GreenHousing.net's FEATURE ARTICLE

by Kristena Cox and Justin Schmick

In late Summer 2002 we had the pleasure of meeting with Duane Woik, New Construction Consultant for Earth Advantage. Earth Advantage is a program sponsored by Portland General Electric that promotes sustainability in the Pacific NW by working with builders to create healthier and more energy efficient homes. We sat down with Duane and asked him a few questions about the Earth Advantage program.

Question: "What is the Earth Advantage mission?"
Reply: We want to promote sustainability in the North West and work with builders to create homes that are designed to be more efficient and promote healthier indoor air. Specifically, we want to build more "holistic" homes.

Question: "For the consumer, what do you believe are the key advantages to buying an Earth Advantage Certified home?"
Reply: Well, they can save owners money on utility bills. But home dwellers will also get healthier indoor air quality, eco-friendly products and a durable life cycle on their home.

Question: "How much does it cost to use the program?"
Reply: Typical cost is .5% to 1% of total construction cost.

Question: "How does Earth Advantage set themselves apart from other programs/organizations that promote green building?"
Reply: Some have likened the Earth Advantage program to the popular Super Good Cents program that came out in the 1980s. The Super Good Cents program is an electrical based program that focuses on saving kilowatts. How Earth Advantage differs is that we have a commitment to total energy savings and sustainability. We do not differentiate between gas and electric. And we consider the home's total environmental impact. An Earth Advantage home may feature healthier indoor air, energy efficient systems, sustainable design and resource efficient materials.
We are one of the few organizations who provide third party, unbiased certification. Other programs leave it up to the builder. We are more "hands on". We do performance testing such as duct blasting and blower door tests.

Question: "Who are your strongest allies in the community?"
Reply: Our strongest allies are the builders and homebuyers. Governor Kitzhaber and the State of Oregon endorse us. We work with the Oregon Housing and Community Service. They provide low interest loans. We are also members of the Portland Builders Association and the National Association of Home Builders.

Question: "How have builders reacted to your program? What are the challenges to using the program for your builders?"
Reply: We work with the leaders, those who are on the cutting edge of residential building. The greatest challenge for our builders is getting their subs (sub-contractors) on board. It is a challenge to get them to change the way they do business. If a builder is used to working with a particular plumber but the builder wants to put in, say, a recirculating hot water system and the plumber does not know much about that system, it can get pretty challenging.

Question: "Which communities have been most responsive to your program?"
Reply: We have a lot of different markets but I would say we have good responses in cities where there is a mix of both custom homes and affordable housing. The top communities are Portland, Eugene, Bend and Ashland. I believe change happens through creating community within our communities. It seems smaller communities are more willing to support this program.

Question: "Which builders have you worked with in the Eugene/Springfield community?"
Reply: Well, we certify the homes, not the builders. But the builder or the homebuyer hires us. We are working with several builders right now: Metro, Gansen, Ives, Rainbow Valley and Koala. A couple of the 2002 Tour of Homes in Eugene were built using the Earth Advantage Certification program. One home was built in the South East at 4680 S. Shasta Loop by Ives Construction and one in Ferry Street Bridge at 1625 Canoe Ridge Way by Gansen Construction.

We really appreciate the time Duane spent with us this summer during his busy building season. For more information on the Earth Advantage program you can contact Duane at:

(888)-EARTH33
www.earthadvantage.com