What is Building Green?
Building green is a lifestyle choice that can help you save money, live a more healthier and comfortable life, while at the same time preserving the environment in which we live. It means being conscientious with energy conservation for now and future generations. Typically a green home can be 20-30% more energy efficient than a non-green home which results in lower utility bills. One of the good things about building green is that it is not an “all or nothing” proposition. There are many levels of green building. Your home budget must be taken into consideration when determining how green to go. Better energy efficiency provides long term savings for the homeowner.
There are 5 areas to Green Building which are:
- Energy Efficiency improvements such as high levels of insulation, efficient HVAC systems, high-performance windows, and energy efficient appliances and lighting.
- Water Conservation such as water-efficient appliances and fixtures, filtration systems, and drought resistant or low-maintenance landscaping.
- Resource Conservation using materials and techniques such as engineered wood and wood alternatives, recycled building materials, sustainably harvested lumber, and more durable products.
- Indoor environmental quality considerations such as effective HVAC equipment, formaldehyde-free finishes, low-allergen materials, and products with minimum off-gassing or low volatile organic compounds (VOCs).
- Site design planning such as minimizing disruption, preserving open space, and considering the direction of sunlight and wind.
Why Build Green with Action Builders?
Mark and Diane Rovere recognize the importance of green building and earned their “Certified Green Professional” (CGP) designation from the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB). As a CGP, we can explain to you what green building is and how we use products to build green. We can also work with you to determine which green features will work best with your home project and budget. Getting this designation is another example of the emphasis Action Builders places on furthering their education by earning designations, attending classes, reading trade magazines, and attending trade shows. Taking continuing education classes and staying updated is part of the renewal process in maintaining the CGP designation. Action Builders is a committed Leader in Green Building.
Green Features We Offer
The list of green products that can be incorporated into a new custom home is absolutely endless. Of course, your home budget needs to be taken into consideration when deciding how green to go in your new home. The list below is some green products we have installed in our custom homes.
| Passive radon system | Geo thermal |
| Low-e windows | Reflective shingles |
| Low flow shower heads | Conditioned crawl space |
| Low VOC HP subfloor, LVLs, and I-Joists | Conditioned attic space |
| Tech shield roof decking | Foam insulation |
| Tankless water heaters | Occupancy sensors |
| Indoor air quality fresh air exchange system | Compact florescent lighting |
| High efficiency heating & cooling system | Insulated garage doors |
| Blown fiberglass insulation | Insulated Concreat Forms (ICF) |
| Low/No VOC paint | Hybrid Insulation |
| Energy Star appliances | |
| Low volume sprinkler heads | |
| Multi-function modular timer sprinkler system |
If you are interested in a green product and do not see it listed above,
please contact us. If we are not already familiar with your product, we
would be glad to research it and price it for your new custom home. We
attend several trade shows each year and are always interested in learning
about new green products being introduced.
How Does Green Building
Benefit My Family?
Your green home can be a more comfortable home with better airflow that makes it easer to maintain a uniform temperature throughout the home.
A green home can offer a healthier living environment thanks to better protection from outside pollutants and allergens. Most homes have dust but a green home can be equipped with central air conditioning and electrostatic dust filters.
Additional health benefits may be derived from the use of less toxic materials resulting in reduced off-gassing of chemicals.
Your green home can be 20-30% more energy efficient which can reduce your monthly utility bills.
Energy Star Certified Homes
& Tax Credit Advantages
To earn the energy star rating, a home must meet guidelines for energy efficiency established by the EPA. These homes include energy-saving features that typically make them 20-30% more efficient than a standard home.
The five areas that an Energy Star qualified home can include a variety of the following:
- effective insulation
- high-performance windows
- tight construction and ducts
- efficient heating & cooling equipment
- efficient products
For more information go to www.energystar.gov.
Each home Action Builders builds has the basics to qualify for Energy Star certifications. They can be 15% more energy efficient than a standard home with the potential to be 20-30% more efficient.
Our Green Showcase Home
Action Builders is pleased to have been selected to built the 2010 Showcase Home for the Huntsville/ Madison County Builders Association which is located at 6348 Midtowne on the Park in Huntsville, Alabama . This home was the first Showcase Home in North Alabama to be certified as a SILVER LEVEL GREEN HOME by the NAHB Research Center. The home also achieved an Energy Star rating. Green features in the home included 2 tankless Rinnai water heaters, 19-SEER HVAC system, conditioned crawl space and attic space, occupancy sensors, low-e windows, dual flush toilets, low volume sprinkler heads and multi-function modular timer sprinkler system, and Sealection 500 spray foam insulation, to name a few.
Download the Energy Star Certification