The Green Certification Process

Each of the green certifying programs uses similar checklists for tracking the green components of a home and calculating the overall performance rating. In general "Green" can be categorized into: 

• Property Characteristics; 
• Site Development; 
• Water Conservation; 
• Energy Efficiency; 
• Smart Resources; 
• Durable Construction; 
• Indoor Health; 
• Environmental Awareness; 
• Waste Management; and
• Operations and Maintenance.

Each comprises several methods of varying values that meet the intent of the category. The process is an integrative whole-building approach where points earned in one category may benefit or impede performance elsewhere. 

A preliminary analysis can be performed during the home design phase so that goals can be established for development of the project. Some of the most cost-effective and beneficial results can be obtained by incorporating green decisions into the early design phase.