Brian Plaster recently built a 4,400 sq. ft., 2-story home in Las Vegas to the absolute highest green building standards. His first month of energy only cost $1.60!
Plaster’s home has received numerous certifications and the highest ratings by third-party verifiers such as the U.S. Green Building Council’s Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design and the National Association of Home Builders’ Green Building Standard program. Third-party inspectors were brought in to evaluate each step in the home’s construction, from the design of the home to the implementation of its operation systems, to ensure it met all the green standards available at the time.
“Perhaps the biggest difference in how we built this house versus every other home we have built in Las Vegas deals with the insulation and how we sealed the home,” Plaster said. The garage was insulated with Icynene foam, the interior walls with batt insulation and cellulose was blown into exterior walls and the attic.
Plaster said that building green adds approximately three to five percent to building costs, but savings on resources, such as electricity, gas and water, will recoup this upfront cost in five to 10 years. In addition, homes that meet green standards ensure a healthier air quality and a more comfortable home.
