WLBT 3 - Jackson, MS: "Green" homebuilding saves on utilties

"Green" homebuilding saves on utilties

By David Kenney - bio | email

Wednesday, Earth Day activities were celebrated in more than 170 countries around the world. Recently in Mississippi, there's been great lifestyle changes taken to lessen our impact on the environment.

In the Farmington Station subdivision in Flowood, one home is the prototype for future "green" home building.

"Building green is a building science; it's really building our homes better. We pay close attention to how the windows are installed, how they're flashed, how we use flashing on the house, using better materials on the roof, installing them properly," says builder David Smith.

Smith was the first green professional in the state to be certified by the National Association of Homebuilders.

About 70-percent of the building materials were manufactured locally. The floors use recycled wood, the carpet, recycled plastics. Along with the high energy efficiency appliances, this home will save its buyers about 40 percent on their power bills.

Smith says, "Somebody buys this house, they're going to save in the long run on their utility bills, on the water because they're using low flow faucets; they're also using a tankless hot water heater; there's less gas consumption."

Going green does cost a little more green. Smith says about $2,000.00 more to build this house, but he says those costs will be paid back to the buyer, in the amount they save, after the first year and a half. If you already own a home, it's never to late to go green.

"I think it's real key for us to think about energy efficiency in the future in the way we all build," says Smith, who is also constructing this year's St. Jude Dream Home.  And yes, it's also green.