ARTISAN/CRAFTSMAN/BUILDER: GREEN BUILDING IN THE MLS.

Byline: KURT FAUST

There is a well known quote, "What gets measured gets done. What gets rewarded gets done well." The Santa Fe Association of Realtors is adding a checklist of green-building features to its MLS (multiple-listing service) property data form. This is good news, because green features now have a way of being measured and rewarded.

The list has five categories: resource efficiency, indoor environmental quality, energy efficiency, water efficiency, and green certifications. Under each is a checklist of several common features.

The checklist is a great idea and will help expand awareness among appraisers, Realtors, and homebuyers. Remember that the list is only an indicator that the feature exists or that it is included. It does not say anything qualitative about the feature and says very little about the quantity of the feature.

Resource efficiency is one of the broadest terms and lists four features. One is Recycled Content for Building Materials and concerns plywood made from scraps and chips of wood glued together or insulation made from recycled newspaper or glass. Materials from Renewable Resources asks if the material is resource-efficient in its manufacture, installation, use, and removal. Certified Sustainably Harvested Wood refers to forests managed under certain guidelines like the criteria developed by the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC). Locally Available Indigenous Materials seeks to reduce the amount of energy used in transportation. Locally made adobes would be a great example of this in our area.

Indoor Environmental Quality concerns the quality of the air inside the home. New homes are notorious for products that out-gas for many months after the home is finished. The features listed seek to limit the amount of mold, radon, carbon monoxide and other noxious chemicals in the indoor environment. Whole House Air Filtration System and Green Seal Certified Finishes are two strategies to accomplish that.

Energy Efficiency is the largest category. South Facing Lot/Orientation and Passive Solar Design are the fundamental low-cost, high-benefit green features. Super Insulated refers to the thermal envelope and how well the house holds in the desired temperature. There are two categories for Energy Star, one for appliances and one for windows and skylights. The HERS rating quantifies how the house will perform relative to minimum code. There are categories for three active solar systems: thermal hot water, thermal space heating, and photovoltaics. Sealed Combustion Heating Systems are about how efficient the boiler is and the HRV (Heat Recovery Ventilation) Systems provide a way of ventilating while minimizing energy loss.

The Water Efficiency category is much more familiar ground, with things like rainwater harvesting, greywater, low-flow fixtures, and xeriscaping. The final category lists several green certifications available. Build Green New Mexico and LEED are two institutions with standards that equate with a particular level of green-building practice. The main advantage is that these are done by a third party that verifies the achievements.

With the addition of this checklist in the MLS data, the extent of "green" in any home should more likely be added to the value of the home by appraisers, Realtors and homebuyers.

Kurt Faust is an artist, blacksmith, cabinetmaker, and homebuilder. He owns Tierra Concepts Inc. and Carpinteros with his two partners, Eric Faust and Keith Gorges. He may be reached at [e-mail].