Jacksonville Electric Authority, has launched a program called Green-Built Homes of Florida to educate and encourage builders to become more environmentally friendly.

It's good for Mother Earth, but there's more than altruism at work. As energy prices continue to skyrocket, it's likely that consumers will begin demanding homes designed and built to conserve resources without sacrificing comfort.

The technology is already available. Even a home built with some green features can save 20 percent per year on energy bills. And there are now homes equipped with solar photovoltaic panels that create enough electricity to lower a power bill to nearly nothing.

"Green building is starting to gain traction in the marketplace," says Ray Tonjes, chairman of NAHB's green building subcommittee. "It's becoming more widespread. It's started to grow."

While rising energy costs may spur initial interest in green building, homeowners will soon discover other benefits, adds Tonjes, including better indoor air quality and less water for irrigation.

"Once you understand green building, it becomes common sense for the homebuyer," says Karen Childress, environmental stewardship manager for WCI Communities, which has committed to building green around the state. Locally, its Costa Verano townhome development in Jacksonville Beach is being green built.

Childress is also president of the Florida Green Building Coalition, a nonprofit organization that has developed a green-building certification program.

Her group has identified several key concepts of green building, including energy and water efficiency, drought-tolerant landscaping, improved indoor air quality and use of building materials that are healthy for humans and made from renewable materials.

Of course, green homebuilding comes in different shades. A home can incorporate some green characteristics, or it can be green in every possible respect. "You can go from chartreuse green to dark forest green," Childress notes.

Concurrently, the price tag for building green can be next to nothing, or it can be significant. For example, it can cost relatively little to choose materials that are more energy efficient or are made from more renewable resources, says Childress. But more elaborate green systems, such as exceptionally energy-efficient windows or high-tech electrostatic air filters, can be pricey.

While the cost of the windows can be offset over time by lower energy bills, the electrostatic filter won't save homeowners any money. For those with allergies or asthma, however, the investment may be worthwhile from a health standpoint.

"There are big-ticket items that add to the price, but you can significantly increase your quality of life," says Childress. "And you're conserving for the future and being a better citizen of the world."

Northeast Floridians are increasingly buying in to the concept. Many, looking to reduce energy costs and take advantage of government rebates, are flocking to Solar Energy Inc. in Jacksonville. "Business has been going through the roof," says David Smith, president. "We've been very busy, and it's very exciting."

Smith notes that solar technology has improved so much that the roof collectors are much less noticeable than they used to be. Some, in fact, can actually be integrated into the roof so that they look like skylights.

The company's most popular product in the past was solar heating for swimming pools. Now, more people are buying solar water heaters and photovoltaic panels that manufacture electricity from the sun's heat.

So while a green-built home can cost more to construct, substantial monetary savings-and less measurable but equally important lifestyle improvements-are realized in the long run.

And besides, say boosters, in a rapidly growing state with a fragile ecosystem, it's the right approach for the 21st century.

WHAT GREEN MEANS

What makes a home green? The short answer: Everything. From the direction it faces to the paint on the walls; from the angle of the gable to the plants in the yard, green building incorporates environmental considerations in every phase of the building process.

Not only do green homes have less impact on the environment, they're cheaper to operate, healthier because they have fewer inside air contaminants, and more comfortable because they're evenly heated and cooled. Plus, you can expect to spend less weekend time on maintenance.

But how do you build a green home? Here are a few ideas gleaned from guidelines issued by the National Association of Home Builders and the Florida Green Building Coalition.

HOME SITE PREPARATION

Many characteristics of a green home are related as much to the ground it sits on as to the structure itself. So proper site preparation is crucial to building a home that is truly environmentally friendly.

• Save existing trees if possible, making certain to protect them during the construction process. Removed trees can be turned into mulch on site and used in the landscape.

• Grade the soil so that water runs away from the home's foundation, lessening potential problems with mold, rot and termites. Attempt to keep all rain and sprinkler run-off on site, or slow it down so the water can be filtered before it enters waterways through storm drains.

• Pay attention to the sun's location when orienting a home, to maximize solar heating and cooling. Southern expanses of roof make ideal locations for solar panels. Trees on the east and west sides help cut cooling costs.

ENERGY EFFICIENCY

Green homes are conservatively estimated to be 20 percent more efficient than a traditionally built home. But it takes more than installing energy-saving appliances to achieve that.

• Design your home so that natural light reaches the inside, thus reducing electrical use. Wide overhangs help shade the home, thereby lowering cooling bills.

• Use building products made from recycled materials and from lumber that is harvested from sustainable sources.

• Recycle leftover materials, thereby keeping them out of landfills.

• Install an efficient heating and air-conditioning system with well-sealed ductwork.

• Consider solar energy for hot water or pool heating. Instant-heat tankless water heaters are also more energy efficient.

• Use mold-resistant building materials that are new to the market, including special drywall.

• Insulate the home well.

• Choose Energy Star-rated appliances.

WATER CONSERVATION

The average person uses slightly more than 64 gallons of water a day. Water conservation measures can drop that to less than 45 gallons, making green homes helpful in reducing drought conditions.

• Install low-flow toilets and faucets.

• Consider eliminating the garbage disposal.

• Use less fertilizer- and water-hungry grass and more native and drought-resistant plants. Group plants according to water requirements so they can be watered efficiently.

• Take advantage of new, less wasteful sprinkler systems.

• Consider installing rainwater capture systems and using "gray" water from washing machines and showers, or reclaimed water in communities where it is available, for watering lawns and flushing toilets.

SUSTAINABILITY

Use products that are renewable. For instance, floors made from bamboo, which grows well and quickly, are greener than those made from slow-growing trees. Floors made from reclaimed lumber, such as heart pine harvested long ago and long lost in rivers on the way to mills, are another good green choice.

INDOOR ENVIRONMENT

Many materials inside homes, including paint, carpeting and fabrics, emit gases called volatile organic compounds (VOC's) for months, even years, after they are installed. VOC's have been linked with health problems, including cancer. There are products available now with low or no VOC's.

For more information on green building, see

www.floridagreenbuilding.org or www.nahbrc.org/greenguidelines.

GREEN BUILDING PIONEERS

Ashley Collins, president of Collins Builders, is excited about his company becoming what he calls "a guinea pig" for green building in Jacksonville.

"We want to be a leader," says Collins, whose fast-growing firm is set to build some 200 homes this year. "We believe in it. We know that every day the world is becoming more environmentally aware, and as builders, I believe we need to be frontrunners."

Collins Builders and Beazer Homes are two of the first to participate in Green-Built Homes of Florida, a new program designed to encourage construction of homes that are energy efficient enough to earn Energy Star Certification. Energy Star, launched in 1995 by the Environmental Protection Agency, sets certification standards and helps builders market energy efficiency as a value-added feature.

The local effort, spearheaded by the Jacksonville Electric Authority in partnership with the Northeast Florida Builders Association, is designed to promote the advantages of green building to homebuilders. In addition to education, there are small financial incentives offered to partially offset the extra cost incurred when building to Energy Star specifications. Plus, the participating organizations are providing a staffer to review home plans and help builders make their designs more energy efficient.

"We're looking to the future," says NEFBA's Daniel Davis. "We think this is the time to start doing everything we can to build green."

JEA is footing much of the bill for the program. "Nobody needs to tell us that Northeast Florida is growing like crazy," says Jane Upton, JEA's director of brand development. "As we have more people moving here, the demand for electricity is growing at about 100 megawatts a year. At that rate, we'll have to build a new power plant every three to five years."

Conservation programs could enable JEA to postpone construction of expensive power plants, thereby saving consumers money, Upton says. And building new homes that are energy efficient is a critical component of that strategy. "The goal is to get as many homes as possible Energy Star certified," Upton says.

Energy Star homes use 30 percent less energy for heating, cooling and water heating than a home that meets typical U.S. building codes and 20 percent less than those that meet Florida building codes.

Common energy-efficient features in an Energy Star-rated home include a tighter "envelope," where air leakage through windows, doors and even wall plugs is kept to a minimum. More insulation and high-efficiency heating and cooling equipment are required, as are more energy-efficient windows.

In addition to the emphasis on Energy Star certification, the organizations are also encouraging builders to help save water. The St. Johns River Water Management District has developed its own certification program, called Water Star, to facilitate construction of homes that use less water by installing water-stingy fixtures and landscaping that requires less irrigation.

In the average new home, an initial investment of $700 on the right indoor fixtures could save 20,000 gallons of water per year. Another $1,000 spent on efficient outdoor irrigation and landscaping could save an additional 270,000 gallons a year. That means a $1,700 investment could save up to $2,200 per year on a water bill, according to district officials.

The Jacksonville division of national builder Beazer Homes is on track to have all its homes Energy Star certified under the new JEA program, says Barbara Moore, division president. "We think the program is going to be great," says Moore, who saw a similar program successfully instituted in Houston.

Already Beazer has begun testing the program in its town homes and, recently, in its single-family offerings. But green building is nothing new for Beazer. Under its already established Environments for Living program, the company uses state-of-the-art building technology to insure high indoor air quality, combustion safety, moisture management and tight construction.

"We're also taking some initial steps into Water Star," says Moore. "We're looking to see how a Water Star landscape package would look and how attractive it will be in the market."