Houses greener on other side? Not anymore

[one...two...tree 2,762]

Sue Doerfler

The Arizona Republic

Five years ago, you had to buy a custom home if you wanted eco-friendly features.

Now, green building is coming to the masses.

Large home-building companies and developers are trying to lure buyers with low-water-use landscaping, cork flooring and superinsulated windows. In the Valley's competitive market, developers tout green as one more reason to choose them.

In the Valley, more than 100 builders and developers, from boutique builders to the biggies, offer green options. Find them in Scottsdale where Optima CamelView Village features garden roofs that provide insulation. See them in south Phoenix at the 21-lot Vista del Sol development with paints that improve indoor air quality.

KB Home recently launched a national campaign called myEarth to make consumers aware of eco-friendly features, such as upgraded insulation and radiant roof barriers to keep out heat. Last month, Pulte Homes held a grand opening for Sierra Morado in Tucson, its flagship eco-friendly community that offers reduced water use, guaranteed low electric bills, and solar hot water, among other features.

Although more builders are joining the green crusade, still less than 1 percent of the new-home market nationally is eco-friendly, reported McGraw-Hill Construction, which conducts surveys of builders and green-home buyers for the builders association. By 2010, however, as much as 40 percent of new-home construction will be green, McGraw-Hill said.

To be green, according to McGraw-Hill, a home must contain at least three of five environmental building elements: energy efficiency, indoor air quality, resource efficiency, water conservation and site management, such as landscaping with drought-resistant plants.

There are no uniform residential green-building standards. However, the National Association of Home Buildersand the International Code Council are working to develop such standards, which they hope to complete in 2008, said Ray Tonjes, who heads the builder group's green-building subcommittee.

Some places, such as Scottsdale, have established guidelines and are noticing a difference. In 2006, one-third of the single-family construction permits, or 370 permits, were for green construction, Anthony Floyd said. He heads the city's stringent green-building program, which, to qualify for, mandates highly efficient toilets, native or xeriscape landscaping and ductwork that is sealed with water-based mastic, among other required features and options.

Consumer interest in green building is at critical mass, builders and industry analysts say, with celebrities such as Leonardo DiCaprio and Brad Pitt pitching green. And many companies offer a green option: from the Home Depot, which offers organic potting mix, to Target, which sells eco-friendly Method soap.

In a March USA Today/Gallup Poll, 78 percent of respondents said individuals should spend money to make their homes more energy efficient to help reduce global warming.

"You're doing something for the planet," Tucson resident José Reyes said of buying an eco-friendly home. "You're doing something for yourself."

He and his wife, Marciala, said they spent an additional $28,000 to get a superefficient home. Their 1,720-square-foot house at Armory Park del Sol in downtown Tucson is one of two "zero energy" prototype houses in the 99-lot development. The two homes were built with features such as energy-efficient construction, lighting, appliances and solar electric systems designed to result in zero net annual energy consumption.

Base models in the development, which are priced from $499,000, offer solar water heaters, photovoltaic systems and guaranteed electric bills among other green features.

The couple's utility bill usually is $4.90 plus the tax that Tucson Electric Power charges as a monthly service fee.

"Maybe we're not making a big difference, but we're making a difference," José said. "We're setting an example."

In the past, cost, availability and design choice have been a deterrent to building green, industry representatives say.

Prices have dropped as products have become more available and interest has grown. Builder John Wesley Miller estimates the cost for a green-built house to be about 5 percent more than that of a comparable non-green house. Other builders say a highly efficient green home, one that has more eco-friendly features than the norm, can cost as much as 20 percent more.

For first-time buyers who put affordability at the top of their wish list, paying extra for green features is difficult, said Soni Punales, KB Home's Tempe design center director. However, once sales representatives talk with buyers about some of the features, such as radiant roof barriers that reduce electric bills, green has been easier to sell.

"My wish is that 10 years from now, we won't even say 'green building,' " Miller said. "It will be the norm."

[KarenCee 3]

I've always been interested in this type housing. I wish it wasn't so bloody expensive to build though. Being off the grid would definately be an inventive way to live, maybe not the easiest but certainly the best way as far as energy consumption is concerned. IMHO of course.

[Reba 2]

well, you can convert your existing home, piece by piece. Start out with a small solar panel to power your water heater and/or a couple of appliances. Or even just a portable solar panel to charge your cell phones and laptop, or to power your coffee maker for your morning coffee. Get a rain barrell to store water to irrigate your lawn and garden. Have double paned windows installed and make sure your house is insulated properly. You can buy "hybrid" kitchen appliances too. Solar powered ovens use about 75% solar power and 25% electricity from "traditional" sources. No idea what they cost though!

If you can afford the initial outlay of money, you can go pretty much completely off-grid by going solar. The panels are kind of expensive though to purchase and install. BUT, some cities will buy back your excess, and you can actually *make* money from them. One of my Mum's neighbours has his house solar powered, and in Spring, Summer and Fall, he sells to the local hydro company. He makes money about 9 months of the year. For the winter months, he pays maybe $5 per month for extra power to heat his house. Not enough hours of sunlight in Southern Ontario in winter time.

We've been looking at ways to convert our house. It'll be little steps, but eventually we may be completely off grid.

[sereia 0]

its about damn time! hopefully this will be the norm in the future.

[KarenCee 3]

well, you can convert your existing home, piece by piece. Start out with a small solar panel to power your water heater and/or a couple of appliances. Or even just a portable solar panel to charge your cell phones and laptop, or to power your coffee maker for your morning coffee. Get a rain barrell to store water to irrigate your lawn and garden. Have double paned windows installed and make sure your house is insulated properly. You can buy "hybrid" kitchen appliances too. Solar powered ovens use about 75% solar power and 25% electricity from "traditional" sources. No idea what they cost though!

If you can afford the initial outlay of money, you can go pretty much completely off-grid by going solar. The panels are kind of expensive though to purchase and install. BUT, some cities will buy back your excess, and you can actually *make* money from them. One of my Mum's neighbours has his house solar powered, and in Spring, Summer and Fall, he sells to the local hydro company. He makes money about 9 months of the year. For the winter months, he pays maybe $5 per month for extra power to heat his house. Not enough hours of sunlight in Southern Ontario in winter time.

We've been looking at ways to convert our house. It'll be little steps, but eventually we may be completely off grid.

The thing is...converting an existing home can be very cost prohibitive for many. Even building a new home to be solar powered (or wind powered depending on where you live) can be just as expensive. Until this becomes the norm prices to do most of this will be very high. I've always wanted to live off the grid...been reading MEN and Countryside for years. I'd love to start somewhere though...piece by piece. Maybe by the time we're actually able to be completely off the grid we won't be too old to enjoy it!

Hmmmm....wonder if there are used solar panels for the smaller things like the coffee maker and such.....

[one...two...tree 2,762]

well, you can convert your existing home, piece by piece. Start out with a small solar panel to power your water heater and/or a couple of appliances. Or even just a portable solar panel to charge your cell phones and laptop, or to power your coffee maker for your morning coffee. Get a rain barrell to store water to irrigate your lawn and garden. Have double paned windows installed and make sure your house is insulated properly. You can buy "hybrid" kitchen appliances too. Solar powered ovens use about 75% solar power and 25% electricity from "traditional" sources. No idea what they cost though!

If you can afford the initial outlay of money, you can go pretty much completely off-grid by going solar. The panels are kind of expensive though to purchase and install. BUT, some cities will buy back your excess, and you can actually *make* money from them. One of my Mum's neighbours has his house solar powered, and in Spring, Summer and Fall, he sells to the local hydro company. He makes money about 9 months of the year. For the winter months, he pays maybe $5 per month for extra power to heat his house. Not enough hours of sunlight in Southern Ontario in winter time.

We've been looking at ways to convert our house. It'll be little steps, but eventually we may be completely off grid.

The thing is...converting an existing home can be very cost prohibitive for many. Even building a new home to be solar powered (or wind powered depending on where you live) can be just as expensive. Until this becomes the norm prices to do most of this will be very high. I've always wanted to live off the grid...been reading MEN and Countryside for years. I'd love to start somewhere though...piece by piece. Maybe by the time we're actually able to be completely off the grid we won't be too old to enjoy it!

Hmmmm....wonder if there are used solar panels for the smaller things like the coffee maker and such.....

Karen - in Arizona, 7 out of 10 homes have pools. Building a pool costs around $30,000, and about $3,000 per year maintaining the pool. You can convert a home to photovoltaic (solar) power for about $10,000, and the solar conversion will end up paying for itself in about 10 years.

Most people have more than $10,000 of equity in their home - so getting a loan would be easy. I just don't see how the cost is an issue for most home owners.

Edited May 5, 2007 by Steven_and_Jinky

[sereia 0]

lets face it, if someone has more than $10,000 equity they're going to buy granite countertops or fancy stainless steel appliances instead............ sigh

[one...two...tree 2,762]

lets face it, if someone has more than $10,000 equity they're going to buy granite countertops or fancy stainless steel appliances instead............ sigh

Hopefully, that trend will change to - 'spend a little more now so that you'll save more down the road.' I've read that this is the same problem with getting people to switch from incandescent light bulbs to compact fluorescent bulbs. It would be nice to see tax incentives for both business and individuals who change to more energy efficient ways.

[homesick_american 1]

Just think how much we'd all save on our electric bills if houses were properly insulated from the outset. They're not; US houses have some of the worst insulation in the developed world.

[cmartyn 0]

Just think how much we'd all save on our electric bills if houses were properly insulated from the outset. They're not; US houses have some of the worst insulation in the developed world.

I agree, you can't even buy decent insulation at the hardware joints around here. 2*6 studding makes a huge difference. For older houses the best you can do is rip off all the siding and add a wrap of 1" foam and then put that yucky vinyl siding on. This gives you abut 50% of the effectiveness of a properly built wall. In the future, it will have serious impacts on home value. Nobody will want to buy a house that goes through ten thousand dollars worth of heating oil every winter.

[homesick_american 1]

Just think how much we'd all save on our electric bills if houses were properly insulated from the outset. They're not; US houses have some of the worst insulation in the developed world.

I agree, you can't even buy decent insulation at the hardware joints around here. 2*6 studding makes a huge difference. For older houses the best you can do is rip off all the siding and add a wrap of 1" foam and then put that yucky vinyl siding on. This gives you abut 50% of the effectiveness of a properly built wall. In the future, it will have serious impacts on home value. Nobody will want to buy a house that goes through ten thousand dollars worth of heating oil every winter.

No joke. My dad's a civil engineer and knows a bunch of people in construction, so when hubby and I buy a house it'll probably be a new build that is insulated to the nines. In TX we don't like $500 electric bills plopping through the mail slot during the summer months...it really sucks!

[DeadPoolX 9]

Hey Steven, you don't happen to have a link to the original article, do you? I'm not attempting to start an argument over anything (I don't see what there would be to debate, anyway), but I'd like to send the article to my fiancee. She's really interested in this sort of thing.

[one...two...tree 2,762]

Hey Steven, you don't happen to have a link to the original article, do you? I'm not attempting to start an argument over anything (I don't see what there would be to debate, anyway), but I'd like to send the article to my fiancee. She's really interested in this sort of thing.

I just tried to find it...but you can check at... azcentral.com

That is The Arizona Republic's website.

p.s. I will add that's certainly not as sexy as being infatuated with Al Gore, but it goes beyond the rhetoric into actually showing reasonable ways in which we all can reduce our use of fossil fuels.

Edited May 6, 2007 by Steven_and_Jinky

[Reba 2]

here's a website with solar panels to power your laptop or to take camping http://www.ctsolar.com/index.asp

here's one that has everything from portable solar panels to take with you camping or picnics for small things (like cell phones, radios etc) right up to full size to convert your homes http://www.affordable-solar.com/

here's one for rain barrells http://www.ne-design.net/ My husband even found rain barrels on Amazon.com for about half the price. Maybe they have solar panels too, who knows!

Nobody can do everything, but everybody can do something.