Green Building
There are various approaches and strategies to consider in the goal of building and creating a green home. Whereas some of these strategies are individual “stand alone” concepts, most concepts should be seen as “integrated” and optimized as a system. The following green building guidelines provide examples of concepts and specific strategies that INVERDE Design may utilize to create a home project that offers lower energy costs, reduced environmental impact, and a healthier home interior.
Please click here for a glossary of general Green Building Terms.
Please click here to view Green Builder Magazine's "Green Building Pyramid."
Design
Optimize use of interior space through careful design so that the overall home size—and resource use in constructing and operating it—are kept to a minimum.
Design an energy-efficient home
Use high levels of insulation, high-performance windows, and tight construction.
Design the home to use renewable energy
Passive solar heating, daylighting, and natural cooling can be incorporated cost-effectively into most designs. Also consider solar water heating and photovoltaics—or design for future solar installations.
Optimize material use
Minimize waste by designing for standard ceiling heights and building dimensions. Utilize efficient and optimized engineered beams, trusses and advanced framing. Simplify building geometry.
Design for durability
To spread the environmental impacts of building over as long a period as possible, the structure must be durable. A building with an aesthetic and durable style (“timeless architecture”) will be more likely to realize a long life.
Design for future adaptability
Consider “age-in-place” and accessibility concepts. Make the structure adaptable/expandable to other uses if possible, and choose materials and components that can be reused or recycled.
Avoid potential health hazards—radon, mold, pesticides
Follow recommended practices to minimize radon entry into the building and provide for future mitigation if necessary. Provide detailing to avoid moisture problems, which could cause mold and mildew growth. Design insect-resistant detailing to minimize pesticide use.
Land Use & Site Issues
Early in the siting process carry out a careful site evaluation: solar access, soils, vegetation, water resources, important natural areas, etc., and let this information guide the design.
Design water-efficient, low-maintenance landscaping
Conventional lawns have a high impact because of water use, pesticide use, and pollution generated from mowing. Landscape with drought-resistant native plants and perennial groundcovers.
Make it easy for occupants to recycle waste
Make provisions for storage and processing of recyclables—recycling bins near the kitchen, under-sink compost receptacles, etc.
Look into the feasibility of graywater
Water from sinks, showers, or clothes washers (graywater) can be recycled for irrigation in some areas. If current codes prevent graywater recycling, consider designing the plumbing for easy future adaptation.
Minimize automobile dependence
Locate buildings to provide access to public transportation, bicycle paths, and walking access to basic services. Commuting can also be reduced by working at home—consider home office needs with layout and wiring.
Provide responsible on-site water management
Design landscapes to absorb stormwater instead of relying on storm sewers. Consider roof guttering design that enables catchment and storage of rainwater (cisterns, rain barrels, etc.) for landscape irrigation use. Also, bio-swales and rain gardens should be considered.
Situate buildings to benefit from existing vegetation
Shade trees on the south and west sides of a building can dramatically reduce cooling loads. Coniferous trees and shrubs can block cold winter winds or help channel cool summer breezes into buildings.
Protect trees and topsoil during sitework
Protect trees from construction damage by fencing off the “drip line” around them and avoiding major changes to
surface grade.
Avoid use of pesticides and other chemicals that may leach into the groundwater
Look into less toxic termite treatments, and keep exposed frost walls free from obstructions to discourage insects. When backfilling a foundation or grading around a house, do not bury any construction debris.
Materials
Use durable products and materials
Because manufacturing is very energy-intensive, a product that lasts longer or requires less maintenance usually saves energy. Durable products also contribute less to our solid waste problems.
Choose low-maintenance building materials
Where possible, select building materials that require little maintenance (painting, retreatment, waterproofing, etc.), or whose maintenance will have minimal environmental impact.
Choose building materials with low embodied energy
Heavily processed or manufactured products and materials are usually more energy intensive. As long as durability and performance will not be sacrificed, choose low-embodied-energy materials.
Buy locally produced building materials
Transportation is costly in both energy use and pollution generation. Look for locally produced materials. Local hardwoods, for example, are preferable to tropical woods.
Use building products made from recycled materials
Building products made from recycled materials reduce solid waste problems, cut energy consumption in manufacturing, and save on natural resource use. A few examples of materials with recycled content are cellulose insulation, Homasote®, fly-ash concrete, floor tile made from ground glass, and recycled plastic lumber.
Use salvaged building materials when possible
Reduce landfill pressure and save natural resources by using salvaged materials: lumber, millwork, certain plumbing fixtures, and hardware, for example. Make sure these materials are safe (test for lead paint and asbestos), and don’t sacrifice energy efficiency or water efficiency by reusing old windows or toilets.
Seek responsible wood supplies
Use lumber from independently certified well-managed forests. Avoid lumber products produced from old-growth timber unless they are certified. Engineered wood can be substituted for old-growth Douglas fir, for example. Don’t buy tropical hardwoods unless the seller can document that the wood comes from well-managed forests.
Avoid materials that will off-gas pollutants
Solvent-based finishes, adhesives, carpeting, particleboard, and many other building products release formaldehyde and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) into the air; these chemicals can affect workers’ and occupants’ health as well as contribute to smog and ground-level ozone pollution outside. Avoid materials that off-gas HCFCs, such as extruded polystyrene and polyisocyanurate foam insulation.
Equipment
Install high-efficiency heating and cooling equipment
Well-designed high-efficiency furnaces, boilers, and air conditioners (and distribution systems) not only save homeowners money, but also produce less pollution. Install equipment with minimal risk of combustion gas leakage, such as sealed-combustion appliances.
Avoid ozone-depleting chemicals in mechanical equipment and insulation
CFCs have been phased out, but their primary replacements—HCFCs—also damage the ozone layer and should be avoided where possible. Reclaim CFCs when servicing or disposing of equipment.
Install high-efficiency lights and appliances
Fluorescent lighting has improved dramatically in recent years and is now suitable for homes. High-efficiency appliances offer both economic and environmental advantages over their conventional counterparts.
Install water-efficient equipment
Water-conserving toilets, showerheads, and faucet aerators reduce water use as well as the demand on septic systems or sewage treatment plants. Reducing hot water use also saves energy.
Install mechanical ventilation equipment
Mechanical ventilation is usually required to ensure healthy indoor air. Heat recovery ventilators (HRV/ERV) should be considered for improved energy savings, but simpler, less expensive exhaust-only ventilation systems are also adequate.
This list offers green building strategies and ideas that you may want to research on your own or inquire about to INVERDE Design. We have direct experience in the design use or specification of many of these strategies as well as recommending certain manufacturers' products.
Energy-Envelope:
Structural System:
Wood Framing (stick-built) with enhanced insulation
Post & Beam (w/panel infill)
Efficient Framing (includes engineered beams & trusses)
ICF (insulated concrete forms)
SIP (structural insulated panels)
Natural Building (click for images): A beautiful and natural approach, natural building styles include Strawbale homes, Cob/Cordwood building, and Earth Sheltering.
Insulation:
Low Infiltration (“tight”) barriers
Radiant barriers
Rigid foam board
Batt insulation (“eco-batts”)
Spray Foam (“closed-cell”, water-based type is best)
Windows & Doors:
Energy Star rated (recommended minimum)
‘Super Windows’ are the best performers
Energy-Solar Design:
Orientation:
Prefer Southern Exposure (build on an East-West axis)
Provide winter gain, summer shade: Roof overhangs, shade plantings
Passive solar (provide ‘thermal mass’ materials)
Reflectivity (albedo) – Avoid unwanted heat gain
Daylighting:
Skylights & Clerestory windows
Light shelves, awnings, louvers: Thoughtful control of glare, heat, etc.
Renewable Energy:
Photovoltaics (PV)
Solar Hot Water (SHW)
Wind (10kW or less for homes)
Energy-Systems:
Mechanical Systems:
HVAC:
High-Performance Systems
Ground-Source Heat Pumps
Radiant Systems (boilers, solar-assisted, etc.)
Air-Conditioning & Alternative coolingAlternative/Supplemental Heating:
Wood / Biofuels
Woodstoves & inserts
Masonry (thermal mass) fireplace (image)
Domestic Hot Water:
Storage Tanks or Tankless (‘on demand’)
Indirect (boiler or heat-pump integrated)
Ventilation:
Air Movement & Exchange:
Ceiling fans
Whole-House fan
Dehumidification
Energy Recovery Ventilation (ERV/HRV)Natural Ventilation:
Cross Ventilation
Stack-effect Ventilation
Plenums & Earth Tubes
Efficient Lighting & Appliances:
Lighting Design:
Optimized design (quality & quantity)
Energy-saving bulbs: Fluorescent (tubes, CFLs, etc.), LED lighting
Lighting color & temperature (visual quality)
Materials:
Green Materials:
Durability / Low-Maintenance:
Use products that last a long time without excessive care:
Siding, roofing, trim, etc.
Flooring, countertops, etc.Select products with enduring design qualities (timeless style and color)
Recycled Content:
Many products now made from post-consumer or post-industrial recycled materials:
Fly-ash concrete
Composite lumber (plastic content)
Re-used/Salvaged Materials:
Renovate vs. build new
Design a new home using ‘found’ materials and antiquesLocal Products:
Harvested, extracted, manufactured, delivered from your local economy
Sustainable Wood:
‘Certified Wood’ lumber & products
Rapidly Renewable Alternatives: Bamboo & Cork (flooring, finishes), Agri-board basedIndoor Health:
Non-Toxic Materials:
Low-VOC paints & finishes
Non-formaldehyde cabinetsReduced Pollutants:
Air Cleaning & Filtration
Water-Conservation:
Efficiency:
Low-flow fixtures
Structured Plumbing (manifold systems)
Recapture:
Grey water
Cisterns & Rainbarrels
Alternative Wastewater Systems
Landscaping Use:
Low-Irrigation Plants / Xeriscaping
Site Management:
Stormwater:
Storage – Cisterns & Rainbarrels
Swales & Rain Gardens
Pervious Materials (driveways, sidewalks, etc.)
Soil Care:
Erosion Control (retaining walls, plantings, etc.)
Tree preservation: Keep/Plant as many as possible, choose climate-appropriate species
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