Residential HVAC as Part of Green Home Construction

The United States Green Building Council has created a series of benchmarks to ensure that new construction meets the criteria for an ecologically friendly design. Rather than simply implementing individual enhancements to improve a house it instead takes a holistic approach that addresses every aspect in several key areas. These areas can be applied to every system and every type of building including residential HVAC.

Residential HVAC refers to the heating, ventilation and air conditioning of homes rather than office or professional structures. It is the form of temperature regulation and environmental control of all buildings that people live in. sometimes it is used in apartment complexes but often it is installed in single-family dwellings.

The United States Green Building Council has created a program called LEED that specifically addresses a number of factors when considering a site. First it addresses water efficiency. In regards to residential HVAC it addresses the major uses of potable water in things like air conditioning units and other appliances like hot water heaters. It strives to use the most efficient and least wasteful technology possible.

The next category that affects residential HVAC is the energy and atmosphere usage measurements. These temperature regulation appliances use a tremendous amount of energy. In fact all buildings use about 39% of the total energy and a startling 74% of the electricity produced in this country each year. The impact of homes on this number is undoubtedly very significant. By encouraging such proactive behaviors as monitoring of energy usage; efficiency in design, construction and appliance implementation; and a greater focus on renewable and cleaner fuels it is possible to greatly reduce the amount of waste and pollution generated.

The next section is tied up in energy and atmosphere and that is the use of sustainable resources and materials. This promotes a reduction in waste while increasing efficiency. Constructing homes with better and greener insulation allows for a reduction in the amount of residential HVAC necessary to maintain an indoor temperature.

Another highly relevant category is indoor air quality. Americans spend an estimated 90% of their time indoors and that is why adequate ventilation and air circulation is paramount. By improving things like indoor air quality while increasing access to natural sunlight and outdoor views it is possible to improve the indoors significantly.

LEED also encourages construction of homes in environmentally viable areas. This means working with the land to conscientiously create neighborhoods that conform to the natural water table and other preferable locations. This increases access to green spaces while also reducing new construction.

The most important task of LEED is to increase awareness and education to encourage innovation. They realize that a house is only really green if the people who live there conform to and maintain sustainable practices. By teaching residents how to best utilize these features it is possible to continue to reduce impact and pollution while reducing waste. By innovating it is possible to allow each aspect of a house to be built cooperatively so that it functions as a unit to continue to improve efficiency.