Builders

Frequently Asked Questions:

What is green building?

“Green building is ultimately about the relationship of a house and its occupants to the world around them. It’s a systematic approach that covers every step of design and construction from land use and site planning to materials selection, energy efficiency, and indoor air quality.”
- David Johnston Author of “Green From the Ground Up”

Green building focuses on many things associated with the construction of a home. Many different products, building processes, techniques and quality details are associated in these important green building categories:

  • Lot preparation, development and design
  • Resource and material efficiency
  • Energy efficiency
  • Water efficiency
  • Indoor air quality
  • Educating the home owner

The goal is to have the building work with nature, instead of fighting against it. Understanding the performance and how all the different building pieces come together so the structure works together as a system are important to eco-friendly building.

For the builder or soon-to-be homeowner, picking and choosing what green aspects are most important to you is the task at hand in constructing a green home.

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How much are certification fees for the NAHB Green Building Program?

There are two fees associated with building to NAHB’s Green Building Standard. There is an NAHB fee and an independent Verifier fee.

If you’re a member of your local Home Builders' Association, your fee to the NAHB is $200. It is $500 for non-members. Verifier fees vary within different building markets depending on program popularity and accessibility. Please contact TECO by phone at (608) 837-2790 to inquire about applicable verification fees.

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What is the value of a green certified home?

For the builder, green certification provides formal recongnition of quality, an opportunity for competitive advantage over traditional home building techniques, and a wide range of new features you can offer to your clients.

For the home buyer, green certification provides a quantifiable guarantee of eco-friendliness. In addition, many green features help to save money on monthly utility bills.

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How does Wisconsin's Green Built Home™ program relate to NAHB green building certification?

Please see our co-branding page for a detailed explanation and additional documents.

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What is the NAHB/ICC 700-2008 standard?

NAHB/ICC 700-2008 is a green building standard jointly published by the National Association of Home Builders™ (NAHB) and International Code Council™ (ICC) in 2008. This is a voluntary, residential, multifamily, and remodeling green building certification program that allows a builder to be formally recognized as building green.

There are four (4) levels of certification: bronze, silver, gold, and emerald. The standard is based on a system that awards ‘points’ for green building processes and products used to construct the home. The more points a home scores, the higher the certification level awarded. TECO is a third-party verification service for this green building program.

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What kinds of installed green technologies are eligible for tax credits?

There are three technologies that receive federal tax credits. These technologies are all in the same category: renewable energy, or energy that is made on-site from renewable sources.

  • Wind Power: A residential wind turbine that produces electricity from the wind
  • Solar Power: Photovoltaics (solar panels) that produce electricity from sunlight
  • Solar Hot Water: A system that heats water by using the sun's energy
  • Geothermal Energy: Heating and cooling systems that use the Earth's consistent temperature

Total Credit: 30% of all costs (including installation) are covered by federal tax credits.

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What is the Energy Star™ Certification tax credit?

Home builders that build new homes to Energy Star™ Standards and are tested successful (tested for structure tightness with a blower door) will be eligible for a $2,000 tax credit.

NOTE: This tax credit expired on January 1, 2010, but may be reinstated retroactively sometime later in 2010.

In Wisconsin, Focus On Energy™ (a regional energy efficiency awareness group) will contribute another $200 additional tax credit for builder’s first four (4) Energy Star™ Certified homes, $100 thereafter.

Total credit per home when building to Energy Star™: $2200 (first four homes/year) — $2100 (additional homes)

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What is the tax credit on doors, windows, insulation, roofing, water heaters, HVAC systems?

The home must be an existing home and the principal residence to receive this credit. New construction and rentals do not qualify for this credit. The total credit is for 30% of material costs (not including installation), up to $1500

Tax Credit Information: www.energystar.gov/...tax_credits

Search for extra (local) rebates online: www.energystar.gov/...rebate_locator

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What are the tax rebates for new appliances?

Some rebates are as high as $200 for each appliance, other rebate are only $50. Please see these sites for more information:

Local (Wisconsin): www.focusonenergy.com

National (United States): www.energysavers.gov

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What is “ISO 14001 Certified”?

The International Organization for Standardization (ISO) has developed an environmental management system to help organizations minimize how their operations negatively affect the environment. Builders that purchase products from companies certified to compliance with the ISO 14001 system are eligible for points within green building programs.

*Note: Currently, few companies have obtained this certification. The internet is a good place to start your 14001 search. Using a search engine, enter the desired product (‘OSB’, for example), ‘company name’ and ‘ISO 14001’ to see if you can acquire points for section 610.1 within the National Green Building Standard.

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What is the Madison, WI Construction Recycling Ordinance?

Took effect: January 1, 2010

Overview: The costs of taking your wastes to the landfill are steadily going up (Up $7.10 per ton since 2009). Many, many tons of wastes are taken to the landfill from each and every building site. Madison has a goal of no landfill waste diversion. “Madison’s Zero Waste Goal.” This is a significant step towards that goal.

For more information, see the City of Madison's website: City of Madison - Construction Recycling

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How does building site recycling work?

The process of recycling building waste works in two ways. One method, a single container is delivered to the building site for general waste disposal. When full, the container is removed and its contents are sorted by the waste-disposal contractor. This is often a more expensive option.

Alternately, two containers (one for garbage and one for recyclables) are delivered to the building site. The builder and subcontractors are then responsible for sorting items into the proper container. This is usually a more economical option.

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What can be put into the recyclable container?

For all new construction and remodeling projects with costs totaling $20,000 or more, the following materials must be recycled:

  • ALL Clean Wood 1
  • Clean Drywall
  • Metal
  • Shingles 2
  • Plastics (including clean vinyl)
  • Corrugated Cardboard (cardboard)

1 Clean means ‘new’ with no paint or stains. ALL clean wood includes OSB, I-joists, and plywood.

2 All shingles (new and old) have been banned from the Dane County landfill.

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Where can I get documentation showing percentage of landfill diverted waste?

The container service will provide you with weight tickets that show the weights and percentages of construction garbage that went to the landfill and wastes that are recycled. Keep this documentation as proof for points in the NAHB Green Building Program.

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Who are the Madison-area recycling/garbage container services that understand this new law?

The City of Madison provides an extensive list of local recyclers for a wide range of materials: City of Madison - Certified Recyclers

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What if I have a question not covered here?

For assistance with questions related to green building programs or TECO's verification services, please contact:

TECO Staff
contact@tecotested.com
Phone: (608) 837-2790

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Page Updated: 27 March, 2011 - 21:28:07 CDT
 

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