Green Homes

Building codes are for "the establishment of minimum standards to protect the health, safety and welfare of the public." In order to build Green Homes, we need to go beyond meeting the minimum requirements and focus on constructing truly energy-efficient structures. The goal of building a Green Home is to produce healthier indoor environments and decrease pollutants that are released into the outdoor environment. All insulations help protect Mother Earth. The less energy consumption a building requires, the less pollution will be released as a by-product of heating that building.

The benefits of using energy wisely have been touted for years. However, with the current low cost of energy we have grown complacent about the costs and effects of energy production. The energy it takes to run a house over its 30- to 40-year life span is huge. Regardless if the home is heated by electricity or by natural gas, the pollution from the energy generated by these sources add significantly to the amount of carbon dioxide, sulfur dioxide and nitrous oxide in the air. These pollutants are the main causes of global warming. Electricity generation is responsible for 70% of sulfur dioxide and 33% of nitrous oxide emissions released into the air. Reducing the energy use of an average household by 30% will reduce the amount of carbon dioxide pollution by about 35,000 pounds over the home's 30- to 40-year life span.

All insulations help protect the planet by decreasing energy consumption and, therefore, reducing the air pollution that is released when heating each building. Home builders and buyers alike are increasingly aware of the origin and ingredients in products used to construct their homes. With all of the evidence about the effects of building materials on indoor air quality, as well as on the welfare of our communities and the environment, many consumers are choosing to build Green Homes.

Energy-saving properties differ greatly among insulations. However, the greatest long-term environmental factor is the amount of greenhouse gases that are released by power generation. Ultimately, the goal is to increase energy efficiency, thus reducing air pollution and the use of natural resources required to produce that energy.

The terms green and recycled have been accepted as synonymous with beneficial. This is not always the case with insulation. Recycled products in insulation go beyond what is advertised on the products. Additives, product sources, shipping and packaging material should be carefully reviewed. The energy-saving properties of different insulations are the biggest long-term environmental factor, as these are what will reduce the amount of greenhouse gases produced from power generation. A less efficient insulation will require more power generation to heat the building, which requires consumption of more natural resources and creates more power waste byproducts. Environmental concerns need to exceed just meeting the minimum building code and should focus on the construction of energy-efficient buildings.