So what does it take for a home to qualify for a LEED certification? Many things, but in the first place, geographic location is the initial requirement. Currently, under the USGBC projects must be located in the United States, US military bases and territories, or in Canada (CAGBC).
LEED is not a government entity, which is a good thing. Rather, it is an independent third party certification organization. It awards three levels of certification; silver, gold, and the holy grail of green; platinum. Each level must comply with a higher level of “greenness”.
Virginia Point Goes Energy-Independent with Solar Arrays
The developers aimed at getting off the state electrical grid by installing 140 170W Sharp solar panels on the roof. When it's all added up, the home boasts a 23.8 kW solar system. Because Houston experiences hurricanes and cloudy days every now and then, the Point is outfitted with a backup battery system.
The developers followed a passive solar design, which means keeping it as simple as possible which translates into less complications and maintenance. The home is situated in such a way so as to take maximum advantage of the daily sunlight. In this case, the long side of the home faces south. Also, an effort was made to take advantage of of the sun for indoor lighting by strategically placing windows and skylights where they'll do the most good.
High-Efficiency Geothermal Cooling and Heating
The home saves some serious heating and cooling money by employing four 2-ton heat pumps outfitted with ten 300-feet-deep wells for the thermal cooling loops. Note that the Houston area is only 40 – 50 feet above sea level and basements are basically unheard of.
The geothermal home heating and cooling system is just one reason why Virginia Point sports a HER (Home Energy Rating) of -11. HER is a measurement system that goes all the way up to 100; a rating of 0 is defined as net-zero energy.
Rainwater Harvesting Further Isolates the Home
The news during the past year has featured many stories of the global scarceness of sanitary water. The point takes care of itself in that regard by employing a rainwater harvesting system. The system uses a 7000 gallon cistern to collect and store water. The water is made potable for home use by irradiating it with ultraviolet light. The only connection with public utilities is the sewer line.
The interior of the home gives a nod to environmental sustainability with its extensive use of bamboo flooring and cabinets. Bamboo gets its extremely green reputation from the fact that it grows like a weed; literally.
The exterior of the home is galvanized aluminum, which contributes to the coolness of the interior. Whereas the solar arrays on the roof gather solar energy, the siding rejects it. It's the best of both worlds.
Sources:
- www.ecohomemagazine.com/award-winners/greenhouse-winner-es1110.aspx
- www.mnn.com/your-home/green-building-remodeling/blogs/houston-we-have-take-off-virginia-point
- www.usgbc.org/ShowFile.aspx?DocumentID=5482
Kelly Smith - Kelly has over 30 years experience as a journeyman carpenter and 20 as a freelance writer and photographer.
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