Green Homes Raleigh NC

Considering Green - What's In a Green Home in the Raleigh, NC Area

If you're considering building or buying a green-built home in the Raleigh, NC area, you probably have some specific ideas about what's involved in a green home.  Or maybe you just know that a green home is better for the environment.

How "Green" is a Green Home?

Each of the five green home certification programs in North Carolina has its own levels and specifications of "greenness". 

If you're considering a green home in the Raleigh area, you'll most likely see certification that involves the Green Home Builders of the Triangle program.  Each green home must be independently validated and certified by a third party inspection agency.   If you don't see a green home certificate, your home may not be certified green, even if it does contain many green elements. 

There are three basic levels of certification, that can be attained by collecting "points" in a variety of building areas, such as:

Bronze Level Green Home Certification

A green home reaches bronze level certification when a total of 257 points have been earned, with the minimum amounts in each category.

Green homes with Bronze Level Certification may not have the same features and amenities - for instance, the green home can earn 5 points for minimizing slope disturbance, or 6 points for optimizing the homes location for solar resources by placing the long side of the home within 30 degrees of due south. 

A Bronze Level Green Home does not often have a solar water heater or solar photovoltaic power source, but can be the least expensive type of green home built in the Raleigh NC area, depending on the choices made.

Silver Level Green Home Certification

A green home in the Raleigh NC area reaches silver level certification when a total of 415 points have been earned, with again minimum amounts in each category. 

Thus 61% more points must be earned to reach Silver certification - so some could argue that such a home is 61% greener!  

It depends on the green homeowner or home buyers preferences and priorities - again, the points can be earned in a variety of ways.

A sealed attic is worth 8 points in the Energy Efficiency category, as is a sealed crawlspace and a solar hot water heater.  From the chart above, a Silver Level Green Home requires 62 points in this category, so a combination of many different features are needed.

Gold Level Green Home Certification

To earn a Gold Level Green Home Certification in the Raleigh NC area, the green home must score a total of 549 points, or more than double that of a Bronze Green Home. 

Most Gold Level Green Homes that I have seen in the Raleigh area are in the $700K or higher range.

In Water Efficiency, one can gain 7 points for collecting and reusing rainwater, and 7 points for weather-based irrigation controllers (computerized).

Green Home Building and Buying Options Vary

As you can see, the types of green homes available vary quite a bit, and the combinations of green features can be almost endless. 

With hundreds of "green" options available across seven different categories, you can design and build a green home that incorporates everything most important to you - and Southern Energy Management, a much-awarded local green home certifier, can help you find the combination that best fits your budget. 

Interested in building a Green Home in the Raleigh NC Area?

We'll help you get started!  Contact us, or call 919-278-8070. 

You may also be interested in these popular green building topics:

Green Home Building in the Triangle

What is a Green Home?

What Is Geothermal?  Geothermal News and Information

Passive Solar Homes and Ideas

Green Builders - Green Building Programs

What Different Green Building Programs are Available in NC?

If you're looking into a new custom home that is green-built, you may see certification by any one of the following programs.  These green building programs are similar - each uses a point system to verify the different green aspects of the home, and each is independently verified by a third party inspection agency.

LEED Green Homes - US Green Building Council

The LEED program is a national program, with the same requirements and point system for any home across the nation, no matter what the climate or local conditions. 

As most green home certification programs, "points" must be earned across a number of categories.  For the LEED program, these categories are titled Sustainable Sites, Water Efficiency, Energy & Atmosphere, Materials & Resources, Indoor Environmental Quality, and Innovation & Design Process. 

Read the 78 page LEED Green Home guidelines here.

National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) Green Home Guidelines

The NAHB Green Home program is also a national program.  The requirements are very similar to the LEED program.  Again, a green home may vary considerably in actual design and features, as different combinations of points can add to a green home certification.

For the NAHB Green Home program, the point categories have slightly different names:  Lot Preparation & Design, Resource Efficiency, Energy Efficiency, Water Efficiency/Conservation, Occupancy Comfort & Indoor Environmental Quality, and Operation, Maintanence & Education.

Find out more about the NAHB Green Home program here.

Green Home Builders of the Triangle - Green Home Guidelines

The GHBT program is probably most commonly used in the Raleigh, NC area.  This green homes point system is designed specifically for the North Carolina climate - lots of moisture in the air, and plenty of heat during the summer. 

The Green Home Builders of the Triangle program has seven categories, but still covers all the same topics as the LEED and NAHB programs:  Lot Design, Preparation & Development, Resource Efficiency, Energy Efficiency, Water Efficiency & Quality, Indoor Environmental Quality, Operation, Maintainence, & Homeowner Education, and Global Impact. 

Earthcraft Homes - Atlanta Based Green Homes Program

While you probably won't see an Earthcraft Home in the Raleigh area, you may see some elsewhere in NC.  The Earthcraft green building program started in Atlanta, GA and has been gradually moving east.  This is just another green building certification program, again with similar standards.

EarthCraft House guidelines include the following categories:  Site Planning, Energy Efficient Building Envelope & Systems, Resource Efficient Design, Resource Efficient Building Materials, Waste Management, Indoor Air Quality, Water Conservation, Homeowner Education, Builder Operations, and Bonus/Innovation Points.

NC Healthy Built Homes

NC Healthy Built Homes is the fifth of the "green building" programs commonly seen in the area.  This program emphasizes air quality (as do the other four programs mentioned), but does not have as strong an emphasis on as many aspects of a green home as the other programs available.

Certification of a Green Home

Each of these five programs is an independently verified green homes program with required third party inspections and verifications of materials and practices used.   If your new home is certified, your builder will be able to provide you documentation of your homes status.  Keep it on hand - if you should ever decide to resell your home, that green home certification will help your home stand out! 

Interested in building a Green Home in the Raleigh NC Area?

We'll help you get started!  Contact us, or call 919-278-8070. 

You may also be interested in these popular green building topics:

Green Home Building in the Triangle

What is a Green Home?

What Is Geothermal?  Geothermal News and Information

Passive Solar Homes and Ideas

Custom Homes Raleigh NC

Basement Homes in the Raleigh, NC Area

How Are Basement Homes Built - Superior Wall Systems

Can I find a basement home in the Triangle?

If you're looking for a basement home in the Raleigh NC area, chances are really good that you'll be considering a "walk out" or "daylight" basement. 

Because of the high water tables and high water content of the soil, many builders will not take liability for a basement that is fully underground.  Without drainage, water leakage is much more likely to occur at some point, even with extensive sealing.  

What is a daylight basement?

A daylight basement usually has at least one fully exposed wall that looks just like a "normal" house.  

To build a daylight basement home, you'll need a lot with some slope to it - an ideal slope will have anywhere from 8 to 12 ft in height difference between the front of the home and the back of the home. 

Of course, a lot with more or less slope can also work - but the more the dirt needs to be moved around to accomodate the home, the higher the cost is likely to be. 

The front of the home will look like a standard one or two story home.  From the rear of the home, the basement will be visible as an additional story. 

French doors, sliding doors, and windows can allow plenty of natural light into the basement.

Many basements are unfinished at the time the home is sold.  The homeowner can finish the space later, and save money either by doing some of the work themselves, or by paying cash rather than financing the cost of the additional finish work. 

What type of foundation walls are used for basements in the Raleigh NC area?

In some areas of the country, poured foundation walls are very common.  In the Raleigh area, the most common type of basement foundation wall system is precast concrete, from a specialized subcontractor like Superior Walls. 

A Superior Wall system is carefully calculated for each individual home.  The type of soil, load bearing weight, load bearing columns, exterior finish, and locations of windows and doors are all taken into consideration.

A Superior Wall is:

Dry

 - a special 5,000+ psi concrete mix is used that is moisture resistant, and does not require additional damp proofing.   A drain is installed around the perimeter of the home, protecting the foundation and keeping moisture away from the home.  

Warm

Superior Walls foundations include a continuous layer of insulation that is bonded directly to the concrete.  In addition, the interior walls are designed to have additional insulation added, if desired, without any additional framing.

Fast

A Superior Walls system can be installed in one day, in almost any weather.  Pouring concrete on site has quite a few limitations. 

Quality Assured

Superior Walls are built in a controlled factory environment to the industry's highest standards.  The concrete is reinforced with rebar, and thus is stronger than traditional foundations. 

For answers to specific questions on the Superior Walls system, or precast concrete walls, give us a call or visit Superior Walls at www.SuperiorWalls.com.

How Much Does a Basement Home Cost in the Raleigh, NC area?

There are quite a few factors that affect cost.

- How large is the basement?

- Is the basement the same size as the first floor, or is it smaller with a combined crawlspace foundation?

- Is the lot suitable for a basement home, or will some modifications be needed?

- Are you looking for a finished or unfinished basement?

- How many windows and doors are planned?  What type are they?

- How large of a deck will be attached to the first floor, extending over the daylight basement?

We provide free building cost estimates, specific to your favorite floor plan from www.FrankBetz.com, www.MonsterHousePlans.com, www.HousePlans.com, or any other site.  Just contact us, and send us a link to the floor plan you love!

Don't have a floor plan yet?  We'll help you find one, from any of thousands of available options. 

You may also be interested in:

Today's Ceilings Make Statements - Types of Ceilings and Questions to Ask Before Buying Your Next Home

New Home Trends and Ideas - What's the Latest?

Energy Wise - Find Out How to Save 50 to 70% on Heating and Cooling Costs!

5 Steps to Buying a Lot

Saving Energy - Custom Homes in Raleigh NC

House and Senate Pass Geothermal Tax Credit

For anyone considering a geothermal heating and cooling system, this is good news! 

Federal tax credits for energy efficient home improvements or construction were originally established by the Energy Policy Act of 2005.  However, most of those tax credits expired on December 31, 2007.

The "Bailout Bill" just passed by the House and Senate and signed into law by President Bush included something called the "Extension Act of 2008" (H.R. 1424, Division B), which extended, and improved, tax credits on a variety of energy saving features like solar power and geothermal heating.

Like the solar power section of the bill, the Geothermal Tax Credit has been extended 8 years, and will not expire until 2016.

Geothermal Tax Credit Increases

The geothermal tax credit was originally just $300, but has now been extended to $2000, with possible increases available to homes owned by more than one person. 

Homeowners can file for the geothermal tax credi by completing the Renewable Energy Credits subsection on their tax return forms for 2008. 

Currently no proof of purchase is required to be submitted with tax paperwork, however in case of audit, homeowners are encouraged, as always, to keep detailed invoices in their permanent files.

A geothermal contractor who sells and installs geothermal systems should note the purchase as a "Geothermal Heat Pump" on the invoice, and detail that it "Exceeds requirements of Energy Star program currently in effect".

Renewable Energy

If you're interested in finding out more about renewable energy sources for your new home, here's some great places to get started in the Raleigh area.

Geothermal Systems - Heating and Cooling Using the Earth - How Do They Work, and How Much Do They Cost?

Solar Water Heaters - How Do They Work and How Much Do They Cost

Southern Energy Management - Solar Photovoltaic Systems

Or contact us - we'll send you printable materials and information on energy savings, cost and more.

Read the full articles on the tax credit extension:

Lawmakers Approve Energy Tax Credits, Bailout

Wind, Solar Tax Credits Extended in $700 Billion Bail-Out

You may also be interested in:

Green Home Building in the Triangle

What is a Green Home?

What Is Geothermal?  Geothermal News and Information

Passive Solar Homes and Ideas

Saving Energy - Custom Homes in Raleigh NC

House and Senate Pass Solar Tax Credit Extensions

For folks considering purchasing a solar water heater or solar photovoltaic system, this is great news!

Congress originally passed a solar tax credit in 2005, which was due to expire on December 31, 2008.  This solar tax credit was instrumental in creating unprecendented growth in the solar industry.  In 2007, the amount of solar capacity installed across the US was double that installed in 2006. 

The "Bailout Bill" just passed by the House and Senate and signed into law by President Bush included an extention of production and investment tax credits for Solar, Wind, Geothermal, and other alternate energy sources.

30% Solar Energy Tax Credit

One other change - the $2000 cap was removed from the solar tax credit.  Now, any residential or commercial solar installation is eligible for a 30% tax credit - and this credit won't expire for eight years! 

If you're interested in finding out more about solar energy, here's some great places to get started in the Raleigh area.

Solar Water Heaters - How Do They Work and How Much Do They Cost

Southern Energy Management - Solar Photovoltaic Systems

Or contact us - we'll send you printable materials and information on energy savings, cost and more.

Read the full articles on the tax credit extension:

Lawmakers Approve Energy Tax Credits, Bailout

Wind, Solar Tax Credits Extended in $700 Billion Bail-Out

You may also be interested in these popular green building topics:

 Green Home Building in the Triangle

What is a Green Home?              

What Is Geothermal?  Geothermal News and Information

Passive Solar Homes and Ideas

Raleigh - Green Building

Interested in seeing green building technologies and products in action? 

Check out the 2008 NC Green Building & Solar Tour!

Some of the green building features available for viewing include solar hot water systems, photovoltaic systems, geothermal heating, spray-foam insulation, conditional crawlspace and attic, Energy Star, rainwater collection, and drought-resistant landscaping. 

Ticket Information

Tickets may be purchased at the NC Green Building & Solar Tour. Ticket prices are $5 for members of NCSEA and local host organizations; $5 for students and teachers; $10 for non-members; and $15 for a carload. Children under 16 are free.          

There are specific tours from several different Triangle area locations, such as Chapel Hill/Orange County, Chatham County, Durham, Fayetteville, and Raleigh.

Chapel Hill/Orange County

Kick-Off Event is at the Carrboro High School, 201 Rock Haven Road, Carrboro.  Pick up a local tour guide and educational materials before starting a self-guided tour.  This tour runs noon-4pm.  Tour features North Carolina's first LEED certified high school.

Chatham County

Kick-off event and registration is at the Central Carolina Community College in Pittsboro.  This tour features 9 homes, and runs from 9:30am to 4pm. 

Durham

The Durham tour starts with a Community Expo with key note speakers and demonstrations.  The "Spotlight on Green Living" event runs from 9am-noon, and the tours are offered 10am-4pm.  Start at 411 W. Chapel Hill Street in Durham. 

Fayetteville

The Fayetteville tour will focus on a free event with exhibitors.  The Fayetteville Area Energy Savings Expo will be held at the Cumberland County Crown Exposition Center from 10am-7pm.  Presentations will be held throughout the day, and mulitiple suppliers will be on site to demonstrate energy savings and green products.  10am-7pm. 

Raleigh

The Raleigh portion of the tour will feature 5 homes, an elementary school, several businesses, and the NC Solar Center.   The Kick Off Event will be held at the NC Solar Center at NC State University, at 1101 Gorman Street.  Tour hours are 10am-4pm. 

The 2008 NC Green Building & Solar Tour is hosted by the North Carolina Sustainable Energy Association.  To find out more about the tours, call 919-832-7601.

Find out more:

For more information on building custom homes in the Raleigh NC area with green features and technologies such as these, contact Stanton Homes at 919-278-8070, or visit www.StantonHomes.com

ADA and Wheelchair Accessible Homes in Raleigh, NC

Looking for a Universal Design Home in the Raleigh Area?

If you or a family member has special needs, Stanton Homes can work with you to build a fully-accessible home in the Raleigh/Chapel Hill/Durham/Fort Bragg area, in the budget you're aiming at.

What does an accessible custom home feature?

The features included vary depending on the needs and desires of the homeowner.  Some homeowners are looking for a two-story home, with an accessible first floor bedroom and bathroom for a family member.  Some are looking for a one story home with a fully accessible kitchen, bath, enlarged garage, and other features. 

Here are some of the features you may be looking for: 

Accessible Bathrooms

· Roll In Showers

· Built In Shower Benches

· Grab Bars

· Room for Maneuvering (5 Foot Minimum Diameter)

· Knee Space Under Countertops/Reduced Height Countertops

Accessible Kitchens

· Room for Maneuvering

· Reduced Height Countertops

· Built-in Range Countertops with Front Controls and Knee Space Below

· Pull-Out Shelving (Slide Out Shelves)

· Accessible Electric Outlets and Switches

· Roll-Under Kitchen Sinks

Accessible Interiors and Exteriors

· Ramps and Walkways

· Enlarged Garage

· Egress (exit) Door From Bedroom

· Enlarged Hallways and Doorways

· Non-Slip Flooring

· Low Pile Carpet

· Turning Radius in Laundry Room

No matter which features you're looking for, we'll incorporate them into your new home. Have a floor plan you love - but it needs to allow for special considerations? Stanton Homes can modify it to meet your specifications.  Or contact us, and ask for a full package with sample accessible homes and features.

The Ellsworth - Modified Accessible Home

The Ellsworth is a one story home with a second story bonus room. This home offers a fully accessible master suite with sitting room and large walk-in closet. The island kitchen and huge vaulted family room have great flow-through with the formal living room and formal dining room with signature archway entrances. All hallways and doorways have been expanded. The garage is bigger, too!
Click here for flyer and more information

Thousands of Possibilities
Bring us your floor plan or ask us where to find thousands of others, and we'll show you how we can adapt the look you like, with limited or full accessibility. At Stanton Homes, we'll work with you to build the custom home you want, with all the features you need - and we'll help you find the perfect location, too.

From the $200s to whatever you envision, we'll build an exceptional living experience.

You may also be interested in these popular green building topics:

Green Home Building in the Triangle

What is a Green Home?

What Is Geothermal?  Geothermal News and Information

Passive Solar Homes and Ideas