Green Building Options & Answers

I. Is Green for Me?

II. But Isn't Going Green Expensive?

III. ENERGY STAR® and NAHB Green Benefits

IV. Green Options Chart

V. Definitions

VI. Pie Charts - US Energy Consumption and Green House Gas Emissions by Sector

I. Is Green for Me?

Not sure if going green is for you? Ask yourself these questions:

• Would I like to save on my heating and air conditioning costs?
• Would I like to reduce my water bill?
• Am I concerned about air quality in my home?
• Would I like to reap the benefits of the years of sorting my recyclables?
• Would I like to reduce the amount of waste I send to the landfill?

IF you answered YES to even one of these questions, GREEN IS FOR YOU.

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II. But Isn't Going Green Expensive?

To answer that question consider…

INCREASED BUILDING COST vs SAVINGS on ENERGY BILLS

Keep in mind that while the principal and interest on your mortgage can be fixed for its duration, and your mortgage can eventually be paid off, conversely energy bills are forever and typically increase.

In an energy efficient home, as energy costs rise, so do your savings.

$400 is the national average saved annually across all climate zones and fuel prices.

Feel good about building an energy-efficient home. For the average ENERGY STAR qualified home built, you are:

• Eliminating the emissions from ~0.5 vehicles;
• Saving ~3,000 lbs of coal;
• Planting ~0.8 acres of trees; or
• Saving the environment ~5,800 pounds of CO2 per year.

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III.  ENERGY STAR^® and NAHB Green Benefits

SYCAMORE GROVE is an ENERGY STAR Partner	SYCAMORE GROVE HOMES RATED GOLD

• Effective Insulation means Quieter, Better Comfort, Consistent Temperatures, & Reduced Energy Costs
• Advanced Windows means Reduced Fading, Cooler, & Reduced Energy Costs
• Tight Construction & Ducts means Better Indoor Air, Less Dust, Pollen, Bugs, etc. & Reduced Energy Costs
• Efficient Equipment means Improved Comfort, Quieter, Durable, & Reduced Energy Costs
• Lighting and Appliances means Cooler & Reduced Energy & Water Costs
• Not only will an energy-efficient home save you money, but it will also reduce air pollution. Home energy consumption accounts for about 17% of total U.S. greenhouse gas emissions and almost a quarter of all energy consumption nationwide. This stems from the fact that energy is produced by burning fossil fuels like coal, oil, and natural gas. So by purchasing an energy-efficient home you are reducing fossil fuel energy production that has been linked to global warming.*
• In 2008 alone, American families living in ENERGY STAR homes locked in annual utility bill savings of more than $250 million and saved over 1.5 billion kWh of electricity and 155 million therms of natural gas, while reducing the greenhouse gas emissions equivalent to those of nearly 350,000 cars annually.*

*US Government ENERGY STAR website 

NATIONAL ASSOCIATION of HOME BUILDERS GREEN STANDARDS
• protecting trees, vegetation, and soil runoff during site preparation
• recycling job site debris throughout the building process
• using recycled & sustainable building & interior design materials
• incorporating environmentally sound landscaping
• including economically environmentally sensitive energy systems such as heat & A/C, hot water, windows to reduce solar heat gain, and more…

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IV. Green Options Chart**

**Prices vary by floor plan and can be determined most accurately as you move forward in the planning of your new home.

V. Definitions:

For the purposes of this page, Sycamore Grove defines the following terms:

Energy Efficiency – a product which will increase the efficiency, thereby reducing the energy costs of the home.

Products from Post Consumer (Recycled) Waste – those products which are composed in part or wholly from recycled materials either pre or post consumer or industrial or both (depending on the product).

Products from Renewable Materials – those products which are composed in part or wholly from resources that can be replaced by natural processes at a rate comparable or faster than its rate of consumption by humans.

Air Quality – both those products that upon manufacturing and after installation will not off-gas VOCs (toxins) and those products that reduce noise, dust, pollen, and/or bugs in the home as compared to traditional home products

Environmental Impact – those products and practices that minimize the impact to the environment in production, or contribute to reduction in the amount of debris and waste products added to the landfill and/or to storm water runoff systems and/or reduce carbon emissions.

Certifications and Qualifications – those products and practices that contribute to a home being National Association of Home Builders Green Certified and/or ENERGY STAR ® Qualified.

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VI. Pie Charts

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