Drought Tolerant Plants - Are plants that can live in dry climates and do not have to be watered often.
Energy Star Certified - ENERGY STAR, created in 1992, is a joint program of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Department of Energy. To earn the ENERGY STAR, a home must meet strict guidelines for energy efficiency set by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. These homes are at least 15% more energy efficient than homes built to the 2004 International Residential Code (IRC), and include additional energy-saving features that typically make them 20–30% more efficient than standard homes. ENERGY STAR qualified homes can include a variety of "tried-and-true" energy-efficient features that contribute to improved home quality and homeowner comfort, and to lower energy demand and reduced air pollution.
Enhanced Air Filtration - Air filtration is used in a wide variety of environments such as automobiles, homes, office buildings, and manufacturing facilities. Filtration systems are used to remove pollutants such as dust, particulates, microorganisms, and toxins from breathing air. Though there are several types of air-filtration technologies such as mechanical filters, factional electrostatic filters, and electric filters, active electrically enhanced air-filtration systems have become increasingly popular because of their high efficiency.
Geo-thermal HVAC - A heating, ventilation and air conditioning system that uses the earths energy to help heat and cool your home. Geothermal HVAC systems provide a mechanism for transferring heat in the winter and cool in the summer from the ground to your house.
Green/Living Roof - A green roof is basically a roof which includes a typical roof surface covered by a water-proofing membrane, a drainage plane, a water retention medium, and plantings of drought-resistant species. However, designs differ depending on a variety of factors. Green roofs are not yet common on single family homes, but can be seen more frequently in multifamily or other large urban buildings. The benefits of a green roof include control of storm water runoff which can reduce urban water pollution, absorption of airborne toxins and increase in oxygen in the air, reduction of surface temperature of the roof, cooling of surrounding air, reduction of the urban heat island effect, noise insulation, longer roof life, better insulation, and provision of additional "land" area.
HERS Rated - A home energy rating involves an analysis of a home’s construction plans and onsite inspections. Based on the home’s plans, the Home Energy Rater uses an energy efficiency software package to perform an energy analysis of the home’s design. This analysis yields a projected, pre-construction HERS Index. The HERS Index is a scoring system established by the Residential Energy Services Network (RESNET) in which a home built to the specifications of the HERS Reference Home scores a HERS Index of 100, while a net zero energy home scores a HERS Index of 0. The lower a home’s HERS Index, the more energy efficient it is in comparison to the HERS Reference Home. For homes rated before July 1, 2006, the rating score is known as a “HERS Score.” The HERS Score is a system in which a home built to the specifications of the HERS Reference Home has a HERS Score of 80. Unlike the HERS Index, each 1-point increase in a HERS Score is equivalent to a 5% increase in energy efficiency.
HERS – 85 - The EPA's Energy Star program requires a score of 85. LEED for Homes starts at HERS 85, and then additional points are awarded for every HERS point above 85. Federal tax credits for builders require an approximate HERS score of 60. A home with a HERS Index of 85 is 15% more energy efficient than the HERS Reference Home.
HERS 86 - 100 – If the house performs at the level of an ERHU Score of 86 Points out of 100 or better, the Home Energy Rater will place a customized Energy Star® label on the home, typically on the utility/circuit breaker box cover. This label is the identifying mark of qualifying homes. It provides consumers an easy way to recognize energy-efficient homes verified to meet EPA's Energy Star® performance guidelines. Since it is permanently affixed to the home, it provides the owner a means of demonstrating the value built into their home at time of re-sale.
HERS 101+ - A HERS rating results in a score that is based on national standards produced by RESNET. A HERS index of 100 is what a standard built-to-code new home would score, while a net-zero energy home would score a 0. Older, existing homes may score a higher number than 100, as they were not built to modern day building codes.
LEED Certified - The Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Green Building Rating System, developed by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), provides a suite of standards for environmentally sustainable construction. Since its inception in 1998, LEED has grown to encompass more than 14,000 projects in 50 US States and 30 countries covering 1.062 billion square feet (99 km²) of development area. Green Building Council members, representing every sector of the building industry, developed and continue to refine LEED. The rating system addresses six major areas:
Different LEED versions have varied scoring systems based on a set of required "prerequisites" and a variety of "credits" in the six major categories listed above. In LEED for new construction and major renovations for commercial buildings there are 69 possible points and buildings can qualify for four levels of certification:
LEED Silver - 33-38 points
LEED Gold - 39-51 points
LEED Platinum - 52-69 points
Low Flow Commode - Commodes that use less water. Different types of low flow commodes use various technologies aimed at making the toilet more functional. Some toilets have large drain passages, redesigned bowls and tanks for easier wash down. Low flow toilets use a maximum of 1.6 gallons of water per flush compared with about 3.5 gallons of water used by a standard toilet.
Low Flow Fixtures - Fixtures that save water that would otherwise be wasted, not only reducing your utility bill, but also the amount of available fresh water used. Low flow shower heads use about 2 ½ gallons of water per minute compared to between 4 to 5 gallons per minute used by conventional heads. Low flow faucet aerators can cut water usage of faucets by as much as 40% from 4 gallons per minute to 2 ½.
NAHB – National Association of Home Builders - Through the National Green Building Program, the National Association of Home Builders is helping its members move the practice of green building into the mainstream. A builder, remodeler or developer must incorporate a minimum number of features in the following areas: energy, water, and resource efficiency, lot and site development, indoor environmental quality, and home owner education. The more points accrued, the higher the score. The four threshold levels - Bronze, Silver, Gold, and Emerald - allow builders to achieve entry-level green building, or the highest level of sustainable "green" building incorporating energy savings of 60% or more. Single-family & multi-unit homes, residential remodeling projects, and site developments are all covered in the program.
Rainwater Catchment - Rainwater catchment is the term used to describe any system that acts as a kind of sky net to capture and impound rainfall. The very earth itself in this definition of “rainwater catchment” works as one giant rainwater catchment system sustained by plentiful mountains and valleys across the many continents. Not all rainwater catchment systems are roofs on top of houses; some are surface water catchment systems for fields to improve irrigation. But essentially all of them need these four elements: AREA, SLOPE, DRAIN and STORAGE. Area, gives the water a place to land. Slope gives it gravitational pull, so that it can pick up speed and momentum, thereby flowing toward the drain. Drain, channels rainwater in an organized fashion so that it can actually form a consistent body. Storage is the final resting place for the flowing bodies of water that come from the drain.
Solar Electric System - Also called photovoltaic or PV systems, are reliable and pollution-free. They make use of a renewable source of energy – the sun. These systems convert sunlight directly to electricity. They work any time the sun is shining, but more electricity is produced when the sunlight is more intense and strikes the PV modules directly.
Solar Hot Water - Water heated by the use of solar energy. Solar heating systems are generally composed of solar thermal collectors, a fluid system to move the heat from the collector to its point of usage. The system may use electricity for pumping the fluid, and have a reservoir or tank for heat storage and subsequent use.
Tankless Water Heater – Water heater that provides hot water at a preset temperature when needed without storage, thereby reducing or eliminating standby losses. Tankless water heaters can be used for supplementary heat, such as a booster to a solar hot water system, or to meet all hot water needs. Tankless water heate