certification

LEED certification potential is the ideal way to assess green house plans, principally because it is comprehensive. Instead of focusing on a certain area of construction and design, LEED certification covers at every facet, including indoor air quality, resource use, land issues and construction materials. Moreover, the certification process requires meticulous attention to detail. LEED certification is not easily won; to earn it, the result of sustainable house plans must be tested and inspected. Given all of this, it’s no wonder that LEED certification is considered the zenith of sustainable home design.

Green house plans for LEED certification aren’t just good for the planet – they’re also wonderful for the people who end up living in the homes they describe. People who have lived in a house constructed from green house plans can vouch for the following advantages of LEED certification:

1. Reduced water and energy costs. Sustainable home design must provide significant energy and water savings in order to qualify for LEED certification. As an example, one way green house plans achieve improved water efficiency is by including rain gardens that harvest free water.

2. No toxic off-gassing or other fumes. Paint, vinyl and other traditional construction materials may release toxic chemicals. Vinyl off-gases have been found to contribute to cancer rates. To avoid noxious materials, the “Materials and Resources” section of the certification process confers points for selecting toxin-free, environmentally friendly materials. You can be confident that your family will be safe in a home built from green house plans.

3. Exceptional durability. Another section of the certification process, “Innovation and Design,” obliges builders to create long-lasting homes that will require fewer costly repairs in the future. This is one of the top benefits of sustainable house plans – less worry over the entire period of habitation.

4. Universal green building standards. Peers, family members and neighbors will be in awe of your green roots when you show them your LEED certification. Your positive example could even induce some of them to choose sustainable house design!

5. Qualification for environmental incentives. A slew of environmental building incentives require LEED certification.

6. Assured transit access and walkability. Another certification category, “Location and Linkages,” considers accessibility to common locations such as churches, daycare centers and grocery stores. If you enjoy walking or biking to nearby restaurants and boutiques, you will love living in a LEED certified home that has been created according to green house plans.

7. Improved air quality. The EPA estimates that indoor air is often five times more polluted than outdoor air. Builders must pay attention to interior air quality when earning LEED certification for sustainable house plans. As an example of how this manifests in design, a detached garage helps isolate toxic fumes and combustible gases.

8. Complimentary homeowners’ manual. The last LEED certification category we’ll mention is “Awareness & Education.” This section awards points for efforts to increase homeowner knowledge. Many builders choose to earn points in this area by providing handbooks on the green technologies that are included in specific green house plans. Many LEED builders also include a walk-through to personally describe how to care for a new green home over the long haul.

These eight advantages are key reasons why many homeowners choose to purchase homes with residential LEED certification.

Learn more about the benefits and versatility of sustainable house design at HousePlans.co, your online destination for stock and custom home design. Their large inventory of house plans is only a click away.