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The Cost of Building Green
New Construction/Major Renovation

A "green" home is self-sufficient and strong enough to survive wind, hail, ice and floods. It is designed and built to last, sheltering many generations.

The bad news ... depending on where you live "green" building/remodeling will cost anywhere from 4% to 40% more than conventional construction. The good news is, the sustainable home typically saves more than it costs.

While a green home is often only slightly more expensive to build upfront, it will pay dividends on the back end. Just to name a few examples: Energy Star windows cost 15 percent more than standard windows but will pay for themselves and end up saving you money in five to 12 years. And radiant heating costs twice as much to install but saves you 50 percent on your heating bills.

As with everything else, Green building material costs are determined by supply and demand. The cost of Going Green is considerably lower than it was 5 years ago, and prices will continue to drop as consumer demand and the availability of building materials increase.

Ultimately, how much you spend will be determined by which Green Building Standard you choose, and how many "green" and/or self-sustaining features you incorporate into your home.



ENERGY STAR® is a joint program of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
and the U.S. Department of Energy
ENERGY STAR^®home certification focuses on energy efficiency and clean indoor air. ENERGY STAR^® qualified homes offer homebuyers all the features they want in a new home, plus energy-efficient improvements that deliver better performance, greater comfort, and lower utility bills.

$ An ENERGY STAR®-certified house will cost, on average $5,000 to $7,000 more than a standard code-built house
... and yet be at least 20% more energy efficient and provide cleaner indoor air.

ENERGY STAR^® Home Certification Links
Official ENERGY STAR^® website
Find an ENERGY STAR^® Builder in your area , in Ohio/Cincinnati
.Independent Inspection and Testing

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Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design

LEED for Homes is a voluntary rating system by the U.S. Department of Energy, that promotes the design and construction of high-performance green homes.

LEED certified homes are Safer, Healthier, More Comfortable and More Durable, with lower energy and water bills, reduced greenhouse gas emissions and fewer problems with mold, mildew and other indoor toxins.

LEED certification is something that consumers can look for to readily identify homes that have been third-party inspected, performance-tested and certified as truly green homes that will perform better than standard homes. Homebuilders using LEED are able to differentiate their homes as some of the best on the market.

$ LEED CERTIFIED and LEED SILVER can be constructed for less than 5% increase in the construction cost. A LEED PLATINUM building may cost up to 40-50 percent more than a "basic" code compliant building, due to documentation time and cost to compensate consultants for additional services required for certification.

More information on the LEED program can be found at:
U.S. Green Council
LEED Guide for Homes
Green Home Rating Guide
Guide for Green Renovation
Green Remodeling

 
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Conservation Water Conservation Tips   3rd PartyTools/Calculators Calculate Your Water Footprint Water Wiser Drip Calculator Water Savings Calculator Find WaterSense® Products		How Do You Define Green? The Cost of Building Green Know Your Labels
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