Green Building in Austin, Texas - Central Vacuums Help Ratings

The June 1 effective date of Austin's energy ordinance increases local focus on green initiatives. Just Right Homes announces that its central vacuum systems earn "green" points from two national agencies for being environmentally friendly.

Austin, TX (PRWEB) June 3, 2009 -- Just Right Homes of Round Rock is continuing its efforts to reach and educate Austin area residents that central vacuums now earn "green" points from the U.S. Green Building Council's (USGBC) LEED program and from the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB). "The Austin community has long been at the national forefront of environmental awareness and stewardship. Now more than ever, Austin homeowners want to live in an environmentally friendly manner," says Ron Marullo, owner of Just Right Homes (http://www.myjustrighthome.com) a local installer of built-in central vacuum systems with retractable hoses.

In fact, on June 1, the Energy Conservation Audit and Disclosure (ECAD) ordinance went into effect, passed by the Austin City Council and aimed at homes at least ten years old. This ordinance requires sellers of homes within the city limits to disclose to buyers the home's green rating, as determined by a professional ECAD Auditor. The ECAD ordinance is just one part of the city's overall Austin Climate Protection Plan.

Built-in central vacuum systems are eligible for USGBC and NAHB green points when vented outside of the indoor living areas because of their positive impact on indoor air quality. Under the NAHB Green Building Standards, approved by the American National Standards Institute, a home with a central vacuum can earn five points. Under the USGBC's LEED for Homes program, the same home may receive one LEED point toward LEED certification. (LEED stands for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design.) This constitutes more points than any other indoor environmental quality improvement for the home.

"Central vacuums are great for people with allergies or asthma," says Marullo. "You can breathe easier with a built-in central vacuum system because it removes allergens, dust, and pet dander from your home, thereby making the air quality in your home healthier." His words are backed by the EPA's Introduction to Indoor Air Quality (http://www.epa.gov/iaq/biologic.html), which suggest that built-in central vacuum systems that vent outside of the living area do a better job of reducing "house dust mites, pollens, animal dander, and other allergy-causing agents" by carrying dust and debris through in-wall tubing to an out-of-the way receptacle.

Marullo adds, "Additionally, there is the environmental benefit of preventing landfill waste by not throwing out a broken upright vacuum every few years. A central vacuum system can last for decades and our systems come with a limited lifetime warranty to provide an additional worry-free level of protection."

Central vacuum systems can be installed in new homes under construction or can be retrofitted into most existing homes with minimal intrusion.

For more information about built-in central vacuum cleaners for Austin, Texas and the greater metropolitan area, contact Ron Marullo, Just Right Homes, inc. at 1-877-574-9494 or info on the web at http://www.myjustrighthome.com.

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