Image Credit: www.connectyourhome.com

Saving money is a top priority for many homeowners. And as more people learn about the money savings benefits of high-performance and energy efficient homes and upgrades, the demand for these improvements is growing.

If you are among the growing number of homeowners who are planning to make major energy efficient upgrades to your existing home, or if you are working with your home builder to incorporate high-performance features into your home you may be wondering what the top energy efficient features and upgrades are.

According to ENERGY STAR studies, the average household’s heating and cooling expenses account for more than half of the energy bills, while about 30% goes to lighting and appliances, with the remainder of energy costs are from heating water (source: Bankrate.com). It is important to note how many factors come into play with the efficiency of a heating and cooling system, however: insulation, windows, thermal envelope, duct work integrity, and the heating and cooling systems themselves.

Suzanne Shelton, CEO of one of the top sustainability marketing research firms, the Shelton Group, says when it comes to what buyers are looking for, 47% look for ENERGY STAR appliances, 44% want high-efficiency windows, and high-efficiency HVAC equipment is important to 30% of customers (source: EcoHome Magazine).

While an efficient HVAC might not be the most glamorous selling point on it’s own, when taken into combination with energy efficient window upgrades that are necessary for better performance and are a top point for home buyers, getting control over your home’s heating and cooling is a top priority for the comfort and value of your home-not to mention your pocketbook. That is not to say that appliances and lighting aren’t important, nor should they be ignored-they make up a sizable chunk of your energy costs and should be made a priority as well.

It is important to approach each home and project on an individual basis, beginning with an energy audit especially if the home was built more than 5-10 years ago. You can also find ENERGY STAR partners in St Louis to help your begin your energy efficient upgrades and construction projects to help clarify the process and what is right for your home by searching the ENERGY STAR website..

A thermal image from an energy audit, credit www.energytribe.com

As the price of energy continues it’s perpetual climb, the only way you can really combat the rising costs is by decreasing your usage. Many St Louis families are trading in their gas guzzling vehicles for better fuel efficiency, and an increasing number of our clients are paying closer attention to the energy efficiency of their new custom homes as well.

While energy efficiency may seem like a  like a nebulous concept, there are tools available to homeowners that measure their home’s energy efficiency and to help determine what steps can be taken in order to reign in their usage. Whether you’re considering a small upgrade or a complete energy efficient renovation, the first step towards improving your home’s energy efficiency is performing an energy audit.

One of the most common energy audits on the market today is the Home Energy Rating System, or HERS. This audit can be completed by an authorized professional and assigns each home a score to determine the it’s efficiency. The HERS score takes into account many energy efficiency factors such as on-site energy production (such as solar panels), and energy usage such as that by lighting and appliances, and the results of a blower door and infrared camera test to evaluate the home’s thermal envelope and how many times the air within the home is exchanged with the outside. You can learn more about what happens during an energy audit by checking out our interview with Marc Bluestone, a registered energy auditor with Home Green Home.

After factoring together the audit results homeowners can determine and prioritize which upgrades and renovations can be done to save hundreds, and even thousands of dollars each year on home energy costs. While most often performed during the construction or renovation of a home, these test are also becoming increasingly common during the inspection phase of a home’s sale so many homeowners are opting to have these test done prior to listing to correct any issues, and even to help aid in the marketing of their homes.

You can find a home energy auditor by contacting the St Louis Home Builder’s Association, or by contacting your local gas or electric utility. It’s perhaps one of the best tools a homeowner has to combat the rising costs of energy.

In this rendering from architect Jeff Day you can see how Active House utilizes natural lighting and energy via windows and lot placement to conserve energy.

We are in the middle of two very exciting and important weeks in the construction of Active House USA. As you can imagine, it takes a team of highly skilled hardworking people to partner together to build a new, custom home. And with all of the industry leading technologies and techniques that are going into Active House USA, the partners involved in the project are as enthusiastic as they are dedicated to making this project successful.

Over the last few months architect Jeff Day has worked closely with the homeowners, as well the Hibbs Homes and Verdatek Solutions crew and project partners, to design an innovative green home that also blends seamlessly with the surrounding, historic neighborhood of Webster Groves, MO. Visually the home is at home with it’s neighbors, however the energy efficiency, indoor air quality, and the attention to the surrounding environment are features that the rest of the block would be hard pressed to keep up with. In fact, the design fits within in the neighborhood so well that Active House project manager Matt Belcher of Verdatek Solutions overheard many people who visited at an Active House Alliance conference booth in Europe commenting on how traditional and all-American the design of the home is compared to the other prototype homes around the world.

Consulting partner & Active House project manager Matt Belcher with homeowners David, Thuy & Cameron Smith.

To make way for Active House USA, the previous house on the lot was torn down yesterday, and the homeowners were there along with friends and family to watch this very important first step towards their new home take place. Homeowner David Smith was even manning the equipment during the first few swipes, taking down the front porch and front facade before turning it over to the pros.

Next week marks another important Active House milestone-groundbreaking! Hibbs Homes, Verdatek Solutions, Active House Alliance members, will be there along with local leaders and the homeowners to mark the official start of construction on May 2 at 10:00am. In the weeks following the ceremony, construction crews will start getting to work, and the goal is to have the home certified, the homeowners moved in, and have Mizzou’s monitoring set and ready to go by this fall.

You can find out more about the project and follow the progress by heading over the the website ActiveHouseUSA.com, and find out more about Active House and the Alliance by heading to ActiveHouse.info.

Image credit: Microgrid Energy

As St Louis Cardinals baseball fans, we have a lot to be proud of-a World Champion Team, Willie McGee, and the fact that our home team is one of the teams in the MLB that is one of the leaders in sustainable operations. In addition to the ball club’s efforts in recycling and reducing energy usage, they have recently stepped up their game and made a massive energy overhaul by becoming the sixth team in the MLB to install solar panels in their park.

“St. Louis Cardinals’ fans may not taste the difference, but the next hot dog they consume at Busch Stadium could be cooked with power from solar energy,” said Microgrid Energy’s website. According to an recent post on Microgrid’s site, the team worked with Microgrid Energy, Electrical Connection, and Sachs Electric to install 106 solar modules on the roof of the ticketing building and a concession area canopy in the Ford Family Plaza that has the capacity to produce 25,000 Watts (W) total power, and around 32,000 kilowatt-hours (kWh) of energy annually.

The power collected from the panels is mixed with traditional energy in the stadium’s system and though it might just be a small percentage of the stadium’s overall energy usage, when looked at over the life of the stadium and combined with all of the other green and sustainable efforts the club has tackled, the St Louis Cardinals are hitting a home run for the environment.

And this weekend, when the Brewers come to town, they will be celebrating the 42nd anniversary of Earth Day and teaching fans about solar energy and recycling during their 3rd annual Green Series, April 27-29.

Simple Human Recycling Trash Can-Separating your recycling can be a pain if you don’t have a proper set up inside. If you have limited space but want to install a recycling center in your home, Simple Human has a series of recycling trash cans that have double liners perfect for separating your waste from your recycleables – and they even have specially sized liners that will fit perfectly in the smaller can.

Algreen 50 Gallon Rain Barrel with Top Planter – An increasingly popular fixture in backyards and home gardens, and great way to conserve and reduce your water usage, are rain barrels. These barrels affix to your gutter down spout to capture runoff, which can then be used to water gardens and landscaping. Though many are simply designed to look, well more or less like a barrel, this urn shaped rain barrel looks like a garden decoration and even doubles as a planter.

Solar Powered iPad Charging Case – Electronics and their chargers are notorious for being power vampires.We recommend unplugging unused charging cords and appliances, or even better you can start using the natural energy of the sun to charge your iPad-straight form the case. The leather material makes for a great looking case, and the innovative solar panel saves electricity while keeping your battery from running on empty.

Going green can still be gorgeous…and with these great green home products convenient too!

Image credit: constructionweekonline.in

Like many industries, innovations in green home building have become mired in speculation and myths. The heavy use, and often misuse, of  “green” messages across many industries has fostered a cynicism for some. While others are holding on to the early price tags or associations with the word.

However, like many industries, the building industry is always evolving. As we discover new information, technologies and products we have learned that green home building is not as much a type of building as it is the next evolution in building. Green and energy efficient homes are what have resulted from research and innovation, and with that understanding are gaining a much wider acceptance.

Here are a few of the top myths about green home building that we hope won’t be around much longer…

Green homes are no longer more expensive to build.
When energy efficient building products first came on the market they were leading edge, and tended to be more pricey that their traditional alternatives. We see this trend in every industry from electronics to clothing. However, as companies begin adopting sustainable, eco-friendly and energy efficient models in their design and practice the cost continues to come down. And most importantly, the cost of living and maintenance during the lifetime of the home is reduced with more durable construction and materials over traditionally built homes.

Remodeling a home is not always more “green” than building new.
Homes that were built 50 or 60 years ago were built with very different tools and specifications. For instance, some homes weren’t built with insulation at all and did not take into consideration environmental factors such as the home’s orientation on the lot to take advantage of natural sunlight and warmth. But as we learn more about how the environment around the home impacts everything from energy bills to the health of the homeowners, we are now building homes that are more efficient and comfortable when a remodel could not possibly meet these needs.

Green homes are not just for environmentalists.
Since we began building green homes in 2006 we have incorporated energy efficient and sustainable practices into projects for so many clients for so many different reasons. The top reason, however, comes down to increased durability, less maintenance problems and lowered utility bills. While there are environmental benefits to all of these factors, at the end of the day these homes are also better investments for our clients because of these same reasons.

As time passes and people begin to understand the benefits of using green practices when building their new home we suspect that there will also be a better understanding that green building is more about innovation than a movement.

When the last cup of eggnog has been toasted and the last ornament has been boxed, here are a few ways you can recycle your trees in St Louis and St Charles City and County, and make your Christmas just a little greener:

Curbside Christmas Tree Pickup-Many local communities will offer curbside recycling during the first couple of weeks following the holiday. Simply call your local waste management provider to ask what their policy or drop-off locations, or if you receive email updates about holiday trash schedules check those. If you have any questions about whether it will go to waste or recycling feel free to contact your waste management facility to clarify, and if it is going to waste consider a drop-off location or chipping your tree for use in your landscaping.

St Louis & St Charles Christmas Tree Drop Off-Three St Louis City parks accept trees for drop-off two weeks after the holiday. You can bring your bare trees to Carondelet, O’Fallon and Forest Park in the lower Muny parking lot to have your tree recycled. If you are a St Charles County resident there are several options where you can drop-off your trees from December 27 until January 18, including Laurel Park, St Peters Golf and Rec Center, St Peters Earth Center, Civic Park, O’Fallon Sports Park, Founders Park, Progress Park, and Quail Ridge Park.

Recycle Your Tree in Landscaping-Mulch can be expensive, but really it is just made from chipped tree bark. If you have access to a chipper or rent one you might want to consider chipping your tree and spreading it in your flower beds. The acidity of pine makes for especially vibrant hydrangea colors, and they also make great winter ground cover for new plantings.

If you opt to have your tree picked up or if you drop it off at a collection point there are a few things you should do before you go: remove all decorations and lights, cut it into four foot lengths to be accepted and do not wrap it in plastic.

We do not recommend folks recycle their tree for firewood, however. There is a high concentration of oils in the tree that can cause build up and result in creosote fires in your chimney.

And next year as your family makes time to select the perfect tree, why not consider a tree with a root ball which can be planted it in your yard to enjoy after the holiday season has passed?

This custom home brings together expertise from industry leading sustainable building practices in the United States and the Active House practices that have been developed in Europe, and will define the next generation of sustainable building.

We are working with several key Active House Alliance partners in Europe as well as industry leading green building partners here in St. Louis to develop and construct the home in Webster Groves, MO.  The home is being designed using Active House Standards and to meet or exceed four North American sustainable building certifications: Energy Star, EPA Indoor Air Plus, Building America Builder’s Challenge and ANSI ICC-700-the National Green Building Standard.

Active House USA balances three key sustainability factors: actively balanced energy consumption, outstanding indoor climate, and positive impact on the surrounding environment.

To those familiar with green home construction practices this is all probably sounding fairly familiar. It is when you dig a little deeper into the three key components of active house building principles where you begin to see the difference. Active House specifications for the three key components are defined as following:

 Energy-An Active House is a building which is energy efficient and easy to operate, a building which substantially exceeds the statutory minimum in terms of energy efficiency, a building which exploits a variety of energy sources integrated in the overall design.

Indoor Climate-The indoor climate of an Active House promotes health, comfort and sense of well-being, is a building which ensures good indoor air quality, has adequate thermal climate and appropriate visual and acoustical comfort, provides an indoor climate which is easy for occupants to control and at the same time encourages responsible environmental behavior

Environment-An Active House building exerts the minimum impact on environmental and cultural resources, is a building which avoids ecological damage and adds to local biodiversity, is a building which is constructed of materials which have high recycled content and provides for its own recycling or re-use

These standards are all taken into careful consideration when deciding which materials and resources to use when building the home, and they are integral to the overall design of the home as well. Basically the vision behind an active home is one that does more with less impact.

Many of the major players in Active House USA met at the St Louis Home Builder's Association office to discuss plans and the project with the homeowner and Active House Alliance.

Russia recently unveiled an active house just outside of Moscow, and we are very excited to announce that soon Hibbs Homes will be breaking ground on the first active house in the United States! Active House USA is located just fifteen minutes outside of downtown St. Louis. This location is ideal because designing the prototype in St. Louis’s mixed humid climate requires that cold and warm climate specifications be taken into account, allowing for easy translations of the prototype into other homes in the United States.

Architect Jeff Day of Jeff Day & Associates is working with the homeowners now to define the design requirements, and the homeowners are excited to begin construction on their new home.

You can learn more about other active homes around the world as well as the active home movement by visiting ActiveHouse.info. There you can see photos, read about the other Active House projects and even download a brochure outlining Active House building specifications.

With the help of All Hands and some heavy machinery, demolition of what was left of the family’s home is complete and items such as old lumber have been salvaged for later use. The reuse of these post-consumer materials is part of the larger effort to have the home certified green through the St. Louis Home Builder’s Association Green Building Initiative. Hibbs Homes is also using the latest in building materials and construction practices to rebuild the home Energy Star rated.

The foundation has been poured, and we are scheduled to begin framing the home next week. The materials being used are formaldehyde-free, and the sealants are low-VOC materials. Because these materials do not contain toxic chemicals they contribute to better air quality for the homeowners and meet green building standards. When framing and sealing are complete a blower test will be performed on the home to ensure maximum energy efficiency.

Right now the homeowner’s are enjoying the process of selecting interior and exterior materials for their home. They are pouring through Energy Star windows, lighting and appliance options and low-flow plumbing fixtures to customize their new, green home.

We’ll be back with more updates when we move onto the next step in the project, but in the meantime you can learn more about it by reading these blog posts.

Hibbs Homes built our first green verified home in 2007 in Chesterfield, MO. Since that first home we have been incorporating energy efficient building techniques in all of the St. Louis buildings we have completed.

Green home building isn’t just a construction industry buzz word, it is a body of home construction techniques and practices that are becoming increasingly important to home owners and home buyers alike.

Energy efficient, sustainable homes are characterized by their use of sustainable materials, and less volatile chemicals. Green homes are finished with Energy Star rated appliances and lighting fixtures. And these homes also employ innovative air handling systems and home sealing techniques. These features save homeowners money over the course of time when they are living in the home, but are energy efficiency and sustainability features that increases the resale value of your home?

Since energy efficient and green homes are still on the leading edge of home building technology, it only makes sense that the valuation practices for these features are still in their infancy. The Appraisal Institute published their first book teaching professionals about how to value green homes in June of 2010, and as a developing paradigm for appraisal professionals it is a challenge that is top of mind for many home builders and homeowners.

Kim Hibbs, owner and general contractor for Hibbs Homes, explains, “Accurate appraisals for green verified homes are really a challenge right now. Most appraisers don’t fully understand the benefits to a green built home, only made more difficult because it is hard to find comparable homes to help with their analysis. The NAHB and many local HBA’s are taking an aggressive approach to help educate appraisers as to the short and long term benefits of these homes.” He went on to add, “In many markets, there is now a special category for green homes in the Multiple Listing Service (MLS) which is used by Realtors to search for homes.”

Taking into consideration the daily cost of living, the average green home saves the homeowner around $800 a year in living expenses. Take, for example, the course of a standard home loan (30 years): the average green homeowner will save about $24,000 in living expenses, or about $66 per month, during that period of time if you maintain an energy efficient home, e.g. by replacing appliances, etc. That figure doesn’t even account for the increase escalating energy costs during those 30 years. So, bare bones you could easily say that an energy efficient home is worth in the ballpark of $24,000 more than a conventionally built home.

But the big question that remains to be answered is whether that will translate into the perceived value of a home by buyers? We predict, based on customer demand and education about these features, that energy efficiency is going to become much like many modern amenities that home buyers have come to accept as standard when looking for a home. Just as you have a home inspector evaluate the foundation of your home, you will also see buyers performing energy efficiency audits to determine if they will purchase a home or not.