Quick News Facts

Energy:

You don’t have to spend money to reduce your energy bills.
Simple things like turning off lights and unplugging appliances will add up to savings.
A small investment in a programmable thermostat can save homeowners up to $180 annually in energy costs.
Start planning now for long-term investments that will save you even more in the long run.
The 2009 International Energy Conservation Code encourages energy conservation to benefit the public through efficiency in design, mechanical systems, lighting systems and the use of new materials and techniques.

Green:

Building green means living better and simple changes are all it takes to become more environmentally friendly.
The standard defines what green practices can be incorporated into residential development and construction and provides guidelines for residents to operate and maintain green homes.
Home builders and home buyers can make green choices based on their area’s climate and geography as well as their individual style preferences, and more importantly in these tough economic times, their family budget.

Week One – Energy & Green Building

Green Building is building with a conscious effort to minimize negative impacts and promote positive impacts, on both indoor and outdoor environments. Whether you’re building from scratch or just looking to increase the energy efficiency of your home, there are number of things consumers can do to make their homes more sustainable and green such as:

If you are building a new home, select a building site that is best for you and the environment and position your home on the lot with consideration to the amount of energy it will consume.
Remember that green homes don’t necessarily cost more than other homes. Sustainable building can require more expensive materials, smarter technology than conventional building. But when thinking long-term, green building actually saves money because the materials won't have to be replaced as often. So while initial costs may seem like more, green building offers better value when you consider the long-term costs.
You can make green improvements to your existing home. Altering
your home's structure and operating systems -- foundation, framing,
wiring, plumbing -- can be very expensive. But making green improvements doesn't have to be. Using energy efficient light bulbs, sealing air leaks or installing a programmable thermostat are just a few low cost ways to go green. Upgrading windows, heating and air equipment, installing more insulation into the walls will make are house even more energy efficient. When performing routine maintenance and repairs keep these green improvements in mind.

The International Code Council has published a public version of the International Green Construction Code (IGCC) to regulate construction of new and existing commercial buildings. The IGCC initiative was launched with Cooperating Sponsors the American Institute of Architects (AIA) and ASTM International. The work of the ICC/AIA/ASTM team to develop the IGCC was joined with a Standard developed by the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE), the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) and the Illuminating Engineering Society (IES). The IGCC will now reference the ANSI/ASHRAE/USGBC/IES Standard 189.1-2009 for the Design of High-Performance Green Buildings, Except Low-Rise Residential Buildings, as an alternative jurisdictional compliance option within the IGCC.