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 |