Fireman’s Fund Insurance Co. is launching green insurance for homeowners this summer, and will offer the service to those who currently own eco-friendly homes or who want to upgrade their houses with green features after a loss. Under this insurance, a homeowner can rebuild a home that has been completely destroyed to meet green guidelines and standards, such as the USGBC’s LEED green rating system. The green homeowners insurance is now available in 25 states; the insurance company expects to add other states by the end of the year.
In June, Hawaii Governor Linda Lingle signed a bill that requires the installation of solar water heating systems on all new single-family homes. Hawaii is the first state in the United States to require the energy-saving systems. Under the law, most single-family homes that do not have solar water heaters will not be issued building permits beginning Jan. 1, 2010. Read the full text of the bill here. For more information, visit www.ehawaii.gov.
The National Center for Construction Education and Research (NCCER) is partnering with Virginia Polytechnic University’s Sustainable Facilities and Infrastructure Research Team to develop a green training curriculum for the construction trades—the “green collar” work force. The curriculum, “Your Role in the Green Environment,” offers basic instruction in the green environment, green construction practices, and green building rating systems. An introductory course focuses on the USGBC’s LEED green building rating system. Those completing the curriculum through an NCCER-accredited training sponsor will earn industry-recognized credentials through the NCCER National Registry. Click here to search for a local accredited training sponsor. The course will be available later in August. The companion book will be available at http://nccer.pearsonconstructionbooks.com/index.aspx.
BuildingGreen.com has launched an interactive fuel cost calculator ( here) so that homeowners and builders can compare the costs of different fuels, such as propane, fuel oil, natural gas, electricity, pellets, corn, firewood, and others—all of which are measured differently—on an apples-to-apples basis. The free fuel-cost calculator accounts for the heat content of each fuel, the efficiency of combustion by heating equipment, and the efficiency of distribution. The calculator provides default efficiencies, but users can enter different efficiency values if known.
New Books
Visit your favorite e-tailer to purchase any of these newly released books about green and healthy homes:
Sustainable Homes USA (Links International, $39.95) by architecture critic Jacobo Krauel, offers a look at innovative ideas in sustainable residential architecture and construction from across the United States. The book features hundreds of photos and illustrations and emphasizes new techniques, more-efficient energy systems, and unconventional building materials.
The third edition of Prescriptions for a Healthy House: A practical guide for architects, builders and homeowners (New Society Publishers, $28.95) by Paula Baker-Laporte, John C. Banta, and Erica Elliot guides the owner/architect/builder team through the process of constructing a healthy house, from foundation to rooftop. This third edition also explores healthy outdoor spaces, includes new resources, and offers specialized knowledge from several building biology experts.
Through 400 color photographs of more than 50 green homes in North America, Green Homes: Dwellings for the 21st Century (Schiffer Books, $39.99) explores the ways in which architects have achieved sustainability through common-sense strategies and cutting-edge materials. The book helps the homeowner, architect, and builder design homes that are more energy and resource efficient.
