FAQs about Green Building | Green Building Resources

FAQs about Green Building

Q. Is Green Building more expensive than conventional construction?
A. Utilizing the solar-path of the sun for passive heat gains in the winter and extended roof trusses for summertime shading, this technique significantly reduces energy costs.  Couple this procedure with a "tightly" built house, specialized windows, high density spray insulation, and duct-work installed within conditioned spaces, your new home will require a much smaller heating and cooling system: Saving you thouands of dollars upfront!

Some green building products like solar panels and tansition windows (think "transitional sunglasses") do cost more, but can definitely reduce your utility load.  The practices Belcher Homes utilizes saves home owners hundreds of dollars each month on utility bills, therefore allowing you much more buying power in a house.  If your new Green Home costs $5,000 more than a typical home, your payback period is approximately 4 years if your home saves you approximately $100 a month in utility bills!!!  Yet when you obtain a mortgage for your energy-efficient home, you qualify for a much higher loan amount or a much smaller down payment!!(www.enterprisebank.com)  Ask for Ken Gumper.  

Q. Why is green building becoming more popular?
A. Green building is one of the most significant trends in homebuilding. It is changing the way builders, manufacturers and homebuyers view homes and their effect on the environment.

The movement has gained momentum over the past decade, thanks to advances in technology, growing public awareness of environmental and safety issues and new national, state and local building codes.

There are 32,000 houses nationwide officially designated as being green, and many more incorporate various green building techniques. The average new house today is 100 percent more energy-efficient than one built 30 years ago.

Although they are inherently more resource efficient than their non-green counterparts are, today's green-built homes are visually indistinguishable from other homes.

Green building is new to the St. Louis area, but is strong in other areas, especially in the Northwest and Southeast.

Green Building Resources

Why Builders Should Build Green
Interview with Matt Belcher - 2007 National Director, NAHB

News Update on St. Louis Construction News & Real Estate (CNR)
The Home Builders Association of Greater St. Louis and Eastern MO recently gave its first gold level "Green Home" verification to a home in metro St. Louis. The gold level home was built by Belcher Homes. Industry expert and St. Louis based green builder Matt Belcher, president of Belcher Homes, wanted to "lead by example" in constructing the home which is located in the Labarque Creek Watershed area of Northern Jefferson County. Belcher is 2007 HBA President and chairman of the HBA's Green Building Council. Belcher built the private residence in accordance with the HBA's Green Building Program.

Green Builder Magazines' 1st article about the 2007 Vision Community (pg 38)

2007 Vision House Community

www.greenbuildermag.com

a weblink from St. Louis Commerce Magazine about "green."

International Society of Arboriculture isa-arbor.com
The International Society of Arboriculture is a worldwide professional organization dedicated to fostering a greater appreciation for trees and to promoting research, technology, and the professional practice of arboriculture.

Low Impact Development Center www.lowimpactdevelopment.org
The Low Impact Development Center was established to develop and provide information to individuals and organizations dedicated to protecting the environment and our water resources through proper site design techniques that replicate pre-existing hydrologic site conditions.

U.S. Green Building Council www.usgbc.org
The U.S. Green Building Council is the nation’s foremost coalition of leaders from across the building industry working to promote buildings that are environmentally responsible, profitable and healthy places to live and work.

Green Builder Magazine www.greenbuildermag.com
Green Builder Media LLC focuses on the delivery of information and news about green building, responsible growth, and sustainability for the North American residential home building and remodeling markets.

Green Building Institute www.greenbuildinginstitute.org
Founded in 2005, the Green Building Institute (Institute) is a non-profit organization working to advance environmentally sustainable building practices through providing green building education in a relaxed, synergistic social setting.

Built Green www.builtgreen.org
The purpose of Built Green is to encourage homebuilders to use technologies, products and practices that will: * Provide greater energy efficiency and reduce pollution * Provide healthier indoor air * Reduce water usage * Preserve natural resources * Improve durability and reduce maintenance.