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Home > Archive > Mar 22, 2007

Building 'Green':
By Cami Cox
Staff Writer
The folks at the Southern Utah Home Builders Association are encouraging local builders and home buyers to “go green” this year with their series of free green-building seminars. According to information from SUHBA, green buildings are “environmentally responsible, economically viable, and healthier places in which to work and live.” Intended to inform attendees about the various aspects of green building and the advantages to homeowners and to the environment, the seminars are scheduled for the last Tuesday of every month. Energy conservation is the subject of the next seminar, which is scheduled for March 27 at noon at the Water Energy Conservation Building, 811 E. Red Hills Parkway (formerly Skyline Drive).
“What we'd like to do through this green seminar is to educate homebuyers and the general public, so when they're looking for a new home, they'll ask for these things (green building features), and they'll be educated – they'll know what to ask for,” SUHBA communication and events coordinator John Chung said.
“You mention the term 'green building' and you get a lot of blank stares and confused looks,” he said. “They think you're a hippie. They may remember the '70s – 'Okay, is it a straw bale home? Is this made out of recycled aluminum cans? What's going on?' Today's green-build homes will look exactly the same as a traditional home.”
But though “green” homes may look the same externally, like so many things in life, it's what's on the inside that counts. Chung said green building incorporates many elements geared toward conserving resources and protecting the environment in addition to improving the health and quality of life for homeowners and their families. He said it's important for people to become educated about green building and to begin incorporating green features into their homes, both to improve life quality and to sustain natural resources for generation next in line.
“Sustainability is an issue about making sure that future generations – my children and their (other homeowners') children will be able to enjoy the same resources that I've enjoyed in my lifetime,” he said.
Chung said green building encompasses five main areas: sustainable site planning, safeguarding water and water efficiency, energy efficiency and renewable energy, conservation of materials and resources, and indoor environmental quality.
Sustainable site planning pertains to utilizing existing infrastructure and minimizing urban sprawl. According to information from SUHBA, projected statistics indicate that structures built between the years 2000 and 2030 will take up about 427 billion square feet to accommodate anticipated growth in the United States. Over 100 billion square feet of that space will be new homes built after the year 2000. Sustainable site planning involves renovating existing structures and turning them into residential properties, rather than tearing the buildings down. It also incorporates planning new residential areas with the future in mind, rather than haphazardly filling the land with a bevy of new homes.
“It's being creative about what space has already been developed, rather than increasing the footprint, so to speak,” Chung said. “We want to minimize the footprint as much as we can.”
The second aspect of green building, safeguarding water and water efficiency, pertains greatly to the Southern Utah region, where drought is an ongoing issue, Chung said. About 87 percent of the anticipated growth to take place by 2030 is projected to occur in the Southern and Western areas of the United States, and Southern Utah is already reflective of that in the rapid growth going on here.
To keep up with this growth and the resultant water issues that are sure to accompany it, Chung said it's important for residents and builders to do all they can to responsibly reduce water usage. Decreasing the amount of turf used in landscaping, for instance, being water wise, and installing green features such as low-flow toilets in homes will aid in conserving water in our area, he said.
Energy efficiency and renewable energy are another aspect of green building. Utilizing shade trees, considering the orientation of a home in relation to sun and shade, and using quality insulation and such green features as energy-efficient windows all contribute to energy conservation. According to information from the Environmental Protection Agency, 16 percent of greenhouse gas emissions in the United States come from energy used in homes, which is often generated from the burning of fossil fuels in power plants. So not only does the consumer benefit from a more energy-efficient home, in that heating and cooling bills are lowered, but the environment is benefited, also.
Energy use is further reduced when builders and homeowners utilize renewable sources, such as solar, wind, and geothermal energy. Solar panels and windmills can be installed to generate energy for a home, and geothermal energy can be harnessed, as well. (Geothermal energy, loosely defined, is energy generated by converting steam or hot water from deep beneath the Earth’s surface into electricity.)
Conservation of materials and resources is another green building consideration. Chung said in addition to utilizing recycled materials whenever possible, builders can reduce the use of natural resources such as wood and timber by replacing them with steel and concrete.
“There's a cost issue there,” Chung said, “so I can understand why builders wouldn't want to go to steel or concrete, because it's just so expensive.”
But, he said, other green features, such as energy-efficient windows, were once expensive to install in a home, but increased demand and usage have made the windows a standard feature, so the price has gone down considerably.
“If people demand it, builders will build it. That's just basic economics,” Chung said.
To make other green-building products and practices standard fare, he said, homebuyers have to do their part.
“The consumers really have to ask it for it,” he said. “It has to be one of the first things that come out of their mouths when buying a new home: 'Tell me if you've employed green building practices in this home, and what are they?'”
The final element of green building is indoor environmental quality. Chung said toxins from the paint, chemicals and adhesives used in building can affect the health of those living in a home.
“The more well-insulated your home, the more chances of you breathing in those gases, because they can't escape. So there's a Catch-22 right there,” he said. “If you have a more energy-efficient, insulated, sealed home, you have to be careful about the gases, toxicity and chemicals.”
Chung said while most people aren't chronically affected by these elements, there are those who are very sensitive and have a low tolerance to chemical exposure.
“Sick building syndrome has been around for years, and some people are just more sensitive to the chemicals in the air than others, so it's a subjective thing,” he said. “If you're interested in your indoor environmental quality, especially if you have small children, sometimes they can't speak for themselves ,and you don't know why they're sick. It might be the chemicals in your house.”
He said options are available to improve indoor environmental quality and prevent the health risks associated with toxic substances. Low- and no-volatile organic compound paints are available, as well as less toxic adhesive and sealant alternatives that can be used in construction.
Overall, Chung said, green building benefits everyone, both the consumer and the environment. In addition to the lowered energy bills, consumers often get a higher standard of quality with their green-built home.
“That's one of the things we want to convey to people, that green buildings are quality-built buildings. They're usually far above the minimum code,” he said. “Yes, sometimes it costs a lot more for some of these features, but people are getting a better-quality building, a structure that will last. And it's healthier, and it's better for the environment.”

Chung said he invites public comment and suggestion about SUHBA's new green-building seminars – he wants to know what the public is interested in learning. To contact him, call 435-674-1400 or e-mail him at john@suhba.com. For additional information, visit the green-building link on SUHBA's Web site, www.subha.com.

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