Shades of Green
Locally there are four predominant energy efficient home certifications. All are validated through a rigorous independent inspection process. Green certified homes go beyond energy efficiency to add water conservation, indoor air quality, resource conservation, durability, neighborhood preservation, and global impact
Energy Star is a government backed program for energy efficiency. These homes are the most common and are 15% more efficient than standard homes. Over 300 NC builders are Energy Star Certified. www.energystar.gov.
The HealthyBuilt Homes program is a voluntary, statewide green building certification program supported by the NC Solar Center and the State Energy Office. These certified high performance homes feature improved indoor air quality, lower operating costs, improved water efficiency and reduced environmental impact. www.healthybuilthomes.org.
National Green Building Program ™ by the National Association of Home Builders newly adopted by the local Green Building Council certifies homes that are energy efficient, healthier, and built with environmental sensitivity. www.nahbgreen.org
LEED for Homes, the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design Green Building Rating System™ , is a similar nationally accepted program for high performance, energy efficient homes created by the US Green Building Council. LEED homes are third-party inspected, performance-tested and certified as truly green homes that will perform better than standard homes. www.greenhomeguide.org
