CERTIFIED GREEN HOMES:

Your Secret Pipelineto More Profits

A Step-by-Step Introduction to Certifying a Green Home

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“This electronic book could not be published at a better time. As an award-winning NGBS accredited verifier I have been looking for such a consumer friendly “The ABC’s of Green Building for the Consumer-How to Get Started” book since my Green Building consulting business started a number of years ago. This book provides the consumer (and even the broader building community) with the nuts and bolts of what Green Building really is and how it really works. It solves the “mysteries” of Green Building, thus encouraging buyers, builders, designers and all in the industry to take a closer look and take action at “going Green.” A big Thank You goes out to Marla Esser and her team at HomeNav. It is a real pleasure to work with all of them.”

-Philip LaRocque, PresidentLaRocque Business Management Services, LLC

“My passion for green building and sustainability stems from growing up in the construction business coupled with what I’ve learned about international sustain-ability. I became an energy auditor and consultant to pursue this passion. This e-book educates the reader about the process of green certifying a home project while also making the process more approachable and more do-able. The green building industry needs easy to understand education like this e-book for both consumers and the building industry.”

-Mollie Harris, PresidentECOCentrix Consulting

BPI, Resnet, NGBS Green Verifier

“The green home industry is alive and well in St. Louis and I’ve had the opportunity to work on projects with Marla. She brings a unique quality to the projects she is part of - the ability to “translate” between the builder and the green home certification process. That same translation ability is captured here. This booklet offers a great starting point for consumers and the building industry to learn about the process and how to get started with green home certification.”

-Sid KoltunNGBS Green Verifier, NAHB CGP, PRLS

“Our company worked with Sustaining Spaces and HomeNav on a green certified remodel multi-family project. Marla and her team worked seamlessly with the verifier for a unified team. The process outlined in this booklet worked smoothly and easily for our first green project.”

-Todd Ellison, Director of ConstructionGreater Missouri Builders

PRAISE for CERTIFIED GREEN HOMES

“This e-book unravels the mystery of green home certifications. Kudos to Marla for offering consumers and the general home building community an easy-to-understand insight into green home certification. Home Innovation Research Labs not only certifies green homes and developments, we also pre-approve products that are eligible for points toward certification. HomeNav is the only solution to earn the Home Innovation NGBS Green Certified mark for the “owner education and documentation” section of the NGBS. HomeNav helps builders through the green home certification process and helps homeowners maintain and operate their homes to retain their homes’ high performance qualities.”

-Michelle Desiderio, VP InnovationHome Innovation Research Labs

“At R.E.A. Homes, our main focus it to build High Performance Luxury Homes – homes which incorporate green building practices and certification with modern design and smart technology. This e-book outlines in easy-to-understand language the steps of the green home certification process. HomeNav is the perfect complement to the green home certification process and our homes, where We Build Sustainable Luxury.”

-Jeff Bogard, LEED Green Associate, NAHB CGPR.E.A. Homes, LLC

“Verify and Certify is a way of life for us at ESG Energy. This e-book illustrates the importance of verifying and certifying green homes and does it in an easy-to-understand approach. Homeowners and the home building and remodeling community will benefit from understanding the how’s and why’s of green home certification. Education like this is much needed and will help to put green home certification within reach for more homeowners, builders and remodelers.”

-Steve Armstrong, PG, Executive VPEnvironmental Solutions Group - Energy Division

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Marla EsserOwner / Founder of HomeNav®, NAHB Certified Green Professional,LEED APMarla is the inventor and designer of HomeNav® - an owners’ manual for green homes. Her “Build Green, Live Green, Go Green” philosophy offers resources and tools for home industry pros and homeowners to learn more about green and how to get started a little- or a lot. Her company, Sustaining Spaces, LLC offers consulting and education to fulfill this mission. Marla can usually be found connecting – things, people, places and ideas! Connecting the seemingly random to find an out-of-box solution is one of Marla’s favorite pastimes. This ability has enabled her to bring together experiences across many industries, companies, and volunteer organizations to craft solutions to real challenges. She is hands-on with both building and entrepreneurial groups and is working on the “longest running volunteer stint” with her alma mater, Washington University, where she earned a B.S. in Engineering and Public Policy and a Certificate in Energy.

CONTACT HER ATmarla@homenav.com

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table of contents:

an Introduction: the pebble in the pond effect

What are Green Certified Homes?

But, Why do I Want a Certified Green Home?

The Process of Green Home Certification

Choosing the Ideal Certification Program

A Note on NGBS and LEED

Selecting Your Team

Project Goals and Initial Scoring

Registering for Verification

Rough Inspection and Documentation

Testing Structure and Systems

Final Verification Inspection

Wrapping Everything Up

HomeNav Simplifies Green Certification

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The PEBBLE in the POND EFFECT

You know the story…drop a pebble in a pond and watch it create a seemingly, endless ripple effect. It always amazes me that the ripples seem to go on forever, touching so many things in their path. That is how I feel about green. Green is the pebble and the ripples touch so many things. While green is a loaded word these days, to me it embodies mindful choices, using what we have wisely and most of all…common sense. To me, green just feels right.

The Green MovementOne facet of green is our homes - be it a new green certified home or just “greening up” our home and living habits. Each action – big or little - counts. Just as many drops in a bucket still make a bucket of water, green living, building, and remodeling adds up too. (Each of us can take some action to improve our homes and living environment.) While green actions do impact the environment, to me, more importantly they impact the people and communities around us. We have a chance to do this…one home at a time.

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The PEBBLE in the POND EFFECT

The Power of One I believe that one person, one shift can make a big difference. My mission is to educate about green homes. I firmly believe that there really is a smarter way. One thing that we each do differently can really shift our impact – on people and the environment. I am committed to showing others how to implement everyday green living by providing valuable resources, tools and information that homeowners and green builders can implement to accelerate, or even start, their efforts.

What You Can Expect Traditionally, the Green Home Certification process has been seen as tedious and cumbersome. And rightfully so. As a certification process, there are prescribed steps to be taken and documentation required to ensure the project meets the bar. In this e-book, I reveal the steps of certifying green home projects. My intention is to simplify this process, so that you can do what you do best, build green homes or enjoy living in your green home!

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WHAT are GREEN CERTIFIED HOMES?

Maybe you are already quite familiar and versed with green homes, but maybe you are not. So what exactly is a “Certified Green Home”? Who certifies them and why is it beneficial to get this certification?

Certified Green Homes are exactly what the words imply: they are homes that incorporate green technology and practices to meet a defined list of principles set and recognized by the industry, and verified by an independent third-party. While many homes may have some of the elements of a green home, only a small percentage have gone through the process to be certified as a green home.

There are two nationally recognized Green Home Certification programs in the U.S., the National Green Building StandardTM (NGBS) Certification Program [1] and the U.S. Green Building Council’s LEED [2] for Homes Program. Both provide stringent standards and practices to follow for certifying a green home build (or renovation) project along with resources to help complete the certification process. In addition, there are also many local, regional and specialty green home certification programs. [1] National Green Building StandardTM Certification Program comes from Home Innova-tion Research LabTM (formerly known as NAHB Research Center)[2] LEED - Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design

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WHAT are GREEN CERTIFIED HOMES?

Green homes are becoming more desirable as they are commonly safer and healthier, with lower energy bills and less impact on the environment. Achieving a certification for a green home says that it has the stamp of approval of an industry standard. Green Certified Homes are the cream of the crop when it comes to home construction.

Certified Green Homes have become more common as the demand and benefits have increased. The number of green home buyers looking to capitalize on the benefits of owning a green home continues to rise, and home builders are putting more emphasis on eco-friendly construction and design. Many other countries have come up with rating systems for how green a home is when it goes on the market and it has been shown that homebuyers (and even renters) are starting to consider these variables when purchasing.

This book will guide you through the basics of the Green Home Certification process and give you a good idea of what it takes to build (or renovate) a Certified Green Home.

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But, WHY do I WANT a CERTIFIED GREEN HOME?

The benefits of a Green Certified Home are many. While personal preference and beliefs may contribute to the choice of a green home, there are several concrete benefits that remain at the core of the green home philosophy.

Health and SafetyFor many of us, one of the most important benefits of a Green Certified Home is that it is healthier and safer for the people who live in it. Improved indoor air quality is provided through exhaust and fresh air ventilation along with the ventilation of kitchen, bath and clothes dryers. Reducing pollutants and contaminants will also contribute to improved air quality.Choosing low or no-VOC paints, adhesives, finishes, flooring and more is much safer. Reducing moisture through better exhaust and preventing moisture problems not only improves the air quality but also help to keep mold and pests at bay.

Cost SavingsWe’ve all heard that “green” homes save money on utility costs, but the savings go further. For most of us, our heating and cooling needs make up a significant portion of the costs to operate and live in our homes. Even a modest improvement in energy efficiency can result in noticeable savings. A Green Certified Home is held to rigorous energy practices to ensure the envelope of the home (walls, roof, windows, doors, and floor) is well sealed and insulated to help keep the conditioned

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But, WHY do I WANT a CERTIFIED GREEN HOME?

air we pay for in the home. Couple this with a right-sized, efficient heating and cooling system for an energy efficient and cost-saving package. Energy and/or water efficient water heaters, appliances, and lighting will contribute even more to the total package along with good fixtures and long lasting materials. Most Certified Green Homes last longer and have lower maintenance costs.

ComfortThe comfort of our homes comes from many factors besides the recliner in the family room. We enjoy a home that is warm or cool where and when it should be and free of drafts with an appropriate humidity level. This is a necessity in a Green Certified Home.The elements of a green home combine to provide the creature comforts that are important to us individually.

Re-sale of your Green Certified Home Green Certified Homes often have excellent resale value. In 2011, the NY Times found that “newly constructed homes with third-party certifications for sustainability and energy efficiency, sold for 8 percent more on average than non-certified homes in the six-county Portland metropolitan area. Existing houses with certifications sold for 30 percent more.” Certification offers real proof that buyers will get what they pay for.

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The PROCESS of GREEN HOME CERTIFICATION

1 2

8 7

Choose a Certification

Program

Select Green Home Verifier and Builder

Perform Testing

Final Verification/

Submittal

START

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CERTIFICATION

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The PROCESS of GREEN HOME CERTIFICATION

3 4

6 5

Set Project Goal and Do

Initial Scoring

Register Project with

Organization

Conduct a Rough

Inspection

(DURING CONSTRUCTION)

Assemble Supporting

Documentation

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CHOOSING the IDEAL CERTIFICATION PROGRAM

There are two nationally recognized green home certification programs in the U.S. They are the Home Innovation Research LabsTM National Green Building Standard - NGBS - (formerly known as NAHB Research Center) Green Certification Program and the US Green Building Council’s LEED for Homes Program. Both provide stringent standards and practices to follow for certifying a green home building (or renovation) project and offer resources to help complete the Green Home Certification process. LEED is often more widely recognized, as it is also used in the commercial field, but both are excellent standards.

ENERGY STAR is another frequently used program that is well publicized. It may be a program that you are familiar with thanks to their commercial rankings of appliances. ENERGY STAR is different from the certification programs we have mentioned primarily because it is based solely on energy efficiency. It is run by a governmental agency - the EPA - and has many free tools that can be useful for other certification programs. It may be useful to research this more to decide if it is something that interests you.

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CHOOSING the IDEAL CERTIFICATION PROGRAM

While not a “green” home, ENERGY STAR certified new homes offer an energy efficient, high performance home and this program may also be used in tandem with other Green Home Certification programs. According to www.energystar.gov, “ENERGY STAR certified new homes are designed and built to standards well above most other homes on the market today, delivering energy efficiency savings of up to 30 percent when compared to typical new homes. A new home that has earned the ENERGY STAR label...deliver[s] better quality, better comfort, and better durability.[1]”

There are other national, regional and local programs that are also available, so make sure to do your homework!

Some considerations to keep in mind when choosing a program:

• Costs and resources for the Green Home Certification process, including inspections and needed documentation

• Availability of professionals to support the Green Home Certification process – the architect and/or builder you select may offer input on which program they prefer working with

[1] from http://www.energystar.gov

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A note on NGBS and LEED

Both of these programs use point systems to “rank” the “green-ness” of your home. LEED certification levels range from the lowest level – LEED Certified – to LEED Silver, LEED Gold, and LEED Platinum. NGBS Green Certification Program also has four levels for multifamily and single family homes, ranging from the basic Bronze then up to Silver, Gold, and Emerald rankings. While these higher rankings come with a certain prestige they can be a much more significant investment.

Certification from NGBS, LEED for Homes, and other independent third-party programs shows that the home meets a level of performance above the norm – a value that stays with the home throughout its life.

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As you begin the journey of building your green home, the team you choose to work with will be key to the success of the project. Choosing a green verifier is a required part of certification. Bringing him or her in early on in the project will ensure that stated goals are reached and is considered a “Best Management Practice” for green building.

While we expect to work with an architect and a builder (or remodeler), for a green home project, you will want to ensure one of these team members has a strong background in green building or add a green consultant to the team. Professional certification directories for Certified Green Professional (NAHB) and LEED Accredited Professional (USGBC) can help to identify and locate professionals in your area.

SELECTING your TEAM

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PROJECT GOALS and INITIAL SCORING

Once your team is in place and a program selected, you and the team will discuss your overall goals for your new home. As with any building project, it is important that all members of the team be on the same page, but with the extra importance of quality control and selections in green building, it is critical that all team members are always working from the plan.

In addition to the design goals for your green home, you may also want to consider performance goals (energy and water use), types of systems, desired certification level, and of course, budget. As with most projects, there will likely be trade-offs between desired outcomes and budget. Building a prioritized list of goals and features will help to work through these trade-offs.

Your design and build team may go through a checklist with you to understand your goals in each focus area of green homes: lot and site; efficiencies in energy, water and resources; and indoor air quality. They may also use the homeowner documentation and education to help keep you in the loop and up to date on information about

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PROJECT GOALS and INITIAL SCORING

the components of your home. Once you have completed the goals and outcomes, your design and build team will “score” your project using the tools for the Green Certification Program you have chosen. This initial score will give you a target to compare with your budget.

As you adjust the plans to meet your goals and budget, the tool used to score your project will need to be adjusted to reflect the changes. There will also be some mandatory items to consider. The outcome of this step is an agreed-upon design and green plan for your project. Getting the subcontractors on board at this time is typical, too.

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REGISTERING for VERIFICATION

While the process of building (or renovating) a Certified Green Home begins right from the start, the verifications and inspections are how the value and benefits of a green home are proven.

Once the certification program is chosen, the team solidified, and project goals established, the green verifier will register the project with the certifying organization. In our case it would be either Home Innovation Research Labs for the NGBS Certification Program or Green Building Certification Institute for LEED for Homes. This registration ensures the project is “in the system” and is set up to meet the criteria of the selected program. Learn more about processes of NGBS Green Certification Program and LEED for Homes.

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ROUGH INSPECTIONand DOCUMENTATION

The next step is a first, or rough, inspection before drywall is installed. This inspection is conducted to see behind the walls and verify that the building envelope components (framing, sealing, insulation, windows, doors, roof, etc.) are all installed properly and according to plan. This step is crucial as it is the “proof in the pudding” that the plans were actually executed.

During the course of the verification and certification process, supporting documentation is required to validate the claimed benefits and characteristics of the many building materials, systems, appliances, fixtures and finishes used in the building of the home. It is imperative that all of this documentation be well-organized and easily accessible for the verifier as well as the build team. Much of this information will also roll over into the homeowners’ manual in support of the education, operation, and maintenance of the home.

There are many different ways to store, organize and access this information. HomeNav® offers this solution, as well as a “one-stop shop” for all of the information about the home from both the build process and throughout the life of the home.

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TESTING STRUCTURE

and SYSTEMS

As the project progresses from the rough inspection point, elements of the home will continue to be installed, including HVAC and hot water systems, fixtures, finishes, cladding, appliances, and more. The “envelope” (walls/insulation, roof, foundation, windows, and doors) of the home and the HVAC and hot water systems impact the planned energy usage of the home the most. Due to this fact, oftentimes testing is conducted for the home to see that the actual performance of the structure and systems are meeting the planned and/or projected specifications.

The most common tests performed to test performance are a blower door test to determine the air-tightness of the structure and a duct blaster test to determine the air-tightness of the duct-work in a forced air HVAC system. Depending on the Green Home Certification Program and the type of certification, these tests may not need to be performed. Please consult with your builder, green verifier or green professional for specific requirements.

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FINAL VERIFICATIONINSPECTION

Final verification inspection of the project is performed after everything has been completed. The green verifier will come to the home to visually verify that all elements have been installed per plan and all practices and processes have been followed per plan. This step ensures that the design practices claimed in the green building plan have been followed and executed as agreed upon at the beginning of the project.

Documentation and/or product labels/packaging will be needed to substantiate claims for materials, fixtures, appliances, finishes and any other item or practice requiring documentation per the green rating program used. This documentation may be hard-copy or digital but it must be organized for the green verifier. All of this will depend upon what program you have chosen to certify with and (if NGBS or LEED) what point ranking you are aiming for.

HomeNav® excels at organizing this information for easy access when needed during the verification process and inspections.

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WRAPPING EVERYTHING UP

The green verifier will complete the green certification report and submit it to the green certifying body, along with any required documentation, including the homeowners’ manual. The homeowners’ manual may be a hard copy or digital document that meets all of the practices outlined in the Green Certification Programs’ requirements.

HomeNav® meets the homeowners’ manual requirements and is a Home Innovation Research Labs NGBS Green CertifiedTM product. “NGBS Green Certified Products earn a certificate that identifies the specific NGBS section(s) where points for the product are available. This information facilitates designers’ selection of products to be used in green homes, and the approval of those points by Home Innovation-accredited green building verifiers.[1]” HomeNav® meets the requirements for LEED for Homes, as well.

Once the final report is submitted, the certifying body goes to work reviewing the project. There may be questions and additional documentation requested. Once the project passes certification, the certifying body will issue the certificate.[1] from http://homeinnovation.com

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WRAPPING EVERYTHING UP

Congratulations on your new green home!

Certifying a green home can be a powerful tool in your arsenal for the reasons we have mentioned and many more. It communicates to potential buyers, the media, and to both green and building industries that your home is of a valuable certified standard.

[1] from http://homeinnovation.com

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HomeNav SIMPLIFIES GREEN CERTIFICATION

After reading this e-book, you might be looking at the Green Certification Process as cumbersome, extensive, and confusing. The truth is - it can be. There are inspections, verifications and lots of documentation that must be tracked and prepared. Green Certification encompasses numerous aspects of a home and details can easily be lost.

Our commitment to green is personal. In an effort to support and grow the green movement, we’ve created a solution to a seemingly overwhelming task.

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HomeNav SIMPLIFIES GREEN CERTIFICATION

HomeNav is a smarter way. HomeNav® is an online homeowners’ manual - a smart home inventory tool and resource library specifically designed for green homes. It’s also a “done for you” solution that offers an easy-to-use format and valuable templates to help you meet your Green Home Certification requirements with ease.

HomeNav® is patent-pending and is a Home Innovation Research Labs NGBS Green CertifiedTM Product. It earned the state of Missouri Woman Business Enterprise certification under its parent company, Sustaining Spaces, LLC.

HomeNav works. It’s a powerful tool that provides high touch support and resources for homeowners while simplifying the Green Home Certification Process.Don’t let the Green Certification Process stand in the way of you moving into green. It’s well worth the journey.Learn more and sign up for a complimentary HomeNav® membership by visiting: www.homenav.com

Contact us!(877) 828-1827

support@homenav.com

HomeNav® is a patent-pending application of Sustaining Spaces, LLC