Environmental Services
Virtual Tour of a Green Home
Overview
A green home is a healthy, comfortable, cost efficient home that reduces energy and water usage and protects the environment. Components of a green home may include:
- Careful insulation practices;
- Nontoxic interior finishes (low VOC paint, sealants, and carpeting);
- Components made from renewable resources (such as cork or bamboo floors, wheatboard cabinetry);
- Recycled content components (such as recycled glass tiles, recycled-content countertops);
- Energy efficient appliances (Energy Star rated refrigerator, dishwasher, water heater, etc.);
- Photovoltaic (solar) panels;
- Water efficient appliances and landscape irrigation (front loading clothes washers and moisture sensing irrigation systems);
- Stormwater collection (rainbarrels or larger cisterns);
- Careful placement of shade trees;
- Careful placement of windows to maximize interior light and ventilation.
Arlington's first official Green Home was recently completed under the Green Home Choice program. The home was built by Adam Bean of GreenBuilt Homes. The home is located on Carlin Springs Rd, and is featured in the following "virtual tour."
Adam Bean
GreenBuilt Homes
13418 Compton Rd, Clifton, VA 21124
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The Green Home Choice program is an incentive program for homebuilders to build green. The program provides a listing of building techniques and components that result in a more efficient and healthy home. Builders who participate in the program are offered front-of-the-line plan review, lawn signs indicating participation in the program, attendance at County-sponsored seminars, and recognition as “green” builders. Find out more about the Green Home Choice Program.
This home is one of the first Green Homes certified by Arlington's Green Home Choice Program. Kitchen
The kitchen offers many opportunities for saving energy, water, and "greening" your home. Energy Star kitchen appliances are certified to use less energy and water than other appliances. In this green home, the refrigerator and the dishwasher are Energy Star certified.
The kitchen of this green home contains Energy Star certified refrigerator and dishwasher.
The bathroom is another place in a home where homeowners can save energy and water. Low flow fixtures, such as faucets, showerheads, and toilets use less water, and perform as well as standard fixtures.
The fixtures in the bathroom of this green home use less water than typical bathroom fixtures. Heating, Ventilation and Cooling System
The home is designed using the U.S. EPA's Energy Star Homes program. The Energy Star Homes program outlines reliable and established technologies and building practices that result in homes that are significantly more energy efficient than standard construction. Holistic design and careful analysis evaluate the home's heating, cooling, and hot water energy use and efficiencies are typically achieved through a combination of:
- building envelope upgrades
- high performance windows,
- upgraded water-heating equipment,
- controlled air infiltration,
- upgraded heating and air conditioning systems, and
- tight duct systems.
In this home, the HVAC system includes a 92% efficient furnace and a super high efficiency hot water heater. Plastic was used inside the duct work to seal it and to prevent leaks. There is an Energy Star label on the HVAC system certifying that it is overall 50% more efficient than a standard home HVAC system.
The HVAC system includes high efficiency models, and is rated by Energy Star to be 50% more efficient than a standard HVAC system. Insulation is another key element to consider in a green home. In this home, "blown cellulose" insulation was used. This insulation is made from 100% recycled newspaper, and is blown in a wet form into all the areas requiring insulation. The insulation adheres to the surfaces, creating an especially tight seal for the home. In addition, this type of insulation results in better indoor air quality. It does not release small particles into the air like standard insulation, and prevents mold and other particles from entering the home.
The insulation is one component of a home's "thermal envelope." This describes how tightly the home is constructed, and how many leaks it has. This green home was constructed to be very tight using the insulation and windows. In fact, the home is so tightly constructed that a small vent was installed in the guest bathroom to bring outdoor air into the home.
Blown cellulose insulation was used in this green home. A vent in the guest bathroom brings in air from outside. Windows
The type of windows used and their placement in the house is important in a green home as well. In this home, double-paned windows were used to help prevent energy loss. The location of the windows and the use of sunshades can be important for maxmizing heating from the sun in the winter and minimizing it during the summer.
The type of windows used and their location in the home can help save energy.
Porch/Outdoors
There are outdoor components to a green home as well. In this home, recycled plastic decking was used for the front porch instead of wood. This type of deck material is easier to maintain than wood, and is made from recycled products. Native plants were used to landscape the property. These plants are well adpated to the environment in Arlington, and therefore will require less watering and maintenance than non-native plants.
The porch is constructed using decking made of recycled plastic, and plants used for landscaping are native to this area.
