EarthCraft House™
"What is Earthcraft House?™"EarthCraft House™ is a green-building program originally developed by the Greater Atlanta Home Builders Association that addresses all aspects of the building process from an environmentally-focused perspective. EarthCraft House™ guidelines cover site planning, tree preservation, building materials, waste management, air quality and energy efficiency from design to appliances.
EarthCraft House's™ construction guidelines exceed those of Energy Star. EarthCraft House™ was recently adopted as the official green building program for the state of Virginia by Governor Tim Kaine.
“Why buy an EarthCraft House™?”
There are lots of reasons to choose an EarthCraft House™:
- Improved air and water quality
- Conservation of resources and energy
- Homes are quiet and durable
- Most importantly to some homeowners, EarthCraft Houses™ save you money! The special energy-efficiency building requirements of an EarthCraft House™ result in the reduction of heating and cooling costs by as much as 30 per cent!
“What are the requirements of a certified EarthCraft House™ builder?”
In order to qualify for the EarthCraft House™ program, a builder must be a member of the local home builders association, join both the Energy Star and the EarthCraft House™ programs, and then complete a training course on EarthCraft House™ building guidelines.
Each new home is required to pass a final inspection before it can be certified as an EarthCraft House™. Certification is based on a flexible point system which requires a minimum of 150 points achieved in order to be certified in these areas:
- Site planning
- Energy efficient techniques and equipment
- Resource efficient design and materials
- Waste management
- Indoor air quality
- Water conservation
- Home buyer education and opportunities
- Builder operations
More information on EarthCraft House™, building guidelines and the points system can be found on the EarthCraft House™ website, www.earthcrafthouse.com.