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Green Building is the act of conserving energy and resources to create lower ongoing costs. Green Building is not just a product; it is a process to shrink our carbon footprints and live healthier lives. The main principles of green building include efficiently using energy and water, protecting occupant health, and reducing waste.
As a builder, Oldport Homes cannot stress enough how important it is to build an energy efficient home. Jon Seibold, Vice President of Oldport Homes, is a Certified Green Professional capable of guiding homeowners through the green building process. We have created this page in order to introduce different technologies available to potential new home builders. Please take time to browse through the products below and contact us with any questions you might have through our contact page.

Sealing and Insulating all Heating and Cooling Ducts restricts air from leaving ducts making the ducts themselves more efficient. Ducts that are not sealed are like using a garden hose with holes in it, you will get your hot or cold air where it needs to go, but you will also be heating or cooling the interstitial spaces between your floors. Products such as metal-backed tape and duct wrap can improve the efficiency of heating and cooling systems by as much as 20 percent or more.

Learn more by visiting the Energy Star web site.

Energy Star Appliances can reduce costs in your home by up to 30 percent. According to the EPA, the majority of energy used by Americans is through appliances. All appliances sold in the United States must meet a certain standard however appliances showing the Energy Star Label means that the manufacturer has gone above and beyond the minimums to help conserve energy. Additionally the Government also offers many rebates for those who purchase Energy Star Appliances.

  Benefit of the Energy Star Label by Appliance
Washers $50/year and will save 7000 gallons of water per year as compared to standard washers
Dishwashers Use at least 41 percent less energy than regular dishwashers which on average saves the consumer $30/year and also uses much less hot water from your boiler
Refrigerators and Freezers Use up to 40 percent less energy than conventional models, because they are built with high efficiency compressors, better insulation, and higher quality temperature mechanisms. Replacing a 20-year-old refrigerator could save your family enough energy to light your home for up to four months.
Air Conditioners Use 10 percent less energy than conventional air conditioners because they offer better temperature control and timers that cool the room with the minimum amount of energy needed.

LED Lighting is one of the latest and most efficient technologies to hit the market. LED light bulbs use at least 75% less energy and last 35 to 50 times longer than incandescent lighting. This eliminates operating costs and lengthens the amount of time between replacing bulbs. In addition, LED light bulbs produce far less heat, do not flicker or hesitate when turned on, and do not break. Imagine only having to change your light bulbs every 12 years.

Low Flow Plumbing Fixtures save water and money. Aerators for faucets and showers require an initial capital investment, but they often pay back the investment in less than a year, especially when they are used often. Many utilities and city governments offer incentives to purchase and install low-flow fixtures. In a case study at LaGuardia Airport in New York, the NY/NJ Port Authority used 47% less water saving them almost 50 percent as compared to the year before.

Geothermal Systems were referred to by the US government as “the most energy efficient, environmentally clean, and cost effective space conditioning systems available today”. High levels of efficiency are made possible because a geothermal heat pump only uses electricity to move heat, not produce it. A geothermal unit typically supplies 4 kilowatts of heat for every kilowatt of electricity used. For more information on this product please refer to this downloadable PDF

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