Building Value with Building Science: High Performance Green Building in the Housing Industry

Green building concerns environmentalists, planners, and builders alike. The energy efficiency of a building— its “performance”—can add real and perceived value to a property. Tight construction, attention to the “building envelope,”and proper ventilation can make a home less expensive to operate and thus more attractive to the consumer. The Energy Star program, similar to LEED, sets the standard for designing and implementing these high performance, energy efficient buildings. Planners and developers can assist in this process by setting the stage for a future of greener home-building practices