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.

The different terms and certifications that are associated with green building can be a bit confusing to the average homeowner who is simply looking to find the most sustainable and energy efficient home options available in their area and budget. To help sort through what exactly all of these green designations mean, we have put together a handy dictionary of the most commonly used green home building terms.

Energy Efficient – Homeowners and builders can choose to incorporate green elements into their design without going through the extra expense and time associated with certifications. Energy efficiency is one green element that can easily be utilized both during the build and throughout the life of the home. During construction, builders review the overall thermal envelope, or actual structure of the building, to determine the best ways to seal it and provide the most energy efficient home for the client. This means using eco-friendly and appropriate insulation, thorough caulking and seasling, the heating and cooling systems are the right size for the structure, and that appliances, windows, and lighting are all rated to use energy most efficiently (i.e. EnergyStar).

Green Verified – The National Association of Home Builders offers green certification for builders, and they also have a trained group of verifiers who are certified to work with builders throughout the construction process to assist and verify the green certification elements that are used. They also are in charge of executing a final inspection to verify the structure and rating when builders have completed their projects. Green verifiers use a score to designate the level of green building certification a project has attained. The levels of green certification are, in order from lowest to highest: Bronze, Silver, Gold, and Emerald. You can learn more about green home verification on NAHBGreen.org.

LEED- LEED (or Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) designations are some of the most rigorous, top honors that can be given to a building. The US Green Building Council oversees the requirements and application process for buildings that submit for LEED certification. As the name implies, buildings that are LEED certified are among the top of the line buildings that incorporate some of the most progressive elements in green building and design. You can read more about LEED certification at USGBC.org.

Sustainable Products - Another green building technique that isn’t necessarily tied to certification is the use of sustainable products in the home. Products that come from ecosystems that are continuously productive, or renewable. Homeowners and builders can make a structure more environmentally friendly, and “green” by selecting materials that come from renewable resources that have minimal environmental impact during their manufacturing, and selecting products that can be purchased within a close radius to minimize the carbon footprint.

These are just a few of the most commonly used terms in green building. As changes are handed down from the FTC as to the way marketers and companies are allowed to use the word “green” many more terms that are equated with sustainability will surely sprout up. However, these certifications and terms are ensured to stand the test of time.

As you might know, we are very proud to be among the NAHB’s certified green builders and also to be a part of the St. Louis HBA’s Green Building Council. Green home building is more than a construction trend, it plays an important role in how builders are approaching projects large and small, and more homeowners are demanding energy efficiency and eco-friendly materials for their homes.

If you are interested in learning more about green living, this weekend there is a great event in downtown St. Louis that will feature more than 90 exhibitors from the green industry. The annual EarthWays Green Homes Festival will be held in Grandel Square (between Grand Blvd and Spring Ave), which is the home to the Missouri Botanical Garden’s EarthWays Center until they move it to the Garden proper by the end of 2010.

This Saturday, September 25 from 10am until 6pm, more than 90 exhibitors will be on hand to demonstrate the latest and greatest in green living, to educate folks on making their homes greeners, and to host workshops in sustainable home building and more. There will also be activities for families and kids to participate in, and a “made from scratch green marketplace.”

Admission and parking for the event are free, and there will be healthy food provided in the food court. You can find out more about the event by visiting Green Homes St. Louis’s website.