How to Build Green Homes in Arizona

Adobe house

When building a new home, you have many new construction and design options to choose from--including new "green" approaches that can save energy, money and the environment. In an arid climate such as Arizona, with its extreme fluctuations between heat and cold, and with steady sun, such choices as solar energy, water-saving design, and energy-efficient heating and cooling are particularly smart. Whether you want to save money on home energy, reduce your carbon footprint or live more sustainably, green building can accomplish all of the above.

Things You'll Need

• Green Home Guide
• LEED for Homes rating guide
• Green home-experienced contractor and/or architect (optional)
• Nontoxic, locally sourced building supplies
• Efficient water system
• Low-flow or double-system toilets
• Rainwater collection system
• Energy-efficient heating and cooling system
• Energy-efficient appliances

Instructions

Planning

1. Research green home design. Rising interest in green building and design means there are now more high-quality resources in this field than ever before. A fantastic resource for anyone about to build a new home is the US Green Building Council's (USGBC) Green Home Guide. It outlines all the major systems in your home, from water to electrical, and tells you how to make every aspect of your home greener, from using the most efficient heating and cooling system to non-toxic substances for the interiors. The most important time you spend planning your new home may be the time spent reviewing the Green Home Guide.

2. Identify potential financial incentives. Because of federal and state interest in improving energy efficiency in the U.S., there are now many types of incentive funding for green design. Your state or county could cover a significant portion of the cost of energy efficiency systems such as solar panels, lighting fixtures or Energy Star appliances. Some of these might typically cost more to install--such as solar panels--but their long-term savings in reduced monthly costs are significant. The Arizona Department of Commerce offers rebates for weatherization and purchasing energy-efficient appliances; contact them directly to find out what other incentives are available in your area.

3. Find a green contractor or architect. Unless you are building your home with your own two hands, you will need a general contractor or architect to design it and manage the construction. However, not all general contractors understand green building; for example, the concept of a "building envelope" refers to how tightly the house is sealed from leaks and drafts, thus making its heating and cooling more efficient. Nor do all contractors know how to correctly install energy-efficient systems such as solar panels or wind turbines. Finally, green design involves using non-toxic, locally produced materials; a green contractor will know where to purchase these in your area. Check the USGBC guide for their referral network to find the right contractor for your new green home.

4. Plan your heating and cooling needs. Depending on your location in Arizona, you may need more heating or more cooling. If you are in the mountains, you may want more insulation to keep you home heated in the winter; if you are in the desert, you may need thicker walls and possibly adobe (basically dirt moistened with water and then baked as blocks) to keep out the heat of the sun. Efficient heating and cooling systems also place windows for maximum use of the sun for light and heat. A good green architect or building contractor will plan your new home's blueprint and place windows where the strongest sun falls.

Green Home Options

1. Choose your heating and cooling system. Choosing the right heating and cooling system for Arizona's harsh climate could save you thousands of dollars by reducing your energy use. The "building envelope" concept takes into account the doors, windows, points where light and air enter, how air flows through a house, how you heat your home and how you keep it cool. If you want to use solar or wind energy, these systems need to be installed in optimum locations on your house to gather the most wind or sun. Similarly, if you want to be able to use natural breezes to cool your home, you have to design it to catch those breezes and create a natural air flow. In a desert with frigid nights, properly insulating your home can reduce your heating bills considerably.

2. Plan your power. Today's green options include solar panels, which are ideal for a desert home and can provide all the electricity your home needs. Speak with your local energy supplier about installing solar panels--some homes with solar panels actually generate more electricity than the house uses and feed the extra power back into the grid. In some states homeowners can get paid for producing this feed-in power.

3. Choose local, non-toxic materials. Green design involves using materials that are created locally and thus are not shipped long distances using fossil fuels. Look into using adobe, which is a perfectly suited material in terms of efficiency, as well as locally and sustainably harvested lumber.

4. Install water saving systems. Another consideration in an arid climate such as Arizona is how to save water. Green options include "gray water" recycling systems, which collect non-potable water, such as rainwater drainage, and reuses it in appropriate ways such as watering outdoor plants. Other green options are low-flow or dual-system toilets, which save a tremendous amount of water, aerators that reduce the amount of water each faucet uses while maintaining an adequate pressure and solar water heaters.

5. Get Energy Star appliances. Your appliances are your biggest home energy user. All appliances--air conditioners, washer/dryers, dishwashers, refrigerators--have Energy Star versions. Purchasing new, efficient appliances will cut your energy use and save you money.

Tips & Warnings

• In addition to buying materials that are local and non-toxic, many green builders use refurbished or rehabilitated materials that are in perfectly good condition. Items such as kitchen cabinets, bathtubs and floor tiles may be available at a recycled materials store and save you money while reusing durable goods.

• Your own research is your best friend in building a green home. As with any burgeoning field, there are those who claim green benefits when there are none. Refer to the Green Home Guide as a high-quality source of information, and seek out licensed, qualified green builders.

References

• USGBC Green Home Guide
• Salt River Project: Solar Power
• Arizona Solar Center

Resources

• Energy Office, Arizona Department of Commerce