ENERGY CENTS
By James Dulley
Deltec Homes
Looking at the benefits of LEEDcertified homes
Deltec Homes
People have been asking what is a LEED house and is it energy efficient. LEED is a certification procedure developed by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) to promote environmentally responsible and sustainable housing. LEED stands for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design. LEEDcertified houses are not only efficient from energy and material standpoints, The house’s walls were wrapped with an air barrier film to reduce air infiltration (leakage) but they can be healthier to live in. significantly. The blue-hued wood has been treated for water, mold, and pest resistance. Other benefits of a LEED house are lower overall operating costs and increased value of the house at time of total 108 possible points. If a house reaches 30 points, it is a resale. During construction, waste is reused or recycled to LEED-certified house. At 50 points, it is certified “silver”; at reduce the amount sent to landfills. By design, the houses 70 points it is “gold”; and at 90 points it is “platinum.” conserve water and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. And Energy efficiency features gain the most LEED points from a social standpoint, building a LEED house demon(a maximum of 16). These features must be extremely strates the owner’s interest in environmental issues. energy efficient, not just what the manufacturers call their LEED-certified homes do generally cost more upfront “energy efficient” product line. For example, extra heavy than a comparable house built to typical building codes. insulation—higher than code standards—earns one point. But when you consider the energy and water savings, the Reducing air leakage from 0.35 air changes per hour (ACH) benefits of certification will quickly make up for its higher to 0.15 yields two points. Installing windows that are 20 perinitial cost, even though in North Carolina there are no tax cent more efficient than Energy Star requirements provides incentives for LEED-certified homes per se, except for systwo points. tems that may be used in them, such as solar water heating Regarding water conservation, the following yield one or ground-source heat pumps. point each: capturing rainwater for irrigation; installing a To build a LEED house, you or your builder must apply gray water recycling system; and installing low-flow showfor certification through the U.S. Green Building Council. erheads, toilets and bathroom faucets. Two points may be The registration fee for a single family house is about $150 awarded for super-efficient fixtures. Many items that gain to $225. You must be able to verify the types of materials, LEED points seem pretty typical today, such as installing equipment and appliances used throughout the new house. compact fluorescent bulbs in 80 percent of the light fixtures It would help to select a contractor who has built LEED(one point). certified houses before. Contrary to what some believe, it is not extremely difYou will also have to find a certified inspector to visit ficult to build a LEED house. For example, Deltec Homes your house during construction to determine the total (www.deltechomes.com), a maker of build-it-yourself circular number of points you get towards certification. A house is panelized houses, recently earned a platinum certification given points for for a house built in New Orleans. This circular house looks various material similar to their other standard houses that people typically and conservation build, and it was built in about 100 hours. criteria—someFor more information about LEED-certified homes, thing as simple including project registration guidelines and a full list of as using decking those providing technical, marketing and verification supscrews and fastenport to builders, visit ers made partially www.usgbc.org. from recycled Have a question for Jim? Send inquiries to: James Dulley is an engineer metals may gain James Dulley, Carolina Country, and syndicated columnist for a LEED point. 6906 Royalgreen Dr., the National Rural Electric For a residential This super-efficient LEED house in New Cincinnati, OH 45244 Cooperative Association. house, there are a www.dulley.com Orleans was built in only about 100 hours.
c
40 SEPTEMBER 2009 Carolina Country