Our Green Home Checklist will help you make a more informed choice
about your home. Review your home (since there’s always room for
improvement) or a home you are interested in with this checklist
in hand.
The Right Site
- A site with smart landscaping is
important to help make your home comfortable, affordable and attractive. - Water-efficient Bermuda or buffalo
grass is planted in sunny areas. - Plants, shrubs and trees that grow
successfully in your region are chosen. The Native Plant Search
is another great tool. - Gutters and downspouts direct water
away from house. - An irrigation system conserves water
by using devices such as manual flow-control valves, a rain shut-off,
and a timer with multiple start times.
The Right Design
Comfort and economy are possible when a house is designed for its
site and climate.Minimal Solar Heat Gain:
- Longest walls face north and south.
- Most windows face north and south.
- Most windows are shaded on the outside
by overhangs, covered porches, awnings, trees, trellises, or pergolas. - Garage and least-used rooms are positioned
on west side as buffers from the west sun.
Maximum Ventilation:
- Most windows are operable and positioned
for cross breezes. - Most rooms have windows on two walls.
- High, centrally-located, operable
windows enable hot air to move up and vent to the outside.
The Right Exterior
Cool Shell and Attic:
- Light colored paint, siding, and
roofing are used. - A continuous vent strip runs underneath
the roof overhang to let air into the attic. - Roof ridge has a continuous strip
of venting or several passive vents close to the ridge. - Attic insulation does not block air
flow path between roof overhang vents and ridge vents. - Attic has a radiant barrier below
the roof decking or between the rafters (looks like aluminum foil).
Radiant barrier is especially effective when ductwork is in the
attic.
Minimum Maintenance:
- Exterior wall material is low maintenance
(brick, stone, stucco, cement board). - Roof has forty-year life (metal or
tile). - Decks are made of materials that
have at least a 10-year life (not solid wood).
Maximum Insulation:
- Insulation is at least 10 inches
deep and evenly distributed. (Attic insulation if far more important
in the Central Texas climate than wall insulation.) - Wall insulation is a type that fills
every nook and cranny, such as wet-blown cellulose.
Optimal Windows:
- Unshaded windows have solar screens
or low-e glass (except on the north side). - No skylights except solar tubes.
(Solar tubes are okay.) - Window frames are wood, vinyl or
fiberglass.
The Right Interior
Using the right materials can improve indoor air quality and increase
comfort. Choosing energy efficient appliances will save you money.
Healthy Materials:
- Flooring is mostly hard surface,
such as concrete, tile or wood. - Other flooring materials are natural
wool, jute, sea grass, cork or true linoleum. - No vinyl wallpaper is used in the
home. - Bath has exhaust fan vented to outside.
- Cook top has exhaust fan vented to
outside. - Laundry/utility room has exhaust
fan vented to outside.
Efficient Appliances and Lights:
- Water heating has a 10-year warranty.
- An Energy Guide Label that indicates
the appliance is in the top 25% of the efficiency scale. - Exterior lights have light and motion
detectors to conserve energy.
Efficient Heating and Cooling
Effective Cooling Equipment:
- Ceiling fans in all major rooms.
- Home has a whole-house fan to exhaust
heat. - Home has a programmable thermostat.
- Home has an A/C with a cooling efficiency
is 12.0 SEER or higher. - Cooling system
is "the right
size" for the house. As a rule, if there are fewer than 600
sq. ft. of living space per ton of cooling, the unit is too big
or the house is not designed for this climate. Ask a trained technician
about a Manual J analysis, based on actual design and specifications.
For our climate, oversized equipment does not run long enough to
operate efficiently or dehumidify enough comfort.
Well-sealed Ducts:
- Ducts have been pressure-tested for
leaks by a qualified technician. Remember, most houses lose about
25% of conditioned air due to leaky ducts. Leaks cause air quality
and safety problems, too. - With AC running, no cold air drafts
at the duct joints and other connections.
Air Filters:
- The filter is accessible and easy
to change. - The system
has a 6" wide filter
cabinet with pleated-media or electronic filter (not electrostatic).
The Right Economy
- Using local businesses and products
keeps the local economy healthy, while reducing the affects of
transportation on Austin’s air quality. - Regional materials such as mesquite,
native cedar, pecan wood, local brick, limestone, and granite are
used. - Services of local artists and artisans
are used for items such as cabinetry, wall murals, and decorative
metal work.
The Right Lifestyle
- The right location of your home improves
your quality of life. - The home is conveniently located
for activities such as work, school, entertainment, recreation,
and public transportation. - Traffic allows safe walking and biking.
- The home has a front porch big enough
to use.
