ECOing a trend

By Alicia Rimel

Published: July 21, 2008

Rising energy costs have more prospective home buyers thinking green, local builders say. But saving money later costs more during construction.
The average green home costs “one to four percent more than a conventional residential development,” according to a recent study conducted by GreenHOME, based in Washington, D.C. The organization works to make green housing affordable in the National Capital Region through contact with contractors and policy makers.
Kline Realty & Co. Real Estate, of Waynesboro, is 45 days from completing the first EarthCraft House certified green home in the Staunton, Waynesboro and Augusta County area. EarthCraft is an Atlanta-based group that certifies homes that meet criteria for protecting the environment and enhancing energy efficiency.
The Kline home under construction in Waynesboro is a 2-story, 3-bedroom, 2½-bath structure located in the Evershire subdivision off Hopeman Parkway. It features recycled carpeting, Energy Star-rated appliances, sealed crawlspaces and other “super energy efficient” construction measures, said Dwayne Caricofe, an associate broker at Kline.
According to a “True Cost of Ownership” analysis by EarthCraft House, the cost to build a green home is higher than an average residence – but the ongoing monthly savings eventually allow homeowners to break even.
For a standard new home, priced at $150,000, the owner might obtain a $135,000 loan. The same home, built green, would cost $154,816, with $139,334 possible in the form of a loan. The monthly payment on the first home is calculated at $991 per month, with the energy-efficient home at around $1,023.
Savings enter the equation in the form of cheaper energy bills. A typical new home would cost $186 per month in energy costs; a green home would cost $93.
Factoring in these savings, the true cost of ownership comes to $1,177 per month for a regular structure and $1,116 for one built with energy efficiency in mind, according to the EarthCraft study.
With the increased popularity in green building, Kline is starting to incorporate eco-friendly methods into their construction.
“We try to stay on the cutting edge,” Caricofe said. “We know that the future is green and that that is what everything is going to.”
Green construction, in some form, has been in the area since the turn of the 21st century. Waynesboro-based Westhills Co. Builders have incorporated earth-friendly methods and materials into their homes – on a consumer-driven basis – since 1999.
“We’ve done a lot of this stuff over the years and now, at least, the public is asking for it,” company Vice President Rick Kane said. “And, in many cases, demanding it – which is good. It’s good for all of us.”
Research by the U.S. Green Building Council, a nonprofit based in Washington, D.C., “committed to expanding sustainable building practices,” outlines the effects of green construction.
Economic benefits include a reduction in monthly costs, an increase in property values and profits and better economic performance during the life of the home, according to the council.
Still, high construction costs scare off some consumers.
“New construction is so dead right now that you’re not really seeing a whole lot of people willing to pay for anything,” Kane said. “But, if they do come to look at one of our model homes, then they’ll ask questions. How efficient is the heating? How efficient is the hot water? How efficient are the windows? And so forth. These are some things, questions, that people before never mentioned.”
That reflects a shift in the way people view their homes, said Mary Helferty, an environmental scientist at the federal Environmental Protection Agency.
“Building uses so many resources that we have to be more cost conscious about the expense of operating, instead of the cost to construct it,” Helferty said.
Other reasons environmentalists and some builders cite for going green include lower insurance rates, utility rebates, quicker permitting, increased marketability, higher property values and tax rebates.

Thinking of going green?
Ten ways to help the environment:
1. Turn down the thermostat.
2. Turn on ceiling fans in the summer and the winter. By reversing the blades, warm air is pushed down, helping to heat during colder months.
3. Choose major appliances that are Energy Star-rated. An Energy Star refrigerator saves enough electricity to light a home for more than four and a half months.
4. Repair leaky fixtures.
5. Change to low-flow showerheads, faucets and toilets. Low-flow faucets decrease water usage, as well as the cost of heating water, by as much as 50 percent.
6. Choose carpeting, rugs, window treatments and other cloths made from natural fibers, such as cotton or wool. These types of materials are free of toxins.
7. Use flooring products made from quickly replenishable resources, such as bamboo.
8. Do not use pressed woods or composites, which may contain formaldehyde and other toxic chemicals, for furniture or cabinetry.
9. Choose products that are biodegradable or recyclable.
10. Reuse packing materials from purchased items, and safely dispose of paint cans and other containers of harmful substances.
SOURCE: “TEN TIPS TO GO GREEN,” RELEASED BY THE NATIONAL BUILDING MUSEUM IN WASHINGTON, D.C.