December 22, 2010
Last week our Green Buildings Part 1 blog post provided an overview about the importance of green buildings. Buildings account for a significant proportion of our total energy usage, natural resource depletion, and carbon dioxide emissions. Part 2 of the Green Buildings blog series will focus on the impact that residential green buildings can have on the environment as well as the economic savings that result from energy efficient homes. The average American spends approximately 90% of their time indoors, and indoor environment quality affects health, productivity, and comfort levels.
Many new homes to build
Today, there are 126 million housing units in the U.S., and yet there are only 80,000 solar homes. The potential impact that the residential sector can have on energy usage and resource conservation is enormous. According to a study by Environment America, 40% of the homes America will need in 2050 haven’t even been built yet. In California alone, approximately 220,000 housing units need to be added annually up until 2020 to meet expected population growth.
With the large number of new residences being built every day, the best way to produce the greatest impact is to integrate energy efficient measures when the building is first being constructed. Things like building orientation, energy efficient heating and cooling systems, and high quality window and wall insulation should be applied during the planning and building stages. So before you or someone you know begin to build a new home, make sure to address your energy efficiency opportunities.
Retrofitting existing residences
In addition to greening new homes, existing residential buildings can also be easily upgraded to reflect sustainable practices. By implementing simple retrofits, like replacing your old furnace to a new one, and addressing common housing components, such as insulation, lighting, and leaks, residents can reduce their energy usage by 30% and save hundreds of dollars on their electricity bills. By installing a home solar system and making home energy improvements, American’s can save over 50% on their energy bills by the year 2050. This reduction equates to saving the amount of natural gas it takes to heat 75,000 homes. Another great reason to install a home renewable energy system is to avoid the loss of electricity that occurs through transmission when you get power from the utility grid. By creating energy directly from your own rooftop, you make the most of energy production. Cutting our fossil fuel usage means reducing dirty carbon emissions and consequently putting a halt to global warming.
Tune in next week for Part 3 of our Green Buildings blog series. We will share some of the predictions and expectations for the future of the green building industry. Huge growth in expected to occur in both residential and commercial green building markets, as homeowners and businesses begin to realize the significant monetary savings that come with saving energy.
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