Green Checklist for Homes

Here is a checklist you can use while looking for a house, or when looking for ways to improve your current home.

APPLIANCES AND COMPONENTS

• Built-in recycling center
• Clothes washer-horizontal access
• Energy-efficient appliances
• Energy-efficient clothes dryer
• Energy-efficient dishwasher
• Energy-efficient freezer
• Energy-efficient heating, ventilation, and a/c
• Energy-efficient refrigerator
• Gas clothes dryer with electronic ignition
• Gas cooktop with electronic ignition
• Programmable thermostat(s)
• Self-cleaning oven

APPLIANCES - WATER

• On-demand hot water heater
• Rainwater recovery system
• Water-conserving appliances
• Water-conserving clothes washer
• Water-conserving dishwasher
• Water-conserving shower
• Water-conserving toilet

BUILDING MATERIALS

• Advanced framing techniques
• Bamboo flooring
• Building material reuse/exchange
• Cement board siding
• Certified wood
• Concrete flooring
• Cork flooring
• House/building wraps-radiant barriers
• Insulating concrete forms
• Natural Fiber insulation
• Paper-based countertops
• Pre-cut/assembled building systems
• Recycled building materials
• Recycled content drywall
• Recycled and natural fiber carpets
• Salvaged materials
• Salvaged wood flooring
• Strawbale construction
• Sustainable forest products

CERTIFICATIONS

• GreenPoint rated Home
• GreenPoint (bay area)
• Built to green building specifications-other
• Earth Advantage-Northwest US
• EarthCraft House-Southeast US
• Energy Star Qualified Home
• HERS Score 90-100 (scale 0 - 500; 0 best)
• HERS Score under 90 (scale 0 - 500; 0 best)
• LEED Certified-Commercial
• LEED for Homes Certified
• LEED for Neighborhoods Certified
• NAHB Model Green Home - Bronze
• NAHB Model Green Home - Silver
• NAHB Model Green Home - Gold

CONSTRUCTION

• Adobe
• Earthship
• Rammed Earth
• Strawbale

ELECTRICITY & GAS

• Alternative energy options
• Natural gas
• Propane
• Rooftop solar
• Solar Panels
• Solar photovoltaic system
• Wind turbine

ENVIRONMENTAL

• Mold tested/inspected-acceptable limits
• Phase I Environmental Site Assessment (ESA)
• Phase II Environmental Site Assessment (ESA)
• Private water (well, spring)-meets EPAs standards
• Radon less than 4 pCi/L - long-term test (over 90 days)
• Radon less than 4 pCi/L - short-term test (2-90 days)
• Radon mitigation system

INSULATION - BASEMENT

• Cellulose, post-consumer recycled content
• Formaldehyde-free insulation
• Natural fiber
• R11-R19, warm climate, gas/oil or heat pump heat
• R11-R19, warm climate, electric resistance heat
• R11-R19, moderate climate, gas/oil or heat pump heat
• R11-R19, moderate climate, electric resistance heat
• R11-R19, cold climate, gas/oil heat
• R13-R19, cold climate, heat pump or electric resistance heat
• Structural insulated panels

INSULATION - CEILING AND ATTIC

• Cellulose, post-consumer recycled content
• Formaldehyde-free insulation
• Natural fiber
• R22-R38, warm climate, gas/oil or heat pump heat
• R38-R49, warm climate, electric resistance heat
• R38, moderate climate, gas/oil or heat pump heat
• R49, moderate climate, electric resistance heat
• R38-R49, cold climate, gas/oil heat
• R49, cold climate, heat pump or electric resistance heat
• Soy-based spray foam
• Spray foam

INSULATION - WALL

• Cellulose, post-consumer recycled content
• Formaldehyde-free insulation
• Natural fiber
• R11-R13, warm climate, gas/oil or heat pump heat
• R13-R25, warm climate, electric resistance heat
• R11-R22, moderate climate, gas/oil or heat pump heat
• R11-R26, moderate climate, electric resistance heat
• R11-R22, cold climate, gas/oil heat
• R11-R28, cold climate, heat pump or electric resistance heat
• Soy-based spray foam
• Spray foam
• Structural insulated panels

LANDSCAPING

• Bioswale for stormwater
• Composite & plastic decking material-recycled content
• Composite & plastic fencing material-recycled content
• Drought tolerant/water conserving landscaping
• Integrated pest management
• Mulch-locally produced "greenwaste"
• Natural water/drainage features
• Public water supply
• Rainwater
• Restore and enhance natural vegetation
• Rock, Stone & Gravel-local/recycled
• Windbreaks

LIGHTING

• Automatic control system for lighting
• Natural daylighting
• Skylights
• Solar powered walkway or outdoor lighting area
• Solar/Sun tube(s)

NATURAL ENVIRONMENT & MISC.

• Cover for wildlife
• Curbside recycling
• Firebreaks
• Native vegetation
• Parks and public lands within a few miles
• Public transportation within ½ mile
• Radon tested, within acceptable limits
• Recycling facilities nearby
• Shade Trees
• Water conserving landscaping
• Water quality tested, acceptable results
• Water rights

ORIENTATION AND SITE PLACEMENT

• Earth bermed
• Passive solar design
• Southern exposure

ROOF

• EDPM
• Green roof-vegetation/garden
• Living roof
• Metal roofing-recycled content
• Radiant roof barriers
• Reflective roof coating
• Reflective roofing-Energy Star
• Slate
• Tile

SPACE COOLING

• Cooling - Air-source heat pump
• Cooling - Geothermal heat pump
• Cooling - Evaporative cooling (swamp cooler)
• Cooling - High SEER air conditioner (13 or higher)
• Cooling - Passive cooling
• Overhangs above south facing windows

SPACE HEATING

• Heating - 90% or higher energy efficiency furnace
• Heating - 90% or higher energy efficiency boiler
• Heating - Active solar heating
• Heating - Air-source heat pump
• Heating - Baseboard hot water heat
• Heating - Geothermal heat pump
• Heating - Passive solar heating
• Heating - Radiant floor heating
• Heating - Solar water heating
• HVAC zones

VENTILATION

• Ceiling fan(s)
• Smoke-Free
• Ventilation system
• Whole house fan
• Whole house vacuum

WINDOWS

• Energy Star Windows
  
• Energy-efficient window coatings
• Energy-efficient windows
• Fiberglass Frames (highest insulation)
• Low-e window coating
• Spectrally selective glass
• Vinyl Frames (moderate to high insulation)
• Wood Frames (high insulation)

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