We spend a lot of time thinking about green homes, and we love educating interested people in what we do! Here are just some of the questions the team at BPC Green Builders is regularly asked about our work and our industry.
Green building is the practice of designing, constructing, and operating buildings to be both environmentally friendly and energy efficient. A custom green home from BPC Green Builders is built to be better for the environment, healthier, more comfortable, longer-lasting, and more affordable to own than a traditionally built house.
If a home is described as sustainable, high performance, or net zero, the chances are it could also be called a green home. There is no single definition for a green home, and third-party certifications are your best bet for knowing what you’re getting.
BPC Green Builders builds homes that meet the criteria for many well recognized national certification programs, including: Energy Star for New Homes, Zero Energy Ready Homes, LEED for Homes, Passive House, and National Green Building Standard. Each certification program has its own set of criteria and standards for green building practices.
Greenwashing is the practice of making false or exaggerated claims about the environmental benefits of a home. Greenwashing can be done intentionally as a deceptive marketing tactic intended to mislead homebuyers, but it can also be done unintentionally by home builders who lack the proper training, education, and certification to know what real green home building entails.
The most important elements of a green home relate to its efficient use of energy, materials, and water. Equally important is the embodied carbon in the materials that are used to build the home. The goal is to use materials with low embodied carbon or, better yet, that actually lock carbon in place for the life of the home.
Apples to apples, green homes can cost more to build initially, but they can also provide significant long-term savings through reduced energy and water bills. With rising energy costs, new green homeowners are able to recoup their investment in a new green house faster than ever. But green homes don’t HAVE to cost more than traditional homes. There are many different factors and design elements that can raise and lower the price of any new home, green or not. Additionally, some green building practices, such as using locally sourced materials, can actually reduce costs.
Green homes use fewer resources, generate less waste, and emit fewer pollutants than traditionally built homes. They also have a smaller carbon footprint, which helps to mitigate climate change. At every step of the new home building process, including design, construction, energy use, materials, and systems, BPC Green Builders uses environmentally friendly, sustainable practices to ensure your new home is not only comfortable and healthy for your family but good for the planet, too.
The benefits of living in a custom green home include lower energy and water bills, improved indoor air quality, increased comfort and livability, and a smaller environmental footprint. Additionally, green homes are often more durable and require less maintenance than traditionally built homes.
Yes, green homes can be healthier than traditionally built homes because they use non-toxic building materials, provide better ventilation, and reduce the risk of mold and other indoor pollutants. This can lead to improved respiratory health and fewer allergy and asthma symptoms. BPC can build your home to meet the exact health needs of the individuals living inside it, including child-friendly or aging-in-place considerations.
No, green homes don’t always have solar panels. While solar panels are a popular and effective way to generate clean energy, there are many other factors that go into building a green home, such as using high-efficiency HVAC systems, insulation, and windows. It’s a common misconception that solar panels alone make a home “green.” In fact, a home with solar panels installed can still be wasting or using lots of energy due to poor insulation and air sealing or inefficient and improperly installed heating and cooling systems and appliances. BPC builds some homes that have solar panels, and others that don’t. We also can build what is called a “Zero Energy Ready” home, which is a home that will become a “Net Zero Home” if solar panels are installed at a later date.
As a custom green home builder, we follow a variety of green building practices, including: Using sustainable building materials; Designing for energy efficiency; Incorporating passive solar design; Following green home construction standards. We also prioritize indoor air quality, water conservation, and site design to create healthy, comfortable, and environmentally friendly homes.
Green buildings will last longer than traditionally built homes because they are designed and constructed with a focus on durability and longevity. Green building practices include using high-quality building materials, incorporating proper moisture management techniques, and designing for energy efficiency, all of which contribute to a home’s longevity. Additionally, green buildings usually require less maintenance over time, which can extend their lifespan.
Studies have shown that green homes have a higher resale value than traditionally built homes, including a 2019 study in New York City, which showed that green homes with solar panels sold for 5.4% more than comparable non-green homes. More and more homebuyers are educated about and interested in energy efficiency, and the energy savings—not to mention the improved health and comfort of green homes—can make them more attractive to buyers, which can also contribute to their higher sale price.
Green new homes may come with ENERGY STAR appliances, but this is not always the case. ENERGY STAR appliances are highly energy efficient and can help reduce a home’s energy consumption and utility bills. We work with homebuyers to install appliances that are well-built and energy efficient. Sometimes this means ENERGY STAR, sometimes it doesn’t. BPC Green Builders will always prioritize quality, reliability, and durability over a sticker!
