Most of this information provided by Green Built Home™- a program of Wisconsin Environmental Initiative, which is implemented in partnership with the Madison Area Builders Association.

MD Custom Homes and Renovation is a member of the Milwaukee Builders Association Green Building Council. The Council's mission is to facilitate and promote the development and use of ecologically sustainable materials and practices within Wisconsin's Built environment. MD Custom Homes offers you the opportunity to Build a Green Home so you can...

	• conserve energy (and reduce energy costs), • improve indoor air quality, • dramatically reduce your home’s ecological footprint (impact) on the environment • and save money
Renovated Barn By MD Custom Homes and Renovation, 1995. Prairie restored by owner.

Counting the Cost of Green

Does saving the planet really mean destroying your bank account?　

Are you one of the typical US families that spend more than $1,500 a year on utility bills? If so, you’re probably one of the many families paying for much of this energy to be completely wasted through drafty doors and windows and poorly insulated walls. If you’re tired of watching your money slip through the cracks, it’s time to take a fresh look at green homes.

Green homes are better-designed homes – they are energy-efficient, high performance homes, and you’re going to get more bang for your buck in more ways than one. In fact, it’s cheaper to own the green, better-designed home from the day you move in.

Well-designed, energy efficient homes have all or most of the following:

• Expanded foam insulation

• Radiant, reflective (metal) roofing

• Housewrap to create a tighter envelope

• Decreased drainage and grading costs due to the maximization of the homesite’s natural topography

• Tankless water heaters and geothermal heat pumps

• Air exchangers

All of these features add up to significantly lower energy bills.

Today, green building is approached as a holistic concept, with environmentally friendly practices integrated into every aspect of the green building process. MD Custom Homes can recommend and implement strategies for sustainable site development, water savings, energy efficiency, materials selection and indoor environmental quality. So, how exactly do you go green when building a home?

When you use materials that are recycled, more durable, renewable or readily replenished (such as bamboo), healthier (such as low Voc or water based finishes), and locally-produced, you are “going green.” 

And how do you save money? Many of these products are comparable in cost, less expensive initially, or less expensive in the long run because of increased longevity, better performance, and lower maintenance needs.

Below are some areas on which to focus your attention when building your home.

Home Site & Land Use: The location of the home and how the land is developed has a significant environmental, financial, and social impact. Below are a few examples of techniques that can be used to reduce that impact. For more information and suggestions, visit Green Built Homes Siting and Land Use Checklist.

• Build on an infill lot in an established residential area or a brownfield (land re-use) development.

• Build within 0.5 miles of a school, transit stop, or shopping.

• Build a rear, side entry, or no garage.

• Build a patio, porch, or deck located on south side of house to create a sunny, wind- sheltered outdoor space

Landscape Conservation & Storm Water Management: As you know, the construction process usually greatly disturbs the site landscape. However, steps can be taken to reduce that disturbance. By preserving and reusing the natural features, resources are conserved and energy costs are reduced. Below are a few examples on how to achieve that. For more information and suggestions, visit this Green Built Homes Checklist

• Save and reuse all site topsoil.

• Protect trees and other natural features during construction.

• Chip and reuse site-cleared wood and brush as mulch.

• Re-plant or donate live trees from the site.

• Plant grass that requires less water, such as fescue.

Energy Efficiency: Many techniques and practices can be employed to reduce significantly energy consumption that will not only protect the environment, but also save you money. For example, how the home is situated on the land, the type of landscape plantings used, and how the home’s water is heated all have an effect. Below are just a few more examples of what can be done. For more information and many more suggestions, visit this Energy Efficiency Checklist provided by Green Built Homes

• Situate garage between house and prevailing winter winds

• Install Energy Star windows

• Use Energy Star appliances and light fixtures

• Install on demand hot water delivery system or solar hot water heating supplies

• Install solar tubes or glass blocks for interior light

Building Materials: How materials are extracted and transported have a significant environmental impact. Using engineered, locally- produced, recycled, salvaged materials can not only reduce the environmental impact, but can also reduce the homeowner’s costs. Below are just a few suggestions. Visit Green Built Home’s Guide to Materials for more ideas.

• Use salvaged or regionally produced (within 500 miles) masonry and stone

• Use reusable foundation forms, such as metal instead of wood

• Use wood from sustainably managed forests

• Use natural insulation (cotton, bio-based foam)

• Use recycled roofing material

• Use Interior bamboo flooring

Indoor Air Quality: Because most people spend 90% of their time indoors, indoor air quality has a huge impact on health. Building materials, such as paints and binders, often release fumes, triggering asthma, allergies, or other reactions. Below are suggestions for improving the air quality in your home. Visit Green Built Homes Indoor Air Quality section for more ideas on how to reduce the amount of chemicals in your home.

• Use non-toxic cleaners

• Ventilate the building after each finish application

• Use waterbased paints and finishes or low voc paints and finishes on walls, floors, and other interior surfaces

• Install a de-humidification system for the entire house

• Physically separate the garage from the house

Water Conservation and Plumbing: The world’s fresh water supply is in danger; therefore, reducing our consumption is an important part of “going green.” Below are a few ways to reduce your use of water in the bathroom and kitchen. For more ideas, visit Green Built Home’s section on water conservation.

• Use front loading, horizontal-axis clothes washer

• Use composting toilet

• Use only one shower head per shower.

• Use rainwater for watering lawn and toilet flushing

Waste Recycling, Reduction, and Disposal: A significant percentage of Wisconsin’s waste comes from construction debris. Below are ideas for minimizing construction site waste. To learn more, visit this section of the Green Built Home Guide.

• Disassemble existing buildings and reuse or recycle the building materials

• Obtain products from suppliers who use packaging that has been recycled or reused

• Recycle cardboard, wood, metal, brick, block and other building materials

• Install recycling and kitchen scrap compost bins for homeowner use