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Submitted by MichaelLopezi on Sat, 12/06/2008 - 20:17.
 
 
 
When the Real Estate market is in a difficult condition, people look for ways to promote their homes. A Green Certified home will set a home apart from the competition for sellers and provide a high comfort level for homebuyers.
 
Certification Overview:
The certification was created through the joint efforts of the International Association of Certified Home Inspectors, Inc. (InterNACHI), the International Association of Certified Indoor Air Consultants, Inc. (IAC2), and MoveInCertified.com. 
Move In Green is a designation for homes that use design features, technologies and products that:
·         Improve energy efficiency
·         Reduce pollution
·         Provide healthier air
·         Increase comfort
·         Reduce water usage
·         Preserve natural resources
·         Increase durability
·         Make a home quieter
·         Reduce maintenance
·         Lower monthly costs
·         Improve resale value
Move In Green homes are healthier, environmentally friendlier, and economically smarter than average homes.
 
With green feature verification in mind, this inspection is based on the green building guidelines and checklists created by various organizations involved in creating Residential Green Building Standards, such as Built Green, National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) and the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC: LEED for Homes)
Upon completion of inspection if the home achieves a score of 130 + a CLASS I or a score of 210+ for CLASSII certificate will be issued. Potential buyers can visit www.moveincertified.com/green (web site under development) to confirm a Green Building certificate has been issued to a specific address.
 
Renewable Energy Sources
 
What is renewable energy?
Renewable energy comes from sources so huge that they’re virtually unlimited. Sunlight, wind and water all provide us with energy today. 
        Where does U.S. renewable energy come from?
·         50% Biomass
·         41% Hydroelectric 
·         5% Geothermal
·         3% Wind
·         1% Solar
The world energy situation is experiencing the beginning of a period of change, which may eventually affect the lives of Americans to a major degree. The change will not be rapid, but eventually, the easily accessible, inexpensive petroleum, which has fueled the US economy since the early 1900’s, will become increasingly scarce and expensive. Maintaining future power supplies without disruptions will require making changes in the ways we produce and consume energy. Failure to address these problems will result in future disruption of energy supplies, damage or weaken the U.S. economy and compromise national security.
Inexpensive things a homeowner can do to make their home more Environmentally Friendly
 
          Compact Florescent Light Bulbs
Install compact florescent light bulbs. These bulbs use at least 2/3 less energy than standard incandescent bulbs and last up to 10 times longer.
         Air Conditioning
              Turn down your Air Conditioning. In an average home, air conditioning consumes more than 2000 Kilowatt-hours of electricity per year, making its operation responsible for 3500 pounds of power-plant-produced carbon dioxide emissions.
            Programmable Thermostats
Programmable thermostats reduce heating and cooling costs by allowing the heating and cooling equipment be operated only when they’re needed.
Low- flowToilets
Toilets consume 30% to 40% of the total water used in homes, making them the biggest water users. Replacing an older 3.5-gallon toilet with a modern, low-flow 1.6-gallon toilet can save an average of two gallons-per-flush (gpf), or 12,000 gallons of water per year. Low-flow toilets usually have 1.6 gpf marked on the bowl behind the seat or marked inside the tank.
Another method for reducing the volume of water used with each flush is to install a water-filled plastic bag (called a displacement bag) in the water tank. The old version of the displacement bag was a brick.
 
Low-flow Shower Heads
 
Are available in different flow rates
 
Electronic Controllers
Lighting control systems are automatic lighting controls designed to maximize lighting efficiency by operating lighting only when it's needed.
                     Timers
Lighting systems or individual lights may be on programmable, timing systems which turn lights on and off at pre-set times.
Infrared (IR) Sensors
IR sensors detect human body heat and switch lights on and off as a person enters and leaves the sensor's sphere of detection.
Daylight Sensors
Daylight sensors switch lighting on and off according to whether natural light provides sufficient light levels.
Kitchen Recycling
Add a kitchen built-in recycling center that includes two or more bins.
Paint
Interior wall painted in light colors
Carpets
Carpet with light colors, recycled content carpet padding and carpet that is tacked not glued down.
                Widows and Doors
 
                Caulk all windows and doors.
 
           
 
                 Trees
 
        Plant deciduous trees that provide sun in the winter and
        shade in the summer
 
     
        Gutters and Downspouts
 
        Keep gutters and downspouts clean and in working order.
 
       Xeriscape
 
The Xeriscape Conversion Study found that participants saved an average of 55 gallons of water per square foot by converting grass to a water-efficient landscape.
 
 
For your Home and Green Building inspection or a Green Building inspection call Colorado’s Premier Home Inspections at 303-522-3601. Make your home more Environmentally Friendly.