Rotarian Hugh Pitts, presented a program on Green Building at a recent Rotary Club weekly meeting.  Pitts is the CEO of Kokopelli Builders and the president of the Lake Oconee Home Builders Association.

Although new technologies are constantly being developed to complement current practices in creating greener structures, the common objective is that green buildings are designed to reduce the overall impact of the built environment on human health and the natural environment by:  better use of resources, building cost savings, lower energy usage,  energy cost savings, and provides a better indoor environment.  

Green Building programs consist of Energy Star, Earth Craft Houses, NAHBGREEN and LEED for Homes.

According to Pitts, there are various Green Building techniques:  

Orientation of house and design features

Chip trees and limbs during clearing

California Corners

Engineered lumber

Open cell spray insulation

Sealing holes and framing members

Sealing ducts

Adding fresh air intake

For existing homes, Georgia Power provides up to $2,200 in rebates in their Georgia Power Home Energy Improvement Program.