Monte Leeper
Q. Can you explain to my wife why I want to make a
"green" house and that it will not be more expensive, since it will pay for itself.
I want to use green products such as low VOC paints, solar panels and extra insulation, but she just can't get past the outlay, which is 30 percent more than without these material upgrades.
A. I'm often asked to be the tie-breaking vote in these disputes because some people only see the up-front construction cost and not the long-term benefits. Building "green" is just the latest terminology for a more economical, energy-efficient, nature-sensitive, socially responsible and healthy way of building. Sadly, some think of it as a new idea when, in fact, over the past century, most design professionals were taught to do this from the first week of architecture school. Site characteristics and orientation of the building, window locations and use of color to increase natural lighting and heating, overhangs and trellis shades for cooling, and a building "skin" that is durable yet breathes and functions for 100 years, sheds water efficiently and avoids costly replacement or repair are just a few examples of responsive design, now called green.
The really new part of the concept is the idea of evaluating the carbon footprint, or effect on the environment, ability to recycle, or renew, and the effect on carbon emissions required in the manufacture or recycling of materials. VOC stands for volatile organic compounds, and refers to the fumes that products -- flooring, paint, wall covering and adhesives -- give off. The smell of a new car is the off-gassing of VOC's from plastics and sealants used to put the car together.
I highly recommend going green if you can afford it. Until the environmentally safer products are sold in greater quantities, the price will remain higher. But as more people use water-based foam insulation, natural floor products, solar panels and heat pumps, the price will be more competitive, but for now, consider that the more expensive insulation reduces heat loss and saves more money over the life of the home than the additional cost. Solar panels actually generate rebates that pay off their cost, because federal mandates require your utility to pay you back for energy the panels generate that you don't need from the utilities.
We'll all breathe easier and see our homes function more efficiently, economically and responsibly when more people use green methods. Spending money on the same old methods is a short-term gain and a long-term loss. Lower heating bills, reduced home insurance, fewer medical bills and less replacement cost all work like a savings account that really adds up. So, go for it and you'll be glad you did. Construction costs don't go down, but heating bills can. Good luck!
