Is there a LEED program for residential houses?
Saturday, February 6th, 2010 at
4:02 am
With the LEED initaitives so aboundant now with architects, builders, and so on – why arent there programs for residential markets. Or is there?
What can I do to remodel my house with LEED in mind, or under green programs?
Is there government funding for residential LEED programs?
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Actually there is a "LEED for the home" program where if you achieve that LEED certification you can get ~$1.34 per square foot in tax credits from the federal government.
The LEED website is: http://www.usgbc.org/DisplayPage.aspx?CMSPageID=147#build
Now you will have to have a thrid party LEED inspector come out to verify compliance, and that will cost about $400 I think.
Also if you were to use geothermal heatpumps or solar panels or other things like that, not only will you get LEED credits which goes towards that $1.34 / sq ft, but you can also get other federal and state incentives just for using those products.
Example: using solar will get you up to $5000 in credits and who knows what from your state.
If you need someone to design something let me know.
Why do you need the government? Can’t you make those remodeling decisions without them?
LEED is missing critical data as well. Using cheaper forms of energy gives the illusion of savings. I have heard about the integrity of LEED because it shows professionals trying to achieve objectives.
Now imagine this, your home is designed according to regional temperature extremes. The entire function of the building, fire safety, energy consumption, emissions are completed according to the regional temperatures.
The calculations are done with incredible accuracy in a calculator. The trades install to that design criteria and at the end of the day, the entire national to municipal process is signed off as compliant.
Buildings are simply supposed to shed elements and avoid heat loss/heat gain to use less energy. Go to http://www.thermoguy.com/globalwarming-heatgain.html and see the actual function of buildings, then apply the principles to your own. Air conditioning is in fact refrigeration using ozone depleting halocarbons, wasting gigawatts of electrical producing GHG emissions, toxins. Observe the heat generated by different materials and if you have doubts, ask bald guys why they protect their head..UV BURNS
Functional landscaping, shade by leaving trees alone. They are the lungs of the world.