2. OBJECTIVES – Overview of Sustainability and the Built Environment as it relates to Fossil Fuel Consumption and Climate Change The basics of Green Building Introduction to LEED, Green Points, One Planet & other rating systems and criteria related to Green Building.
5. GREEN BUILDING. A holistic approach to design, construction, and demolition that minimizes the building’s impact on the environment, the occupants, and the community.
8. The Differences are… Paint with VOCs No VOC Paint Salvaged Wood Old GrowthWood Bamboo Flooring Finish with VOCs Hardwood Flooring Low VOC Finish
9. Why Build Green? The United States comprises 5% of the total world population and Americans use 25% of the world’s energy resources. Buildings and the building industry consumes between 1/3 and ½ of the nations energy.
10. Home Size In 1950 In 1970 1.6x 1950 297 SF/personaverage floor area 1,000 SF 3.37 people per household 478 SF/person average floor area 1,500 SF 3.14 people per household In 2000 2.8 x 1950 840 SF/person average floor area 2,200 SF 2.62 people per household
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14. RESOURCE USE Construction of a 2,085 sq ft home uses up to 1.5 acres of forest 95% of old growth forests have been depleted
15. ENERGY USE Generation and use of energy (electric, gas, oil, coal) are major contributors to air pollution and global climate change.
16. INDOOR AIR QUALITY We spend 90% of our time indoors Air inside the average home is 10 times more polluted than outside air on the smoggiest days
17. WASTE GENERATION Million tons generated in a year in each county 21% from construction and demolition industry
18. Site Selection & Environmental Impact Development Density & Community Connectivity Alternative Transportation Storm water Management SUSTAINABLE SITES
19. Give preference to materials that are: locally produced minimally-processed durable and able to be maintained high in recycled-content readily-recyclable
20. Recycled Flyash in Concrete Flyash is a byproduct of coal burning power plants Use of flyash in concrete diverts it from landfills. The U.S. produces 1.3 billion tons of Portland cement annually. This emits 1.3 billion tons of CO2 into the environment.
21. Recycled-Content Aggregate Concrete and rubble can be crushed and used for backfill and drainage purposes at the base of foundations Using recycled instead of virgin materials saves money and natural recourses
23. Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) Certified Wood FSC certification assures that the forest from which the wood is produced is managed in an environmentally and socially responsible manner.
26. Advanced Framing Wood saving techniques: Framing walls 24” on center 2-stud corners Ladder blocking at partitions Stacking trusses over studs Use single top plates
34. Sustainable Decking Material Plastic lumber Contains only recycled plastic resins Check manufacturer for amount of expansion Composite lumber Made with recycled wood fiber and recycled plastic resins formed into deck boards
36. Minimize the amount of fresh water used within buildings and outside for landscaping. Water Use
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38. RESOURCE - EFFICIENT LANDSCAPES30-60% of an average home’s fresh water is used for watering the yard.Use: Non Invasive Species No Species Require Shearing Drought-tolerant Natives Minimal Turf Areas Plants Grouped by Water Needs (Hydronizing)
44. On-Demand Hot Water Circulation Pump Hot water arrives at the fixture 5 times faster than on average
45. Distribute Hot Water Efficiently Locate Water Heater within 12 Feet of All Fixtures
46. Water Efficient Fixtures Toilets Dual-Flush or maximum 1.28gpf Showers use max 2.5 gpm Faucets use max 1.5 gpm
47. Energy efficiency is a cornerstone of any green building project. Improving energy efficiency and using renewable energy sources are effective ways to improve air quality and reduce the impacts of global warming
48. Passive Solar Passive solar buildings aim to maintain interior Thermal comfort. Passive solar designdoesnot include active systems..
55. Look for windows that have a National Fenestration Rating Council (NFRC) label
56. Lighting Controls Reduce Energy Use Lighting controls include: Dimmers Sensors and timers Install either at specific locations or as a whole house system
57. High Efficiency Ceiling Fans Can be adjusted to either draw warm air upward during the summer or push warm air downward during the winter Best locations are bedrooms and living rooms
58. Attic Ventilation Systems Exhaust excess heat and moisture from attic spaces by natural convection. Code requirement of 1 sq. ft. of net free area of venting for every 150 sq. ft. of attic floor area – should be doubled. Keep insulation from blocking soffit/eave vents
68. Reading Assignments for Sustainability Overview and the Built Environment: A Builder’s Guide – GREEN FROM THE GROUND UP, Sustainable, Healthy, and Energy-Efficient Home Construction by David Johnston & Scott Gibson Chapter 1 – Green Building Basics Chapter 2 – The House as a System Chapter 3 – Planning and Design
This is our industry, and who better than those of us in the building industry to step up?
Anecdotes from Arcata salvaging and Trinidad cabin to 205 Montego and any in between….
The primary issue many cities are facing is insufficient stormwater capacity, the direct result of increased impervious surfaces: rooftops, streets, and compacted surfaces.Impervious surfaces directly correlate to light intensity as components of urbanization.As impervious cover increases, flood plain.
For new water heaters, make sure that installation does not void warrantyCan reduce heat loss by about 10% or more on older water heaters Insulate pipes in all runs through unconditioned spacesMinimum insulation should run 6’ from the tank to prevent convection circulation from the heater through the pipes
Dual flush toilets are also available.0.8 gpf for liquid; 1.6 gpf for solidsReplace existing toilets with a new 1.6 gpf or lessSaves 8-22 gal/day based on 4 flushesHigh efficiency shower heads may reduce demand for hot water and reduce energy use for water heating by up to 20%.Recommendation: to install a chlorine filter on showerheadReduce chemicals and particulatesInstall between the pipe and the showerheadChlorine is absorbed 6 times faster through the skin than through the digestive system
The solar path in passive designThe ability to achieve these goals simultaneously is fundamentally dependent on the seasonal variations in the sun's path throughout the dayThis occurs as a result of the inclinationInclinationInclination in general is the angle between a reference plane and another plane or Axis_of_rotation of direction.... of the earth's axis of rotation in relation to its orbitORBitORBit is a CORBA compliant Object Request Broker. The current version is called ORBit2 and is compliant with Common Object Request Broker Architecture ver..... The sun pathSun pathSun path refers to the apparent significant seasonal-and-hourly positional changes of the sun as the Earth rotates, and orbits around the sun.... is unique for any given latitude. Generally the sun will appear to rise in the east and set in the west.In Northern Hemisphere non-tropical latitudes farther than 23.5 degrees from the equator:The sun will reach its highest pointNoonNoon is the time exactly halfway through the day, written 12:00 in the 24-hour clock and 12:00 noon in the 12-hour clock.... toward the South (in the direction of the equator)As winter solsticeSolsticeA solstice is either of the two times of the year when the sun is at its greatest distance from the equator: in technical words, when the celestial equator and ecliptic reach their largest separation.... approaches, the angleAzimuthAzimuth is the horizontal component of a direction , measured around the horizon usually from the north toward the East, i.e.... at which the sun risesSunriseSunrise, also called sunup in some American English dialects, is the time at which the first part of the Sun appears above the horizon in the east.... and setsSunsetSunset, also called sundown in some American English dialects, is the time at which the Sun disappears below the horizon in the west.... progressively moves further toward the South and the daylight hours will become shorterThe opposite is noted in summer where the sun will rise and set further toward the North and the daylight hours will lengthen The converse is observed in the Southern Hemisphere, but the sun rises to the east and sets toward the west everywhere.In equatorial regions at less than 23.5 degrees, the position of the sun at solar noonNoonNoon is the time exactly halfway through the day, written 12:00 in the 24-hour clock and 12:00 noon in the 12-hour clock.... will oscillate from north to south and back again during the year.In regions closer than 23.5 degrees from either north-or-south pole, during summer the sun will trace a complete circle in the sky without setting whilst it will never appear above the horizon six months later, during the height of winter.The 47-degree difference in the altitude of the sun at solar noon between winter and summer forms the basis of passive solar design. This information is combined with local climatic data (degree dayDegree dayA degree day is a measure of heating or cooling. Totalised degree days from an appropriate starting date are used to plan the planting of crops and management of pests....) heating and cooling requirements to determine at what time of the year solar gain will be beneficial for thermal comfortThermal comfortHuman thermal comfort is defined by ASHRAE as the state of mind that expresses satisfaction with the surrounding environment ...., and when it should be blocked with shading. By strategic placement of items such as glazing and shading devices, the percent of solar gain entering a building can be controlled throughout the year.One passive solarPassive solarPassive solar is a term referring to those technologies that can be employed to convert natural sunlight into usable heat, to cause air-movement for ventilation or cooling, or to store the heat for future use, without the use of electrical or m... sun path design problem is that the sun is in the same relative position six weeks before, and six weeks after, the solstice, BUT due to "thermal lag" from the thermal massThermal massThermal mass, in the most general sense, is any mass that absorbs and holds heat. In the architectural sense, it is any mass that absorbs and stores heat during sunny periods when the heat is not desirable in the living space of a building, an... of the Earth, the temperature and solar gain requirements are quite different before-and-after the summer-and-winter solstice. Movable shutters, shades, shade screen, or window quilts can accommodate day-to-day and hour-to-hour solar gain and insulation requirements.Careful arrangement of rooms completes the passive solar design. A common recommendation for residential dwellings is to place living areas facing solar noon and sleeping quarters on the opposite side.. A heliodonHeliodonA heliodon is a device for adjusting the angle between a flat surface and a beam of light to match the angle between a horizontal plane at a specific latitude and the solar beam.... is a traditional movable light device used by architects and designers to help model sun path effects. In modern times, 3D computer graphics can visually simulate this data, and calculate performance predictions.
Aperature: The set of windows and overhangs that determine how much sun enters the building.Absorber: The material that the sun’s ray come into contact with.Thermal Mass: The material that stores the sun’s thermal energy for re-release after sundown.Distribution: The means by which the thermal energy is released to the living/working spaces.Control: The techniques used to control the collection and distribution of the sun's thermal energy.
Wall cavities with existing insulation can be blown full of new cellulose or fiberglass to increase the density therefore the R-value.If existing cathedral or flat ceilings are already insulated, and re-roofing is being done, add additional rigid foam insulation on top of the existing roof sheathingExterior walls can be wrapped with a min. of 1” (R-4) rigid foam to increase R-value if total exterior refinish is being doneInsulate and seal floors over unconditioned crawl spaces with R-19 or greaterProtect underside of fiberglass with inexpensive sheathing or wire materials that act as a barrier to vermin
Important when fiberglass is used Seal holes between floors and between stud cavities around wire runsCaulk top and bottom plates on all floors
Low-E keeps heat out on summer days and keeps the heat in during cold weather Saves energy In older homes, replace whenever possible and cost-effectiveWood, vinyl, and fiberglass generally insulate better than aluminum frames.
Can reduce the need for air conditioning
Sized to produce between 4-5 air changes per hour2 speeds, low for continuous ventilation and highWindow should be open while fan is running to avoid back drafting of CO from gas appliance fluesUse a airtight seal to prevent air leakage in winterFor Indoor Air Quality these systems exhaust the dust to the outsideMust be vented outdoorsAlternative is the purchase of a high efficient particulate air (HEPA) filter
Collect energy from the sun and turn it into electricityElectricity can be sold to local utility (net metering)Electricity can be used directly by household
Car exhaust contains many known carcinogensCan migrate into living spaces through doors and cracks in walls
Darker colors tend to have higher VOCs due to the concentration of synthetic materials
Production of vinyl flooring can result in the creation of toxic byproducts such as dioxins
