GREEN Guidelines

Green Build Kentucky is compromised of seven basic principals outlined in the National Green Building Guidelines.

Green Build Kentucky Principals

  1. Lot Preparation and Design - Careful planning can reduce the home’s impact on natural features such as vegetation and soil.  Simply placing the home on the lot to take advantage of the sun will help save energy costs.
  2. Resource Efficiency - Advanced framing techniques and home design can effectively optimize the use of building materials.  Builders can also manage their construction waste more efficiently.
  3. Energy Efficiency - The Energy Star requirements provide for the creation of a better building envelope and encourage the use of more energy efficient systems.  This also includes energy efficient appliances and lighting fixtures.
  4. Water Efficiency and Conservation - Education and conservation implementation for indoor and outdoor water use can reduce utility bills drastically.  Water shortages are becoming more widespread and without conservative measures, forced reduction may become the norm.
  5. Occupancy, Comfort and Indoor Air Quality - Effective management of moisture, ventilation and other issues can create a more comfortable and healthier indoor living environment for the homeowner and family.
  6. Operation, Maintenance and Education - Given the level of effort a home builder goes through to create an energy efficient home using sustainable materials, it would be reasonable to expect that instruction on operation and maintenance be discussed with the home owner.  Under the Green Build Kentucky program, a homeowner manual with the information on products specific to the home is given to the owner.  Using the guidelines in this manual can provide the owner with information on how to keep their home “green” for years to come.
  7. Global Impact - If every homeowner adopted a “reduce, reuse, recycle” lifestyle, the contribution to our environment would be enormous.  The use of low-or no-VOC paints and low-VOC sealants would greatly reduce the adverse affects that paints, varnishes, etc have on a home’s indoor air quality. The objective of the program is to have all homes/buildings constructed be energy neutral by 2025.