Monthly Archives: January 2012

Solar Lighting Ingenuity

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Look at the ingenuity that went into providing light in these homes in the Philippines. Many of the people cannot afford electricity, but this helps them light their homes at no cost.
The bottles used in the skylights would otherwise just collect in landfills and water supplies. In addition to utilizing garbage for these lights, they also have another great feature in that they do not create heat and they have zero power consumption. It is interesting what people figure out when the need arises and the will to help is present.

What Is LEED?

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Homes by Vanderbuilt answers: What does it mean to be LEED certified?

A question we get asked often at Homes by Vanderbuilt is what is a LEED certification? A LEED certification is awarded by the US Green Building Council at varied levels of green performance.  In other words, the more you make your home eco-friendly, the higher the level of LEED certification can be considered. These measures are by no means easy to come by. The ranking system is very stringent and carefully inspected by a third-party to ensure verification.These are called Green Raters and can be found for each state in the USGBC’s Green Rater Locator. Note: All projects pursuing LEED for Homes certification also require performance testing to be completed by a qualified energy rater, a Home Energy Rating System Rater (HERS Rater).  Many Green Raters are also qualified energy raters (HERS Raters) and can provide both the onsite verification and performance testing services.

Homes By Vanderbuilt Green HomesFor most homes, obtaining a LEED certification can be very costly. Many things are factored into the rating and the decision to award a LEED certification. On the USGBC’s site, they have a PDF of the LEED Ranking System and a LEED For Homes Project Checklist as well as an eligibility requirements document found here.

Homes by Vanderbuilt modular homes are energy efficient and can be great candidates for LEED certification, but stand-alone, they cannot be LEED certified. What we mean by that is there are other factors beyond our scope of what we provide. For instance, one of the rating factors deals with water consumption, and that has more to do with the vegetation on your yard and the irrigation system you have. If you are interested in building a LEED certified home, we can get you started and “LEED” you in the right direction. :)

You can read more about LEED certification and Green Home Building at the USGBC site.

Energy Saving Methods Used by Homes by Vanderbuilt

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Energy Saving Methods Used by Homes by Vanderbuilt

homes by vanderbuilt energy saving

Save Energy, Save Money

1) Lighting:

  • Exclusively use CFL bulbs. You can purchase all shapes & sizes of CFLs at most hardware stores and online.
  • Homes by Vanderbuilt uses ENERGY STAR ® qualified light fixtures.

 

 

 

 

2) Heating & cooling:

  • Homes by Vanderbuilt uses ENERGY STAR ® qualified heating and cooling units
  • Make sure all air registers and floor vents are clear of furniture and appliances.
  • Check your HVAC system’s air filter monthly and replace it at least every three months. Have a pre-season check-up of your system by a licensed contractor every 2-3 years (gas heat) or annually (oil heat).
  • Keep stored items away from the furnace and water heater for safety and proper air circulation.
  • Make sure all air registers and floor vents are clear of furniture and appliances.

3) Home sealing:

  • Homes by Vanderbuilt uses window screens with storm windows for the winter months.
  • Check along the top of the basement wall, where cement or block comes in contact with the wood frame. Known as the rim joist or band joist, this is a common area of air leakage. Seal with expanding foam or caulk. Seal penetrations such as pipes and wiring.
  • Make sure holes for dryer vent, ducts and electrical wires are sealed. Seal small gaps with caulk and holes up to three inches in diameter with spray foam. Cover spaces larger than three inches with foam board and seal with spray foam.
  • Seal and insulate your attic. Because it’s accessible, the job won’t be difficult if you are a do-it-yourselfer. This can make a big difference in your home’s overall comfort. Weather strip and insulate your home’s attic hatch or door. Use weatherizing materials and insulation or a pre-made attic cover.
  • Seal gaps where plumbing pipes, ducts, or wires enter the attic through the ceiling using caulk or spray foam. For holes up to three inches in diameter, use spray foam. For larger spaces, use a foam board and seal with foam.
  • Inspect your ducts for holes, tears and other signs of leaks. Seal them using mastic or metal foil tape – never duct tape. Insulate the ducts you can access, including those in the attic, crawlspace, basement or garage.
  • Seal air leaks around your chimney or furnace flue. Look for gaps around the chimney that allow air from your home to escape into the attic. Seal with metal flashing. Caulk small gaps with a product designed to withstand high temperatures.

4) Appliances:

  • Homes by Vanderbuilt always advises using only ENERGY STAR ® products. The new models will pay for themselves quickly through increased efficiency.
  • Scrape dishes instead of rinsing before loading the dishwasher, and use a high quality dishwasher soap. Run dishwasher only only when full. Use air-dry option.
  • Use your microwave or toaster to reheat or cook small portions.
  • Use pots that are the same size as your stove burners and keep burners clean. If you have a gas range, blue flames mean good combustion, yellow flames mean you may need service to ensure gas is burning efficiently.
  • Always buy ENERGY STAR ® appliances when replacing a dishwasher, refrigerator or freezer.