A HOLISTIC ENERGY SAVINGS APPROACH RIVER TOWN HOUSE has received the highest possible Energy Star rating (5+); the estimated energy cost per unit is $183.21 per month. It is environmentally responsible for the community as well as economically advantageous for the homeowner to have River Town House consume the lowest amount of energy feasible. River Town House was constructed to maximize energy efficiency and minimize costs – some of the energy saving features include:
	INSULATION – Foam polyurethane soya-based and polyisocyanurate insulation maximizes the retention of heat in the winter and air conditioning in the summer, and contributes to the Energy Star rating for the townhouse. WINDOWS and GLASS DOORS – High performance Low-E4 windows and doors are used for energy efficient glazing and to maximize daylight and views. SOLAR PANELS ON ROOF AND SIDE – Panels on the roof and side of the building have an unimpeded face to the south, so that the thermal units can capture energy to produce power for hot water and heating. HIGH EFFICIENCY HEAT AC PUMPS – The owner-controlled 23 SEER units are designed to supplement the energy captured by the solar panels, as well provide air conditioning; they are strategically located in zones, so that the area where people are located is comfortable while conserving energy use in the home. GREEN ROOF – The Green Roof consists of drought resistant, low-maintenance plants (sedum) covering most of the already heat-reflective roof - it benefits the homeowner by providing insulation in both summer and winter, as well as being attractive – for the surrounding community a Green Roof has other benefits, such as reducing storm water run-off, providing additional oxygen, and eliminating the heat island effect typical of traditional dark roof materials. OTHER FEATURES: ENERGY-STAR APPLIANCES RAIN BARRELS WOOD: All flooring and cabinetry is FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) lumber. Fence at rear yard is bamboo, a rapidly renewable wood. KITCHEN TILE: Made largely from recycled glass. DECKING: Made largely of recycled plastic. FLUORESCENT LIGHTING: At all recessed and closet lights to reduce electrical demand. ENGINEERED PANELS: Used for sub-floor and sheathing have 50 year warranty, made with recycled wood products in compliance with Sustainable Forestry Initiative.
(Some of the above photographs are not of River Town House and are included for illustrative purposes only)

The Benefits of a Green Home A Healthier Home • Unhealthy air inside can pose serious health risks for residents. Green homes’ use of toxin- free building materials helps combat indoor air pollution, which can be much worse than outdoor pollution. Unhealthy air inside can pose serious health risks for residents. • Natural ventilation in green homes keep residents breathing easy, as well as use of mechanical ventilation systems to filter and bring fresh air inside and vent stale air outside. A Cost-Efficient Home • The net cost of owning a green home is comparable to – or even cheaper than – owning a standard home. If upfront costs are higher, it is often because many architects, homebuilders, engineers, plumbers and other industry professionals just don’t have the knowledge and experience to cost-effectively plan, design and build a green home. Finding a professional familiar with green-building techniques will save you money and ensure you’re getting the best-quality work possible. • Month to month, people who live in green homes save money by consuming less energy and less water than standard homes. Over the years, that adds up to big savings. • A healthier home can mean fewer expensive doctors visits and fewer days of missed work. • Soon, it will cost less to insure a green home than a standard home. An increasing number of insurance companies are offering discounts on policies covering green homes. Similarly, several mortgage companies offer discounted loan rates for homebuyers buying green. • A green home is often more durable than most standard homes because of its high- quality building materials and construction processes, requiring fewer repairs. • The value of a green home is often higher than that of a comparable standard home, and the market demand for green homes continues to rise. The Solaire, a green residential high-rise in New York City, brings in rents 10% to 15% higher than market rates, and in Rocklin, Calif., the LEED-certified homes in the Carsten Crossings development outsold the competition 2-to-1. • Local, state and federal governments are increasingly offering tax breaks and other incentives for building LEED homes or adding green features to your home. An Environmentally Friendly Home • Residential cooling and heating alone make up 20% of the United States’ yearly energy use. Throw in household lighting, appliances and other electronic equipment, and homes are clearly a major source of energy consumption. Most of that energy comes from greenhouse gas producers like oil and coal, contributing to global climate change. Green homes use 40% less energy than comparable standard homes. • Some green homes further reduce our dependence on conventional energy sources as they generate some or all of their energy needs through alternative energy sources like the sun, wind, geothermal energy and biomass. • Efficient plumbing and bathing fixtures, drought-tolerant landscaping and water- conserving irrigation systems help green homes use less water than standard homes. • Far fewer natural resources are used in the construction of a green home. Many green building materials have significant recycled content. Some companies, for example, now make carpets and floor tiles from recycled tires and bottles. Green homes can also be constructed with salvaged materials from demolished buildings. Green homes use materials made from rapidly renewable materials, like bamboo, hemp, agrifibers and soybean-based products. And the use of wood that is certified by the Forest Stewardship Council helps promote socially and environmentally beneficial forestry practices. • Building a standard 2,500-square-foot home creates approximately 2 tons of construction waste that ends up in landfills. Construction of a green home, however, should generate less waste – often much less. LEED for Homes LEED is an internationally recognized certification system that measures how well a building or community performs in terms of energy savings, water efficiency, CO2 emissions reduction, improved indoor environmental quality, and stewardship of resources and sensitivity to their impacts. Developed by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), LEED provides building owners and operators a concise framework for identifying and implementing practical and measurable green building design, construction, operations and maintenance solutions. LEED for Homes is a rating system that promotes the design and construction of high- performance green homes. A green home uses less energy, water and natural resources, creates less waste, and is healthier and more comfortable for occupants. Benefits of a LEED home include lower energy and water bills; reduced greenhouse gas emissions; and less exposure to mold, mildew and other indoor toxins. The net cost of owning a LEED home is comparable to that of owning a conventional home. Average Predicted Energy Savings of LEED Homes Based on their average Home Energy Rating System (HERS) scores, homes certified under LEED for Homes since the program launched in January 2008 are predicted, on average, to have the potential for reduced energy usage compared with International Energy Conservation Code standards: What Does LEED Measure? LEED is a voluntary certification program that can be applied to any building type and any building lifecycle phase. It promotes a whole-building approach to sustainability by recognizing performance in key areas:

	Sustainable Sites Choosing a building's site and managing that site during construction are important considerations for a project’s sustainability. The Sustainable Sites category discourages development on previously undeveloped land; minimizes a building's impact on ecosystems and waterways; encourages regionally appropriate landscaping; rewards smart transportation choices; controls stormwater runoff; and reduces erosion, light pollution, heat island effect and construction-related pollution.
	Water Efficiency Buildings are major users of our potable water supply. The goal of the Water Efficiency credit category is to encourage smarter use of water, inside and out. Water reduction is typically achieved through more efficient appliances, fixtures and fittings inside and water-wise landscaping outside.
	Energy & Atmosphere According to the U.S. Department of Energy, buildings use 39% of the energy and 74% of the electricity produced each year in the United States. The Energy & Atmosphere category encourages a wide variety of energy strategies: commissioning; energy use monitoring; efficient design and construction; efficient appliances, systems and lighting; the use of renewable and clean sources of energy, generated on-site or off-site; and other innovative strategies.
	Materials & Resources During both the construction and operations phases, buildings generate a lot of waste and use a lot of materials and resources. This credit category encourages the selection of sustainably grown, harvested, produced and transported products and materials. It promotes the reduction of waste as well as reuse and recycling, and it takes into account the reduction of waste at a product’s source.
	Indoor Environmental Quality The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency estimates that Americans spend about 90% of their day indoors, where the air quality can be significantly worse than outside. The Indoor Environmental Quality credit category promotes strategies that can improve indoor air as well as providing access to natural daylight and views and improving acoustics.
	Locations & Linkages The LEED for Homes rating system recognizes that much of a home's impact on the environment comes from where it is located and how it fits into its community. The Locations & Linkages credits encourage homes being built away from environmentally sensitive places and instead being built in infill, previously developed and other preferable sites. It rewards homes that are built near already-existing infrastructure, community resources and transit, and it encourages access to open space for walking, physical activity and time spent outdoors.
	Awareness & Education The LEED for Homes rating system acknowledges that a green home is only truly green if the people who live in it use the green features to maximum effect. The Awareness & Education credits encourage home builders and real estate professionals to provide homeowners, tenants and building managers with the education and tools they need to understand what makes their home green and how to make the most of those features.
	Innovation in Design The Innovation in Design credit category provides bonus points for projects that use new and innovative technologies and strategies to improve a building’s performance well beyond what is required by other LEED credits or in green building considerations that are not specifically addressed elsewhere in LEED. This credit category also rewards projects for including a LEED Accredited Professional on the team to ensure a holistic, integrated approach to the design and construction phase.
	Regional Priority USGBC’s regional councils, chapters and affiliates have identified the environmental concerns that are locally most important for every region of the country, and six LEED credits that address those local priorities were selected for each region. A project that earns a regional priority credit will earn one bonus point in addition to any points awarded for that credit. Up to four extra points can be earned in this way.