Residential property owners, who are entertaining  some of the tax credits and incentives for green building, are often greenhorns to the process. The best approach to test the efficacy of a  green building process is if the design concept benefits the  life span  of the home.  From selecting products that qualify for federal tax credits to hiring a contractor, who is either LEED certified or a licensed contractors with the appropriate credentials–the learning curve for LEED or green building floor plans is too extensive for one blog post. Refer to these questions and facts about LEED design.

What is LEED Design and Green Building?

LEED is the acronym for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design. The globally-standardized green building certification system enables residential property owners the ability to implement design features that are sustainable and environmentally healthy for occupants of the home and its effects on the ecosystem. Some people refer to LEED design as green building, as both design premises encompass the proceeding:

• Heating and cooling (in example geothermal systems)
• Lighting (solar windows)
• Water (double- flush high efficiency toilets
• Insulation (organic products)
• Toxins (low  VOC paints, finishes, ect).

Is LEED design less expensive than traditional homebuilding?

No. On the contrary, LEED design us often expensive but designed to pay for itself over the life of the domicile.

Modular floor plans  garner a green building philosophy. As most of the construction and manufacturing transpire in the confines of a production plant, building these floor plans has little impact on the emission of greenhouse gases on the environment. Certain floor plans’ builders incorporate passive design for a lean and green building perspective.

Although green building (LEED design) is growing among preferred amenities, homeowners should consider consulting a realtor before embarking upon an elaborate floor plan to determine the value. Also, determine if your state offers any tax rebates or credits for making improvements which reduce the carbon footprint.

But, just as a recessed economy promoted the concept of downsizing, expansive house plans exuding luxurious qualities were replaced by the abode with sustainable qualities. As America continues to shake off a glut of real estate and prevent foreclosures, we’ve gleaned a myriad of lessons from the past:

Bigger house plans are not always necessarily better.

With the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA )and Department of Energy (DOE) planning to institute new manufacturing regulations for energy efficiency in the home, more house plans will be equipped with solar panels, geothermal heating and cooling systems, and other green building principles.

Over the last five years, given the tax incentives to upgrade to high efficiency of heating and cooling systems, legislators seem to be introducing tax incentives to drive home the relevancy of reducing carbon emissions and maximizing energy efficiency. This suggests that future home trends may institute some of the architectural benchmarks similar to LEED (international green building certification).

In the realm of house plan renovations, the bathroom and kitchen continue to command popularity. Unlike the epic bathrooms of the past, garden tubs and bathroom fixtures are about maximizing energy efficiency.  HousePlanandMore.com indicates that

today’s kitchen is more refined with functional and compact features.

Given the refreshed urgency for preventing global warming and conserving energy, there’s speculation that certain house plans are making a timely comeback. Some of these house plans embody bungalows, ranch style and A-frame homes.   Please click on House Plans and More to review more home trends.

Although it’s true that new home floor plans have a way of breathing new life into a home’s architecture, many heating and cooling contractors advise that homeowners start with an energy efficiency update, as in the whole-house system’s approach.

The whole-house systems approach affords a bevy of advantages. Primarily, these energy efficiency components are devised precisely to curtail both maintenance and utility costs. Even more appealing are the health, safety, home floor plan durability and comfortable living characteristics that the whole-house systems approach affords. In other words, these element play an critical role in building green.

Green building evaluates everything from how the occupants interact in the space, the climate to other  other home floor plan components, including:

• Insulation and air sealing
• Entrances, Doors, skylights, and windows, doors
• Water heating
• Natural light and lighting
• Space heating and cooling
• Energy efficient appliances and home electronics

As a result, the efficacy of using the whole house system’s approach to determine the design strategy for the new house floor plan is vital.  Consider the following green building elements to help select the right home floor plan:

• Earth-sheltered
• Energy Homes
• Log Homes
• Manufactured Homes
• Solar House Plans
• Straw Bale Homes

Be sure to bookmark Best House Floor Plans and More as we will be reviewing the aforementioned floor plans upcoming weeks.

What is LEED?

The Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED®) Green Building Rating System used to be a commercial construction option.  Growing in popularity among homeowners, the green building construction process requires certification to meet various green building benchmarks.

Which organization has oversight over Leadership in Energy an Environmental Design?

The U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) oversees and helps set the  standards for building homes and buildings in accordance  LEED® building. The USGBC developed benchmarks, which are nationally accepted. LEED® ratings evaluate green building based on three rudimentary criteria: design, construction and the reduction of carbon emission via high-performance environmentally sound buildings.

Which types of home energy construction potentially qualify for LEED® construction?

Geothermal energy and solar energy projects are generally applicable for LEED. Both work to decrease fossil fuels consumption. Since, geothermal energy is a derivative of the earth, it is practically unlimited, requiring minimal energy.

On the other hand, solar energy is quite versatile. With numerous mounting options, roof, shingles, walls, ceilings, and windows, the multi-purposed systems heat water, warm and cool the home.

Are there specific grading systems for LEED?

Yes, the USGBC developed a Green Building Rating System for LEED®, which includes the following rating levels: Platinum, Gold, Silver and Certified. Rating levels are determined by certified contractors.

Aside from building a home that is better for the environment, what are the benefits of green building?

The other advantages and incentives for LEED green building  include the following:

• Architect a healthier place to live
• Conserve on water and energy
• Minimize carbon emissions, which are detrimental to the planet’s eco-system
• Take advantage of various zoning allowances and tax credits
• Lower operational costs, which increase the property’s asset value
• Decrease the amount of waste, which ends up in landfills

Click on LEED Green Building to read about putting your constructing your new house plan into action.

Fallacy #1: Modular homes require almost a year to build.
On the contrary and depending on the size of the modular home, the factory built domicile has an assembly time of three to five days. Once the modular home is transported to the construction site, it requires only two to three months of construction time, compared to the conventional home, which requires nine months to a year for completion.

Fallacy#2: Modular homes are more expensive to build.
According to national averages reported by architects, modular homes are 10 to 20 percent more cost effective than the standard built home.

Fallacy #3: Since, modular homes have to be transported from point “A” to its final site location, the factory built home is not green.Actually, many factory built homes are developed in accordance to a rating system, mandated by the U.S. Green Building Council. An example is the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED). These pre-constructed homes are by far more energy efficient to live in.

Fallacy#4: The home built by module has only one insipid home style.
Contrary to popular belief, modular homes are architected into a myriad of style options:

Colonial
Contemporary
Contemporary
Dutch colonial
Georgian
Mediterranean
Victorian

Fallacy #5: The building green concept is a marketing ploy used to promote the modular home building industry.
Several years before going green or being eco-friendly was popularized, modular manufactures analyzed the amount of waste and its effect on the environment. The findings showed that significantly more building materials end up in landfills during standard home builds than the pre-fabricated home.

Moreover, the home floor plan, erected by module is green because it offers three redeeming qualities:

-    It is environmentally conducive for the occupant, as well as the planet
-    Decreases homeowner’s operational costs on energy
-    Has a substantially smaller carbon footprint

In summation, modular homes are not only eco-friendly, but exude highly stylized characteristics, often indistinguishable to the traditional constructed home.

Read more on Modular Home Design.

Related Articles:

What is a Modular home?

How Modular Homes and Manufactured Homes Differ

Building a Modular Home

Why Build Modular?

Prefab homes sprout green designs, improve affordability

Prefab Homes Green and Energy Efficient

 House Plans and More’s resource center features several articles on living green, green building, and building materials. Get the facts on going green before building your new home. A great design can help decrease costs and let the sun shine in.

 The Rundown

Check out the Down to Earth Homes article on at MotherEarthNews.com to get more facts.

GulfBreezeNews.com has a great article on designing your Earth Style home.