Because Doing the Right Thing is the Smart Thing
A green home can do more that help the environment. It can increase your home's comfort and durability. It can help you save money through energy-saving features that can add up over time. And, it can even provide you with potentially greater resale value.
This program compliments our already secured EPA Energy Star Certified designation.
An Environments For Living® home can increase your home’s comfort and durability. EFL can help you save money through energy-saving features that can add up over time, and can even provide you with potentially greater resale value!
The Environments For Living program provides a rigorous set of requirements for home builders who’ve made a commitment to go the extra mile. It is a cutting edge program based on “building science.” It treats the home as a “system of systems” that work together, and it backs this science with limited guarantees* on comfort and heating/cooling energy use.
It’s all designed to give you a home you can be proud of in more ways than one.
* See the Beechen and Dill Guarantee for complete details and limitations.
Energy Efficiency
Tight Construction: Special framing techniques such as a continuous air barrier and sealing of penetrations help reduce internal leaks and drafts.
Improved Thermal Systems: Enhanced insulation techniques help to minimize voids and gaps, and higher thermal properties (R-value) add to energy efficiency.
Right-Sized HVAC: "Right-sized" heating and cooling systems and sealed air ducts help equipment work efficiently. ("Right-sized" refers to the process of determining which HVAC system should be used in any particular structure.)
Guaranteed Performance: Written guarantees* are issued to homeowners on the amount of energy used for heating and cooling, and comfort.
Low-E Windows: Low "emmisivity" windows have protective coatings to help keep heat in during winter and our during summer.
Durability
Internal Moisture Management: Vents, pressure balancing, fresh air ventilation, and "right-sized" HVAC equipment work to reduce moisture in multiple ways.
Tight Construction: Air barrier continuity and air tightness reduce the potential for moisture to enter the building envelope.
Improved Thermal Systems: Program requirements such as Low-E windows and insulation installed in contact with the air barrier reduce the potential for moisture build-up.
Indoor Environmental Quality
Fresh Air Ventilation: Fresh air ventilation systems deliver filtered fresh air to help reduce dust, odors, and indoor contaminants for improved indoor air quality.
Internal Moisture Management: Vents, pressure balancing, fresh air ventilation, and "right-sized" HVAC equipment work to reduce moisture in multiple ways.
Air Pressure Balancing: Balanced air pressure throughout the home results in more even temperatures and reduces the potential for condensation build-up.
Combustion Safety: Combustion appliances in conditioned spaces are sealed or power-vented to help avoid build-up of carbon monoxide, and vent-free fireplaces are not allowed. CO detectors are required in all homes.
Putting Science on Your Side
A Smart System for a Smart Buyer
*Energy Star® is a registered trademark of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. www.environmentsforliving.com. |
