By now, most of you have heard about LEED, but it's not the only certification program out there that applies to green home renovations. Many competing programs have sprung up at the national, state and local levels. While it's usually not necessary to conform to any sort of regulations beyond the building codes, a certified home renovation carries a certain prestige, serves a testament to your commitment to the environment and can even improve resale values.
National Programs
LEED
The most widely-known green building certification program is LEED, which stands for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design. The special designation LEED for Homes provides the certification of both new residences and major renovations. This rating system, which was created by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), measures the performance of homes with eight categories:
- Innovation & Design Process
- Location and Linkages
- Sustainable Sites
- Water Efficiency
- Energy & Atmosphere
- Materials and Resources
- Indoor Environmental Quality
- Awareness & Education
Depending on how many points a renovation earns in each category, it may achieve basic certification, or the more prestigious designations of Silver, Gold and Platinum.
NAHB Model Green Home Building Standard
The National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) and the International Code Council (ICC) joined forces to create their own nationally recognized standard for green building. In compliance with the requirements set forth by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI), the ICC-700-2008 National Green Building Standard covers both new residences and home renovations. Similar to LEED's categories, the ANSI code operates on a point-based system and outlines green building practices for energy, water, resource efficiency, lot and site development, indoor environmental quality, and home owner education. The highest threshold is Emerald, preceded by Bronze, Silver and Gold.
Energy Star
You've seen appliances with the Energy Star label, but did you know your entire home can be certified by the U.S Environmental Protection Agency's program? The EPA stipulates that Energy Star homes are 20-30% more efficient than standard homes. Features include increased insulation, high-performance windows, tight construction ducts, efficient heating and cooling equipment and energy-efficient appliances. Home owners can expect to save an estimated $200 to $400 annually and are often eligible for special financing. Typically, Energy Star certified homes are new construction, although major renovations could qualify. For smaller home improvements, consider a state-run program that provides Home Performance with Energy Star certificates.
Next up, state and local programs...