Sustainable Buildings

• People need to be aware of how they can contribute to the environment

• Sustainable homes not only lower energy costs, but they help out the environment

• Buildings represent 70% of the US consumption of energy

• More people need to move to sustainable homes to help lower this percent

4 Things to Improve a Home

• Geothermal Heating• Green Roofs• Wind Power• Solar Power

Geothermal Heating

How it Works

• Uses the earth’s temperature to either heat or cool the house

• Exchanges heat with the ground instead of the air

• The ground temperature stays at a relatively constant temperature

Costs

• Normally yields the lowest utility bills of any residential system

• Costs between $15,000 and $20,000• Costs a lot because of all the drilling involved• Uses 40%-70% less energy than conventional

systems

Green Roofs

Benefits

• Protects building from ultraviolet rays• Doubles the lifespan of the roof• Lowers temperature on the roof• Decreases water runoff• Improves quality of the air

Costs

• Energy savings up to 20%• Cost $1 to $6 more per sq. ft. than regular

roofs• The US is trying to catch up with other nations

percent of green roofs• The US is increasing their percent

Wind Power

Benefits

• Wind power is the world’s fastest growing energy technology

• Wind power is only second to natural gas• The US is increasing their percent• Best suited for homes on at least an acre of

land• Wind speeds increase with height

Costs

• A 10 kilowatt turbine can range from $40,000-$50,000

• Many states have incentives • Wind turbines generate power for homes in

almost every state

Solar Power

• Homes with solar power are selling twice as fast as homes without

• 92% of solar power owners recommend it to their friends

• Solar Power systems take awhile to be installed

Costs

• Break even point is up to 10 years• Save 20%-30% on electric bills• A typical 2 kilowatt solar home system costs

between $14,000 and $20,000