Photo by Sam Yu The first third-party certified green home in Emmitsburg will be completed on Mountaineers Way by mid-November according to Gary Jackson, right, of R&J Builders of Frederick. Also looking over plans at the home site are Realtor Don Briggs, left, and homeowner Danny Miles.

Miles' house, in the South Gate subdivision, is the first registered Third Party Certified Sustainable Home in northern Frederick County.

As part of the Energy Star program, the house was inspected by a third party — the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency — to ensure it met standards of energy efficiency, said Don Briggs of Briggs Associates Inc.

A Realtor who is certified in the green aspects of his profession, Briggs said he and Miles were looking for something beyond the cheapest price.

"I wanted to find, in effect, two homes for Dr. Miles. One, an energy efficient home to enjoy now and the other a home with the highest resale value potential," Briggs said.

Briggs is a LEED AP, a National Association of Realtors Green Designation instructor and author and instructor of a Green Residential Valuation course.

"Our initial focus did include price, but tempered with serious consideration of operating and maintenance costs and how competitive the house would be in five years and beyond," Briggs said.

"We looked at the life cycle cost of the home. Energy efficiency is important now, but it will be even more so in years to come."

The house will be the ninth third-party certified Energy Star house in the county, Briggs said.

Briggs and Miles turned to R & J Builders of Frederick , which had the perfect design, its Essex model. The standard Essex is 1,992 square feet, but a sun room was added to bring the square footage to 2,160. The house also has 1,104 square feet of basement space.

Gary Jackson, president of R & J Builders, said the firm recently enrolled in the Energy Star builder program.

"Through the years we have added many features to ensure our homes are economical to operate," he said. "As a result, the transition to Energy Star standards required minimal changes in our construction materials and techniques. The Energy Star program provides a measurable baseline which can demonstrate the superior performance of our homes."

For Miles, it was more than just saving money. "It also provides me with an opportunity to illustrate for my students an example of living in an environmentally responsible manner."

The builders used R19 insulation, compared to the county's standard of R13; a high-efficiency heat pump at a SEER (seasonal energy efficiency ratio) 15 rating, compared to the standard SEER 13; upgraded insulation and draft seal package; and Energy Star appliances. They tested the house and the heating-cooling system for leaks.

Briggs said the builder also focused on concerns about volatile organic compounds in carpeting, flooring and interior painting.

"We wanted a third party sustainable home. We wanted an Energy Star qualified home," Briggs said. "Studies reflect that Energy Star qualified homes typically are 20 percent to 30 percent more energy efficient than standard homes. I wanted my client, an academically noted and respected chemist, to enjoy energy efficiency when he moved in and, with this branding, a strong resale value."

Jackson said the energy features came to less than 3 percent of the cost of the house and should pay back to cost in seven years, "much faster if energy prices continue to rise."

Dave Burch of ABD Home Inspections in Laurel, a certified Home Energy Rating Service inspector did the inspection. The house is expected to be completed by the end of the year.

"Real estate prices have not stabilized and Emmitsburg , like many towns in the county, is more car-dependent and less self-sufficient," Briggs said.

He wanted to offset that, he said, help Miles enjoy an energy efficient home and put him in the most competitive position if and when he wants to sell.