The Different Levels
of Green Building
Green building is increasingly important to homeowners who value their personal health and also want to support a healthy environment.
There are a number of different certification programs, with a number of different checklists. The certification levels of any given home will depend on which program is used.
The Different Levels
of Green Building
Green building is increasingly important to homeowners who value their personal health and also want to support a healthy environment. There are a number of different certification programs, with a number of different checklists. The certification levels of any given home will depend on which program is used.
The NC Green Built Program
Studio owner Sean Sullivan’s company, Living Stone Design + Build uses the NC Green Built program to evaluate each of their new builds. “We like the fact that it’s a regional program, so it addresses local mountain issues that might not exist elsewhere in the country,” says Sean.
The Green Built system evaluates homes based on a number of different criteria, including:
• BUILDING SITE
• WATER
• COMFORT SYSTEMS (meaning air and heating systems)
• BUILDING ENVELOPE (meaning the barrier that separates the interior of the home from the environment, including the walls, doors, roof, and windows)
• APPLIANCES, LIGHTING AND RENEWABLES • INDOOR AIR QUALITY
• MATERIALS
• BONUS (this includes anything the builder has done to go above and beyond typical green building processes)
Green Built
Qualifications
Minimal prerequisites must be met to qualify for Green Built certification, including compliance with federal, state, and local standards; a specific Energy Star rating; and the installation of specific items, such as energy-efficient doors, windows, appliances, weatherstripping, and carbon monoxide detectors. Once the minimum criteria is met, certification levels are determined by a points system. The beginning level in the Green Built program is certified, followed by bronze, silver, and then gold certified. The highest level is platinum certified.