Those of us who have been in the new home building business for many years know that the materials and products we use are constantly changing. Researchers are always looking for ways to improve products or make them more environmentally friendly. More builders and consumers are concerned about the impact homebuilding has on the environment than ever before.
As products have change so do the homes that are built. The homes that are built today are more energy efficient, use less water and are safer to live in than homes built just a few years ago. Today most builders incorporate dozens of green1 building practices into every home.
Because today’s home is air-sealed tighter than previously built homes, indoor air quality can be a concern. Levels of pollutants in indoor air can be from two to more than 100 times higher than outdoors, according to the U.S. EPA. The increased indoor pollution is due in large part to volatile organic compounds (VOCs) that evaporate or “off-gas,” from products in the home. To keep up with home construction and technology changes, homeowners may also need a new mindset concerning the day-to-day operation and maintenance of their home.
A new home is no longer just the sum of its construction parts. Homes today are a product of a professionally designing series of systems that work together to create a home that will be more comfortable and longer lasting than its predecessors. The heating system, for example, is designed with specific elements of the insulation system in mind; the insulation system is improved by advanced framing techniques2 utilized in the framing system. The building science3 term for this type of consideration in home design and construction is the “Whole House” approach.
1- Green building means incorporating environmental considerations and resource efficiency into new home construction and into the site development process to minimize its environmental impact. Energy and water efficiency, resource efficient building design and materials, indoor environmental quality, maintenance, and the home's overall impact on the environment are taken into account during the design and construction. This means the owner should operate the home with the same considerations in mind.
2- Advanced framing is a collection of techniques to reduce construction waste and lumber required for wood-framed houses, while increasing energy efficiency and simplifying framing layout.
3- Building science is the study of how all systems in a house function together to optimize home performance and prevent building failure. This includes the detailed analysis of building materials and building envelope systems.
So far, homebuilders seem to be doing a good job incorporating earth-friendly construction elements into their new homes. The homebuilding industry must now take the lead in educating homebuyers and homeowners that the proper care for a new home is going to be much different than the home they grew up in. Articles in the New Home Ownership Wiki are meant to help align the homeowner's maintenance mind set with the industry's environmental advances.
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