Green has come to mean a lot of things. But when you look at the big picture rather than the details, it gets a lot clearer-the biggest impact an average family has on the environment is how much energy they use.
We've found that when we focus on improving energy efficiency, a lot of other benefits come along with it. Like durability, health, quality and comfort-as well as the advantage of being environmentally responsible. In our lab home, for example, the enclosure is nearly airtight, which will mean fewer drafts, a more constant temperature and humidity level, and higher air quality. Triple-paned windows mean direct sunlight won't feel as uncomfortable on hot days, and a highly energy-efficient, pleasant lighting system can translate to less eyestrain and a more homelike atmosphere .
But we also know it's good to have a standard for what is considered a green home, and so we've constructed our lab home to meet some pretty stringent requirements.
We've designed and built the Lab Home to achieve the Gold level of the National Green Building Standard. The Standard is a joint effort by National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) and the International Code Council (ICC) to provide a standard definition of a green home for homebuilders and buyers.
We chose to go for the NAHB Gold standard for several reasons. We were looking for a standard for green housing that's nationally recognized by homebuilders and would be appreciated by homebuyers. While the LEED (Leadership in Environmental and Energy Design) certification might be more familiar to some, its standards put tight limits on where a qualifying building can be constructed, making it a less optimal choice for our Lab Home.
Meeting the NAHB Gold standard meant we had to pay special attention to preventing erosion and runoff on the lot during building, and the home design had to maximize resource, energy and water use efficiency.
We also had to ensure the inside of the house provided a healthy environment, and that its operation and maintenance were easy for the homeowner to manage. All cabinets are certified by the Kitchen Cabinet Manufacturers Organization (KCMO), and we used low-VOC, or volatile organic compound, paints and sealants in the house.
We reduced construction site waste and used recycled and green materials wherever we could. The flooring, tile and countertops all contain recycled content. And we installed ENERGY STAR-rated appliances, which you can find out more about in Appliances.
