Even though prospective home buyers want the benefits of new, more efficient homes, they are unwilling to pay much more for a “green” home, according to a recent member survey from the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB).

“Although we are seeing significant interest in green building, cost effectiveness is clearly a key concern among home buyers,” said NAHB Chairman Joe Robson, a home builder and developer in Tulsa, Okla. “Builders said that among buyers who are willing to pay more for green features, more than half — 57 percent — are unlikely to pay more than an additional two percent.”

The August survey coincides with news that the NAHB National Green Building Program continues to grow. More than 400 homes, developments and remodeling projects have been certified by the NAHB Research Center, which administers the program and trains and accredits local project verifiers. Of those projects, 43 have been certified to the National Green Building Standard, approved earlier this year by the American National Standards Institute.

SAVE Time, SAVE Money, SAVE Energy

Preferences for specific green building techniques are decidedly regional, with builders in the West reporting much more interest in water efficiency than builders in other areas. Interest in homes built with recycled materials is particularly high in the Northeast (the region where the fewest new homes are built) and low in the South (the region with the highest number of housing starts).

Only 11 percent of builders nationwide indicated that their customers ask about environmentally friendly features, according to the survey. “Fortunately, our members are increasingly taking the initiative to educate the home-buying public about the benefits of green construction,” Robson said.

Overall, energy efficiency continues to be the primary factor driving the green building movement, squaring with previous NAHB surveys of home builders when asked about buyer preferences. “More and more, our members are able to convince their clients of the benefits of a home built with efficiency and sustainability in mind,” Robson said.

“However, when buyers prepare to sign on the dotted line, cost-effectiveness clearly drives their decisions. We need to make sure that our energy policies reflect that reality so that builders have the flexibility to use lot and site design, high-efficiency heating and cooling equipment and other features to achieve the desired results at the right price,” he continued.

“Whenever Congress considers how to encourage more energy-efficient construction, it must keep affordability in mind – and look for ways to incentivize these changes not only in new homes, but even more importantly in the nation’s much more substantial and inefficient existing housing stock,” Robson said.

Home Performance with ENERGY STAR

To Seal and Insulate with ENERGY STAR:

· Seal air leaks throughout the home to stop drafts,

· Add insulation to block heat loss in winter and heat gain in summer,

· Choose ENERGY STAR qualified windows when replacing windows.

If your attic is accessible and you like home improvement projects, you can Do-It-Yourself with help from our DIY Guide to Sealing and Insulating with ENERGY STAR. The Guide offers step-by-step instructions for sealing common air leaks and adding insulation to the attic.

You can also hire a contractor who will use special diagnostic tools to pinpoint and seal the hidden air leaks in your home. A Home Energy Rater can help you find contractors that offer air sealing services in your area.

Sealing Leaks

Many air leaks and drafts are easy to find because they are easy to feel — like those around windows and doors. But holes hidden in attics, basements, and crawlspaces are usually bigger problems. Sealing these leaks with caulk, spray foam, or weather stripping will have a great impact on improving your comfort and reducing utility bills. Click on the house diagram to see common air leak locations that you should aim to seal.

Homeowners are often concerned about sealing their house too tightly; however, this is very unlikely in most older homes. A certain amount of fresh air is needed for good indoor air quality and there are specifications that set the minimum amount of fresh air needed for a house. If you are concerned about how tight your home is, hire a contractor, such as a Home Energy Rater, who can use diagnostic tools to measure your home’s actual leakage. If your home is too tight, a fresh air ventilation system may be recommended.

After any home sealing project, have a heating and cooling technician check to make sure that your combustion appliances (gas- or oil-fired furnace, water heater, and dryer) are venting properly. For additional information on Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) issues related to homes, such as combustion safety, visit EPA’s Indoor Air Quality Web site.

Adding Insulation

Insulation keeps your home warm in the winter and cool in the summer. There are several common types of insulation — fiberglass (in both batt and blown forms), cellulose, rigid foam board, and spray foam. Reflective insulation (or radiant barrier) is another insulating product which can help save energy in hot, sunny climates.

When correctly installed with air sealing, each type of insulation can deliver comfort and lower energy bills during the hottest and coldest times of the year.

Insulation performance is measured by R-value — its ability to resist heat flow. Higher R-values mean more insulating power. Different R-values are recommended for walls, attics, basements and crawlspaces, depending on your area of the country. Insulation works best when air is not moving through or around it. So it is very important to seal air leaks before installing insulation to ensure that you get the best performance from the insulation.

· See Recommended Levels of Insulation to determine what is most cost-effective for your home.

· For more comprehensive information, check the Department of Energy’s online Insulation Guide .

To get the biggest savings, the easiest place to add insulation is usually in the attic. A quick way to see if you need more insulation is to look across your uncovered attic floor. If your insulation is level with or below the attic floor joists, you probably need to add more insulation. The recommended insulation level for most attics is R-38 (or about 12–15 inches, depending on the insulation type). In the coldest climates, insulating up to R-49 is recommended.

Sealing Ducts

In houses with forced-air heating and cooling systems, ducts are used to distribute conditioned air throughout the house. In a typical house, however, about 20 percent of the air that moves through the duct system is lost due to leaks and poorly sealed connections. The result is higher utility bills and difficulty keeping the house comfortable, no matter how the thermostat is set.

Because some ducts are concealed in walls and between floors, repairing them can be difficult. However, exposed ducts in attics, basements, crawlspaces, and garages can be repaired by sealing the leaks with duct sealant (also called duct mastic). In addition, insulating ducts that run through spaces that get hot in summer or cold in winter (like attics, garages, or crawlspaces) can save significant energy.

Additionally, if you are replacing your forced-air heating and cooling equipment, make sure your contractor installs the new system according to ENERGY STAR quality installation guidelines. A quality installation will include a thorough inspection of your duct system, including proper sealing and balancing of ductwork, to help ensure that your new system delivers the most comfort and efficiency.

Most homeowners today recognize the importance of having an energy efficient home. The social and economic benefits are far-reaching. The United States government recognizes the importance also and has created incentives through the Energy Star program. Presently there are up to $1,500 in tax credits available for purchasing energy efficient windows and insulated siding.

While interest and awareness of these tax credits are gaining, many homeowners do not realize that most window and siding products do not qualify. Only products that meet and exceed a standard that has been set by Energy Star can be considered for the incentives.

Mark of Excellence Remodeling, a Certified Green Professional and a newly state certified Home Performance Energy Star contractor, offers qualifying window and insulated siding products. The company’s trained design Consultants take the time to educate each homeowners on all the features and benefits so that might make the best informed choices for their home and family. The practice of green remodeling incorporates many considerations. Energy conservation is great importance with regard to future resources and current cost savings.

Below are a few photos illustrating the development process for an insulated siding project in Barnegat, New Jersey.

by Danny Teigman/The Star-Ledger

Tuesday August 18, 2009, 9:15 AM

New Jersey communities stand to earn some green if they can persuade more of their residents to go green.

Up to $4,000 will be awarded to towns that successfully encourage their residents to have home energy audits or if they learn about the benefits of energy efficient lighting.

The incentives are part of an expansion of the state’s Community Partners Initiative, run through the Clean Energy Program. Municipalities must sign up online or by phone in order to be eligible.

Communities stand to earn $800 for every 100 residents that are referred to a home energy auditor and also can win $200 if they partner with the N.J. Green Resource Team, part of the Clean Energy Program. There is no deadline to apply.

“Energy efficiency and renewable energy are key strategies outlined in Governor Corzine’s Energy Master Plan,” said Jeanne Fox, Board of Public Utilities president, in a statement. “They will help provide New Jersey with a safe and secure energy future.”

Funding comes from the state’s societal benefits charge, a fee added to ratepayer utility bills to cover low-income and clean energy assistance plans, among other uses.

Started in 2007, the Community Partners Initiative includes about 50 municipalities.

The Clean Energy Program’s 2009 budget is $513 million.