Green home certification research project conducted by:
Colorado State University, Institute for the Built Environment
Research Summary
A graduate research project will focus on following and documenting the process of building the custom-built green home at 1327 Magnolia within the city of Fort Collins.
There are a few related areas of interest for this research. One aspect of the research will look at the entire custom-home green building process from start to finish and determine what issues came up, why, and how they were dealt with. There is a lot of specific work and documentation that goes into building a green home that is seeking a certification or label from a third-party. This research will determine what these issues are, why they occurred, and how they can be mitigated in future projects.
A second aspect of the research will closely relate to the first. The question would be, “what are the performance and implementation differences (i.e. logistical and financial) between the available green home labeling programs in Colorado?” By determining the different “green” issues that arise throughout the project, it is a start at analyzing the different labeling programs. Each program consists of different costs, verifications, and performance standards. Comparing the labeling systems through the construction of one custom-built home will bring to light the many differences.
A third area of research will focus on the builder of the home. What was easy about building a custom-built green home? What were the hardships encountered in the process? Questions such as these will help determine what it will take to have more builders commit to green building practices and standards in their own businesses.
All of these questions and research areas are closely related, yet all need specific answers. Answers to questions such as these will undoubtedly help grow the residential green building market in the state of Colorado.
