We made two decisions almost simultaneously: move to New Mexico and build a ‘green’ home. At the time we made those decisions, we were living in Maryland in the DC (extended) suburbs. I worked for a federal agency (still do) and Nick worked for the DC government. We both had some-times-horrific commutes; we lived in an out-for-me culture; and our home, which was rural when we purchased it in 1987, was being overtaken by suburban-exurban sprawl. Our community went from a few hundred households to a master plan of 10s of thousands. Time to leave.
Because DC was one of the first cities to start focusing on green design for the city’s low- and moderate-income housing stock, Nick attended the 2007 annual conference of the Green Building Council and was inspired by the keynote address, given by Bill Clinton. He carried a new passion for green design not only back to his work for the city government but to our own planning as well. Didn’t have to work hard to convince me! I’d been hanging out with too many conservationists – on the East Coast, called environmentalists – through my own work; I understood a little of the challenges we face with the environment, if not energy consumption.
We started to investigate the ins and outs of environmentally- and energy-conscious green design. And discovered, first of all, there’s not a lot of agreement about what ‘green’ means! Green can mean Energy Star appliances but leaky windows and roof. Or it can mean designing for a Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEEDS), sponsored by the Green Building Council, Platinum level or a Build Green New Mexico (BGNM), sponsored by the NM chapter of National Association of Home Builders, Emerald level. One extreme to the other. If you google ‘build green’ you get 394,000,000 – yes, that 394 million – hits.
So you make a choice. We chose BGNM. Both BGNM and LEEDS qualify for NM state tax credits, the amount of credits depending upon the level for which the property certifies. BGNM Emerald, the highest, earns up to $18,000 based on house size in state income tax credits, plus some federal credits. I think LEEDS Platinum would earn about the same.
Do you have to go for some certification? Absolutely not. Do you have to do it all to have a ‘green’ home? Absolutely not. Can you find just the right amount of ‘green’? Absolutely possible. Planning is key, planning including researching design options and figuring a budget.
And the budget’s the thing
It’s sometimes said that building green is a rich-man’s game. It sure can be. Especially if you design to standards like Energy Star, LEEDS or BGNM. Doesn’t have to be, though.
We could have worked with a designer or architect, or a knowledgeable builder to identify the key elements that we wanted to focus on in our design. Such considerations as building south-facing for passive solar gain. Making sure the house didn’t leak energy by paying attention to thermal bridging. Following the builder around with a caulk gun (not literally J) to make sure that the necessary cuts in the building envelope were sealed – cuts for electric outlets, light sockets, recessed lights. Do you know that if you hold your hand over an electric outlet or switch in a lot of homes, you can actually feel cold air coming in! Maybe not choosing recessed lights, which allow a tremendous amount of energy loss! And yes, choosing to purchase Energy Star appliances and Energy Star-rated light fixtures.
We did look at our budget and made some difficult choices such as giving up a two-car garage for a one-car carport. Delaying other aesthetic choices until later, in order to afford the green elements required by BGNM. Or maybe not even required, but our preference, like solar photovoltaic and solar thermal for hot water.
We have spent hours on the internet and, Nick, pouring over a number of green-build books. We read everything from energy efficiency research to the types of house construction to types of insulation and wood stoves and solar tubes!
And of course, part of our planning was to find an architect familiar with the aspects of building green. Then to research the building trades here in Silver City, both general contractors/builders and trades. Who has built ‘green’ before? When they say they build ‘green’ what does that mean to them? Who’s willing to provide the focus on detail that any certification program requires? If the prospective builder talks more than listens when you bring up ‘green’ design and construction, if the prospective trades charge 30% more for a ‘green’ installation, then I’d say, run the other way. Enthusiasm on the part of the designer and builder for building ‘green’ is required, I think, to make it work.
A not-so-small planning thing: once we had an agreement with our builder, we held a one-day meeting with our architect, the builder, the major trades, e.g., plumbing, electrical, framing, and the BGNM rater to review all the choices, to make compromises and to get advice and especially to look for more budget-friendly options.
The planning hasn’t stopped. We meet with the builder formally every other week to review the construction progress. We meet more often as required to keep on top of tracking the BGNM requirements.
By the way, I think you can also renovate green. I even think there are certifications, tax credits and other benefits to renovating green.
Questions from previous posts:
We are not installing a standard HVAC (heating and air conditioning forced-air system). Because the house is so highly insulated and designed for minimal thermal bridging, we are able to use a much smaller and more efficient energy recovery system. This system uses smaller ducts and has a heat/cool exchanger. It uses a small, quiet fan that runs full time, circulating air throughout the house, completely exchanging the air in the entire house several times an hour. In the summer, we will throw a switch for “night-sky cooling” which will take the heat out of the circulating air and replace it with our natural 6,000-foot-elevation cool, clean air. There is a filter, as well, to filter dust and other particulates before sending the air through the system. In the winter, heat will be supplied by electric baseboards in each room, with a wood stove purely for the romance of it!
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