Andrew & Stacy: The Green Teamtag:blogs.hgtvpro.com,2008:/hgtvpro/green_team/762008-05-08T20:49:18ZHGTVPro.com contributors Andrew and Stacy Hunt share their thoughts on green building products and practices and how they affect the homebuilding industry.Movable Type 3.33Major Homebuilders "Green Ranking"tag:blogs.hgtvpro.com,2008:/hgtvpro/green_team//76.28312008-05-08T20:40:52Z2008-05-08T20:49:18ZThe Calvert Group just released a study ranking the green building practices of the top 13 homebuilders in the U.S. KB Home, D.R. Horton, and Pulte captured the top three spots....Stacy Hunt
a study ranking the green building practices of the top 13 homebuilders in the U.S.
KB Home, D.R. Horton, and Pulte captured the top three spots.]]>
attempts at sustainability, none have fully embraced the practice in all areas of their business.
Bottom line, some of the "big guys" are doing very good stuff. They're clearly market leaders. But there's still room for improvement.
The study, however, doesn't attempt to capture the innovation and impact of the nation's 75,000+ small to midsize builders. In my decade of experience in this industry, I've found that the most innovative, forward thinking companies are the small, nimble ones, not the behemouths.
Do you know any small builders or remodelers doing really innovative stuff?
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Surf's up! Hawaii is first to mandate solar.tag:blogs.hgtvpro.com,2008:/hgtvpro/green_team//76.28292008-05-07T17:58:38Z2008-05-07T18:10:36ZGrab a pineapple and put on your grass skirts! Hawaii just passed a law that requires all new homes have solar water heaters installed! Aloha-oh-boy!...Andrew Hunt
Grab a pineapple and put on your grass skirts! Hawaii just passed a law that requires all new homes have solar water heaters installed! Aloha-oh-boy!
here.
So, it seems like a win for homeowners (reduced energy bills), a win for the State (reduced energy requirements), a win for the builder (a fair profit to be made on new technologies) a win for local trades (whole new industry now coming into bloom) and a win for the Earth (solar water heaters reduce energy needs by up to 35%).
I wonder what there would be to complain about?
Proving, again, there's at least one in every crowd, here's a quote at the end of an insightful article on the matter:
"Our country was founded on the principles of freedom and liberty," said Rep. Colleen Meyer, R-Laie-Kahaluu. "More and more, these dictates are coming down to the people saying, 'You have no choice anymore. You have to do what is politically correct.'"
Wow, I wonder how she feels about seat belts, speed limits, and stop signs?
So before I put on my Elvis records and start the pig roast, my question is, how do you come down on this issue? Is it high tide to set sail on the mandating of solar water heaters in the Sun Belt, or, as Rep. Meyer suggests, is this just another liberty squashing bug-a-boo from the feel-good, freedom-hating tree huggers?
And it would be like totally gnarly to hear from folks in the Aloha State about how they feel about this.]]>
Featured Program - Green Globestag:blogs.hgtvpro.com,2008:/hgtvpro/green_team//76.27732008-04-28T03:28:03Z2008-04-28T03:34:11ZOrdinarily I feature a regional green building program that strikes my fancy, but today it's Green Globes, a completely different animal. I'm not exactly sure what kind of animal, to be honest....Stacy Hunt
Ordinarily I feature a regional green building program that strikes my fancy, but today it's Green Globes, a completely different animal. I'm not exactly sure what kind of animal, to be honest.
Green Globes impresses me more for their commercial offering than for their residential program, but their heart and effort seem to be in the right place. The commercial initiative has an online tool that allows a building desiger access to assessment protocols, a rating system, and a comprehensive guide to building green. The marketing is spiffy and comprehensive.
The residential component seems to serve as an add-on to local and regional green building programs, based on the NAHB guidelines. The material on the Green Globes site leaves me scratching my head to determine what added value they actually provide.
Can anyone enlighten me?]]>
How AIA/COTE Measure the Top 10 Green Buildingstag:blogs.hgtvpro.com,2008:/hgtvpro/green_team//76.27672008-04-24T17:12:17Z2008-04-24T17:24:14ZSince 1997, the American Institute of Architects (AIA) Committee on the Environment (COTE) has been creating a top ten list of green projects, and the honorees of 2008 take green to a whole new level....Andrew Hunt
Since 1997, the American Institute of Architects (AIA) Committee on the Environment (COTE) has been creating a top ten list of green projects, and the honorees of 2008 take green to a whole new level.
list of projects is great (and suggested) reading, what really impressed me was the criteria AIA/COTE used to whittle down the list. We often talk about what it takes to make a building green, but AIA/COTE metrics of measurement are a marvel. Each project was rated against ten criteria, and many of these overlap the standard green building measuring stick like water conservation, energy efficiency and using environmentally responsible materials.
But, for homebuyers, or homebuilders, looking to go beyond EnergyStar appliances and extra insulation, AIA/COTE have come up with some wonderful approaches to get the imagination, and the design team, working on green.
Here are a few of my favorite benchmarks:
Number 2: Regional/Community Design & Connectivity.
Sustainable design values the unique cultural and natural character of a given region.
This sounds like a "feel-good" idea, but the implications are interesting. Besides making sure a new structure "fits" with the local community, the design must also provide a public space and a promote community interaction. To apply this to new home construction, how about bringing back the front porch or installing community gardens in large developments? Another aspect of this measurement is that buildings are rated on how well they reduce parking lots and promote alternative transportation. For new homes, integrating bike paths and lobbying for extended bus lines and car-pool lanes should always be on the table.
Top Ten Measure 4: Bioclimatic Design
Sustainable design conserves resources and maximizes comfort through design adaptations to site-specific and regional climate conditions. Building design should respond to local climate, sun path, prevailing breezes, and seasonal and daily cycles through passive design strategies.
By far one of my favorite common sense approaches to green building. This wisdom which served our species well for thousands of years was discarded with the invention of climate controlling appliances. It boils down to taking the time to understand the local weather patterns and then working with Mother Nature to create a more energy efficient and comfortable house. Site placement, natural shading, and simple venting can all be employed to reduce the energy load of a house year around.
Top Ten Measure 10: Collective Wisdom & Feedback Loops
Sustainable design strategies and best practices evolve over time through documented performance and shared knowledge of lessons learned.
In the world of individual home ownership, the power bill is the personal, but the impact of use is global. With this in mind, how better to evaluate a green building than to document your goals, evaluate your results, and share the information with the community?
I'm pretty sure that large production builders might balk at some of these ideas. Trying to create a unique building experience with a mass-production mentality is a challenge. But how different the new home market might be if homeowners know that there is more to green building than R-values and bamboo floors?
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Marketing High Performance Homes (or not)tag:blogs.hgtvpro.com,2008:/hgtvpro/green_team//76.27352008-04-16T01:40:37Z2008-04-16T01:50:08ZBuilding high performance homes isn't rocket science. The technology and processes exist, and in my book there's not much more research to be done to build homes that are significantly more efficient than code. But, just try selling them....Stacy Hunt
Building high performance homes isn't rocket science. The technology and processes exist, and in my book there's not much more research to be done to build homes that are significantly more efficient than code. But, just try selling them.
Building Knowledge and Sam Rashkin with ENERGY STAR for Homes. It struck me while I was talking to them that the issue isn't technology anymore (yes, some of you will disagree). It's getting builders to understand that they can build their homes to higher standards of performance, use this to create a competitive edge, and effectively communicate the value to their homebuyers.
Who wouldn't want a comfortable home that doesn't have wicked wind blowing through the dining room when winter storms hit (i.e. my house)? Who wouldn't want to eliminate that whopper heating bill that makes you not want to open the envelope when it comes (i.e. my heating bill)? Who wouldn't want to feel like they were doing something right for the environment, in light of everything we're doing wrong? You don't need statistical analysis to show that well, MOST people would happily nod their heads at the opportunity to have a home that helped them with any one of those problems, let alone them all.
That said, there's boatloads of empirical data that shows that consumers will buy performance (see NAHB research results here if you're interested in some of the research). The problem seems to be, builders don't know how to sell it.
What have you seen that is a good strategy for selling high performance homes?]]>
The National Green Building Standardtag:blogs.hgtvpro.com,2008:/hgtvpro/green_team//76.27722008-03-28T03:19:53Z2008-04-28T03:26:08ZIt's always been my belief that there are two ways to really change our building practices in this country. Overwhelming consumer demand and building code. The latter is finally happening, somewhat strangely at the hand of the National Association of...Stacy Hunt
It's always been my belief that there are two ways to really change our building practices in this country. Overwhelming consumer demand and building code. The latter is finally happening, somewhat strangely at the hand of the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB).
green building code .
The standard is being developed with the basis of the NAHB Model Green Home Building Guidelines, and input from dozens of residential construction-related organizations in the U.S.
The 2004 Edition of the Guidelines can be downloaded from the NAHB Research Center web site.
It's expected that the process will be completed by the end of 2008 (really, does building code MOVE that FAST?!?!)
But isn't it exciting? I am being optimistic and eagerly awaiting this new standard.]]>
ICC - in the fray or in the way?tag:blogs.hgtvpro.com,2008:/hgtvpro/green_team//76.26272008-03-21T15:07:19Z2008-03-21T15:20:27ZIf you haven't noticed, green is really the HOT thing this decade. So no wonder that the International Code Council (ICC) has finally taken notice and decided to, of course, regulate it....Andrew Hunt
International Code Council (ICC) has finally taken notice and decided to, of course, regulate it.]]>
ICC News Release ...
"This new certification will test building safety professionals' knowledge of green building to ensure the structure or system is safe and sustainable as provided by the various green building rating systems," said Code Council Board President Steve Shapiro, Director of Codes Compliance for Hampton, Va. "As code officials, we can have a positive impact on our communities by facilitating safe and sustainable construction while promoting the environmentally-focused features of the I-Codes."
I have to scratch my head at this.
First, if someone wants to incorporate green building technologies into their home, does it matter if their improvements match the criteria in the LEED or Green Globes program? My understanding is that the ICC is about "Providing the highest quality codes, standards, products, and services for all concerned with the safety and performance of the built environment." At least that's their mission statement. So as long as the technologies are safe, that is to say, don't make the house fall down, why should the ICC care?
Or is there more at work here?
You may recall my posting about the dust-up between the green roof folks, the ICC, and the National Roofing Contractors Association. From the outside it looked an awful lot like a powerful trade group using the ICC to limit a cottage industry from gaining market share.
Now the ICC is edging into green building programs, but for what purpose? Could it be that they want to put some legs under the NAHB's National Green Building Standard? Isn't this approach pretty much the ICC making an "approved" list of green building programs? I thought they were about design elements and technologies?
There are plenty of new homes out there that have mold issues, can't stand up to hurricanes, have 30 year roofs that only last 15 years, and are being invaded by termites. Aren't those more pressing safety issues for communities than, for instance, some LEED point criteria like using recycled materials, bamboo floors, and including daylight views?
People wonder why green building technologies are having such a difficult time really hitting the mainstream building market. We speculate as to why the cost is so high to incorporate some of the most aggressive energy saving, water saving, and common sense ideas that are easily accessible to the home builder. Could it be that every time we try to do the right thing we find that someone is looking over our shoulder? All of these inspections, speculations, and certifications cost time and money - to the builder those two are the same thing. All the marketing, certifications, and pageantry of green building programs could easily be called the "noise" that drowns out the actual message.
This is why the "green" elements of a home are the first thing on the chopping block when the home buyer sees change orders and cost over-runs.
"We would have loved to have beefed up the insulation, but it just cost too much," the home buyer laments. Can you blame them? Houses have to be built to a finite budget.
Don't get me wrong, I'm a big fan of green building programs if they can move the industry closer to the goal. You'll recall we're trying to reduce energy consumption, water consumption, create healthy living spaces, and build homes that will outlast their mortgage (50 year loans included). The goal is building better homes, not getting a silver medal or stamp of approval from a trade organization.
If you want third party validation, how about getting a HERS rating?
I suspect America would love to go green, if it weren't for all the red tape.
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Green materials just in time for St. Patty's Daytag:blogs.hgtvpro.com,2008:/hgtvpro/green_team//76.25492008-03-10T22:12:02Z2008-03-10T22:27:07ZSpring is about to spring (or is it sproing?) and your lawn isn't the only thing coming up green. A new Web site set to launch on March 17, 2008, will offer builders, designers, and home do-it-yourselfers a chance to...Andrew Hunt
Spring is about to spring (or is it sproing?) and your lawn isn't the only thing coming up green. A new Web site set to launch on March 17, 2008, will offer builders, designers, and home do-it-yourselfers a chance to shop for recycled building products online.
PlanetReuse.com is looking to hit a grand slam in green construction practices. The Web site will offer a free listing service for anyone trying to get rid of usable, but unwanted, construction materials and equipment from around the world. In addition to not creating a carbon footprint with a store front, PlanetReuse.com virtual warehouse works on several other green levels.
- LEED points.The Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Green Building Rating System offers points for using recycled and salvaged building materials. PlanetReuse.com offers help with the documentation making it easier for builders to submit final plan.
- Landfill. Most jobsite waste is preventable. There are many ways to keep the dumpsters from overflowing and with a little effort builders can actually turn that waste stream into a revenue stream. You can read more about jobsite waste here in a great blog entry by Stacy.
- Recycling is the greenest option. Whether you are listing salvaged materials or surplus equipment, giving a second life to building products is the one of the greenest things a builder can do. Reusing products reduces the amount of natural resources and energy burned in production and transportation.
For consumers, an online catalog of reused and recycled building materials can mean an opportunity to find rare and unique items. Everything from American chestnut salvaged from New England barns to Belgium blocks from Belgium could be available. With a constantly rotating inventory world-wide it might pay for custom builders to bookmark the site.
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Florida: a non-sunshine state of mindtag:blogs.hgtvpro.com,2008:/hgtvpro/green_team//76.24862008-02-26T17:14:29Z2008-02-26T17:35:39ZI'm a pretty easy-going guy most of the time. But, after spending a week in Florida I found my hackles were starting to get up over the lack of solar domestic water heaters. Hey Sunshine State, what's the deal?...Andrew Hunt
I'm a pretty easy-going guy most of the time. But, after spending a week in Florida I found my hackles were starting to get up over the lack of solar domestic water heaters. Hey Sunshine State, what's the deal?
International Builders Show in Orlando was a great excuse to escape the sub-freezing temps of Pittsburgh. Once in Orlando, Stacy and I decided to spend a little time touring the area, checking out the beaches, and basically taking in the sunny scene. And sunny it was! Even though the locals may find high temps in the low 70's to be a bit of a bracer, to us it was de-light-ful.
All that sunshine got me thinking about solar water heaters, how great they are, how much energy they save, the rapid return on investment, and the overall common sense logic behind using solar radiation to power domestic hot water. But as we drove from destination to destination, I was at first surprised, and then confused, and finally confounded at how few solar panels I saw on the roof tops. Even new, large, developments were void of the technology.
Maybe they just don't use hot water in Florida.
Once back in frosty Steel City I called up a pal of mine who is the director of sales for a prominent Florida solar water heater manufacturer. I asked him why there isn't a solar water heater on every home and boy, did I get an education.
"No one thinks about solar hot water down here because they've never had it before. It's one of those things where, if you've lived in a house with some panels on the roof that save you money day in and day out, you can't imagine going back and paying full price for your hot water," he said. "But, if you've never experienced it, it's just out of sight out of mind."
That's odd, I thought solar was really starting to catch on.
"It's catching on, but not with homeowners. Almost every major city down here now has some sort of incentive plan to promote solar domestic water," my friend said. "In the city of Jacksonville, for instance, the Sierra Club started a solar incentive that takes $800 off the installation of a system as long as it is installed by a licensed Florida contractor. Then the state offers a $500 rebate on top of that, and they've extended the Federal rebate so you get a 30 percent tax credit as well."
As he spoke I started to do the math. Assume, for the sake of example only, a basic batch-style passive system, fully-installed would cost around $4,000. Between the rebates and tax incentives, the net cost to the homeowner could dip to about $1,800. That means with even moderate use, like for an empty nest household, a solar hot water system could be making money for the homeowner in less than five years.
That's right, making money. Not only do your monthly expenses drop, but your home value rises.
So why all the foot dragging? What about all the media coverage of climate change, energy independence, and the rising costs of fuel? How can it be that a state that boasts the highest population of retirees in the nation (23 percent of Florida's population, or about 4.1 million total) isn't proactive about reducing monthly utility bills of those living on fixed incomes? If the citizens don't know about the benefits of solar, what is the government doing to educate and spread the word. Lower utility bills and reduced consumption of energy are in the public interest, right?
"Down here the state is just missing the boat. The Florida State Energy Office set up some great incentives, but they didn't spend a dime advertising it," he said. "All this money is available through 2010 for anyone installing a solar system, but no one knows about it."
I checked out the program and it looks like it may have been under-funded right out of the gate. The website says you'll get your $500 rebate, you will just have to wait on it for awhile. But he was right, there is money out there if you know where to look.
"There are a lot of programs out there for anyone wanting to go solar for domestic water, just check out www.dsireusa.org, they have a huge data base of state incentives for all kinds of renewable energy choices. The money is available but it requires the homeowner to do a lot of work to discover them. Once you start filling out the applications it isn't that bad, but finding the incentives and hearing about these programs can be tough."
Alright, I told him, I've heard the problems, but as a player in the solar game, I had to ask him if he had any real solutions to get people to wake-up to the benefits of solar.
"Yeah, some one should convince the solar industry to advertise. Most solar energy companies are small and don't have the budget for advertising, but they need to know that the burden is on them. No one is going to come to the rescue and suddenly start talking about how great this technology is. If we don't get the word out, start going door to door, it will never catch on.
"You know," he continued, "every time I read an article in newspaper or catch a headline on the television, all they talk about is PV (photovoltaic) energy, the media never mentions domestic hot water. Yet within the scheme of solar energy, domestic water is the biggest bang for the buck and fastest return. Passive heaters have no moving parts, require almost no maintenance, and south of the Mason Dixon line there's really very little chance of freezing. I'm baffled as to why they aren’t mandatory on every home."
My friend was baffled, I was confused, and Florida is behind the curve.]]>
Department of Energy and National Association of Homebuilders Launch New Initiatives at the International Builders Showtag:blogs.hgtvpro.com,2008:/hgtvpro/green_team//76.24492008-02-16T11:58:10Z2008-02-16T12:13:01ZConsumers are demanding more efficient, greener homes, and builders are finding ever-increasing challenges to market and deliver them. Technical and marketing barriers - some as simple as trade contractor's lack of familiarity with technology, some as complex as builder's inexperience...Stacy Hunt
Consumers are demanding more efficient, greener homes, and builders are finding ever-increasing challenges to market and deliver them. Technical and marketing barriers - some as simple as trade contractor's lack of familiarity with technology, some as complex as builder's inexperience in marketing improved performance - are preventing the market from adopting green building practices as quickly as some would like. The public and private sectors are responding by creating new, voluntary programs for builders to assist them in overcoming these challenges, and for consumers to assist them in understanding building performance.
National Green Building Program and the Department of Energy launched the Builders Challenge.
The NAHB National Green Building Program is intended to allow builders and consumers to have a standardized, nationally-based method to evaluate the performance of homes. Behind the scenes, it seems that the NAHB has woken up to the fact that if they don't get ahead of the curve, the curve may get ahead of them - in terms of the creation of new building code and policy that will require increased building performance standards. This initiative tells me that they're being proactive in creating an initiative that can guide policy, codes and standards. Not surprising for such a politically savvy organization, and in this case quite a boon to the green building industry.
The DOE's Builders Challenge is focused on energy performance, using a nifty new scale created for the initiative called the EnergySmart Home Scale (E-Scale). This scale allows consumers to see the energy performance of their home at a glance, on a simple chart. The initiative is based on the DOE's Building America Program - a research program that's been churning out excellent technical information for more than a decade. The Builders Challenge takes this information to the market through simple performance packages and the commitment to drive home performance by calling on the industry to deliver 220,000 homes that meet Challenge performance standards (a 70 on the E-Scale, which is significantly better than a home that performs even to Energy Star standards, and about 30% more efficient than a standard new home for example) by the year 2012.
This blogger has to admit to being a bit biased - I've been working with the Department of Energy for the past year on the Builders Challenge - and I'm delighted to see that they've launched the initiative, and the E-Scale, after some deliberation. But, despite being biased, my unbiased self thinks the E-Scale is a great tool for consumers and builders. It's about time someone created a simple, consumer-friendly tool for evaluating home performance. Now I'm just hoping that everyone, the NAHB's Green Building Program included, will pick up the E-Scale and use it.
What are your thoughts on these two new initiatives, and the new E-Scale?
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Popping the cork - getting to know cork flooringtag:blogs.hgtvpro.com,2008:/hgtvpro/green_team//76.24092008-02-07T02:34:23Z2008-02-07T02:42:21ZWhen Stacy and I started to consider flooring options for the addition we're putting on our new home in Montana we had a short list of requirements. We wanted to find a product that was healthy, durable, sustainably produced, and...Andrew Hunt
When Stacy and I started to consider flooring options for the addition we're putting on our new home in Montana we had a short list of requirements. We wanted to find a product that was healthy, durable, sustainably produced, and economical. Not asking much, huh? Imagine my surprise when cork ended up floating to the top of mix?
Cork is produced from peeling the live bark from the cork tree which grows naturally around the Mediterranean Ocean. This harvesting can be done every nine years without damaging the plant and the governing bodies in the region have strict laws about the harvest schedule to ensure a bountiful harvests well into the future.
No chainsaws, no replanting, no deforestation involved - cool!
Once the cork is peeled it is punched to make the most common product, bottle stoppers. What's left over is a pile of end pieces and bits from the center too small to plug up your favorite Merlot. This waste is pressed together and made into flooring, push-pin boards, bobbers, and, well you know, cork things. So when you think about it, cork flooring is not only a renewable resource, it is actually a reclaimed resource. Double-points if you are keeping score at home.
On top of that cork is naturally healthful. The plant contains oils which are anti-microbial and anti-fungal. These give it an exceptionally long lifespan, reduce the risk of rot, mold, and actually help improve indoor air quality. Also the large pliable cells of cork are great at withstanding pressure, absorbing blows, and keep a more neutral temperature feel, so even in a cold room the floor won't feel cold. Cork also is a great sound dampener so it works well in a hallway or a pass through.
So why is cork not top of the charts with green builders?
Well, there are some drawbacks. Cork can be damaged if you do the Electric Slide in high heels, or if Fido decides to dig in your living room. From an environmental standpoint cork is far from being a local product, so shipping will have to be taken into account if you are tracking carbon emissions. Price can also be a challenge. All cork flooring isn't created equal and some of the more attractive designs, stains, and patterns can give the average home owner a stinging case of sticker shock.
But if you are just looking for some click-together pieces to cover an existing eyesore, you can do a quick internet search and find cork flooring for under two dollars a square foot. As with most bargains, buyer beware.
So cork flooring passed our little test for green, and I've yet to hear any horror stories about cork flooring that disappointed home owners. All things considered installing cork in specific areas, like a home office or media room, can be a perfect solution to create a unique look, feel, and green statement.
And just for the record, I've never done the Electric Slide.
European Union (EU) Sustainable Energy Weektag:blogs.hgtvpro.com,2008:/hgtvpro/green_team//76.23662008-01-28T14:20:34Z2008-01-28T14:31:11ZThe second European Union (EU) Sustainable Energy Week is being held January 28 - Feburary 1, 2008 in Brussels, Belgium and in other cities across Europe....Stacy Hunt
European Union (EU) Sustainable Energy Week is being held January 28 - Feburary 1, 2008 in Brussels, Belgium and in other cities across Europe.]]>
The EUSEW is hosted by the Sustainable Energy Europe Campaign (SEE), the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Energy and Transport, the European Institutions, the Slovenian Presidency and others concerned with sustainable energy.
The program focuses on bringing together government, private and nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) to discuss strategies to work together toward the common goal of reducing energy use and carbon emissions across the EU
To give the conference some context, only about 25% of European countries have strategies to reduce energy consumption and carbon emissions, with Britain taking the lead in setting a target of zero-emissions by 2016. Problem is, say some analysts, Britain has no infrastructure or strategy to meet these goals.
The conference covers broad topics, like sustainable energy solutions, policy topics, as well as technical and marketing forums focused on sustainable building.
What do you think about other nation's efforts toward green building? Are there any initiatives that stand out from the rest, in your opinion?
Featured Green Building Program - Built Green Coloradotag:blogs.hgtvpro.com,2008:/hgtvpro/green_team//76.23272008-01-20T13:14:06Z2008-01-20T15:57:41ZHere's another one, this one based in Denver, Colorado and part of the Denver Homebuilders Association....Stacy Hunt
Here's another one, this one based in Denver, Colorado and part of the Denver Homebuilders Association.
Built Green Colorado has been around since 1995, and offers builders the opportunity to build and market their homes to a higher level of energy and environmental performance than the standard "code home." The program doesn't mandate that all of a builder's homes meet their standard, but instead invites them to join as partners and offer green homes as an option, or as part of their standard package - whatever suits their fancy.
The program is well-established and it's pushing the envelope beyond standard building practice. Their focus on resource conservation, occupant health and environmental preservation seems strong. The minimum energy efficiency requirement is below that of ENERGY STAR.
And they have a fun list of the "Top Five Bogus Reasons Not to Build Green" which I found a terribly amusing way to present this information...
Top Five Bogus Reasons Not to Build Green]]>
Bamboozled: New bamboo flooring finally ditches the 'hydetag:blogs.hgtvpro.com,2008:/hgtvpro/green_team//76.22862008-01-16T15:09:30Z2008-01-28T19:58:08ZGreen flooring options in new construction and remodeling have over-promised and under delivered, especially if you look at the entire life-cycle of the products on the market today. Bamboo that was once was touted as the sustainable savior to that...Andrew Hunt
Green flooring options in new construction and remodeling have over-promised and under delivered, especially if you look at the entire life-cycle of the products on the market today. Bamboo that was once was touted as the sustainable savior to that hardwood floor finish has fallen short on several fronts and continues to be crap-shoot for most consumers.
EPA in residential settings "the most significant sources of formaldehyde are likely to be pressed wood products made using adhesives that contain urea-formaldehyde (UF) resins." Many bamboo flooring manufacturers use UF resins exclusively for their adhesives which may trigger asthma attacks in people and have been shown to cause cancer in animals.
Hey, aren't humans animals too?
Answering the call of the conscientious consumer Plyboo Pure and Bamboo Mountain each offer a line of pressed and woven bamboo flooring options that begin to address the VOC issues. Plyboo Pure actually goes the extra mile to provide improved working conditions for employees in their production facility.
Dollar for dollar bamboo's biggest disappointment is the cost. For a quality product that won't off-gas into your living space or dimple under high heels consumers are required to pony up premium payments. Even moderate bamboo planks rival American hardwoods in material and installation fees, yet bamboo has no where near the warrantee nor sadly, the expectation of wear.
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Toilets are putting on the dog whilst curbing the hydranttag:blogs.hgtvpro.com,2008:/hgtvpro/green_team//76.22852008-01-10T12:30:35Z2008-01-12T20:35:11ZFour new takes on the traditional flush are now making a splash in the new construction scene, especially following the recent passage of California's AB 715. This water-saving piece of legislation requires that all toilets sold in the Golden State...Andrew Hunt
Four new takes on the traditional flush are now making a splash in the new construction scene, especially following the recent passage of California's AB 715. This water-saving piece of legislation requires that all toilets sold in the Golden State comply with a new lower limit of 1.28 gpf (gallons per flush) by 2014. The estimated water savings could run into the hundreds of thousands of gallons per person over the lifetime of the fixture.]]>
The Partnership for Advancing Technology in Housing (PATH) program rated these new flushers on their Top 10 list for Remodelers. My personal favorite was the power assist option that requires 120V power source to fire the .2 horsepower pump for those times that gravity just won't do.
Or do-do, as it were.
With a green wind starting to blow in Washington, builders, designers, and trades are all expecting a similar measure to become federal law in the next few years. Just like the incandescent bulb, the new lower low-flow flush will be norm and could reduce consumption of fresh water resources by up to 20 percent.
But not everyone is giddy.
A few industry heavy-weights have groused about what happened in 1994 when the feds dropped the allowable gpf maximum from three to 1.6 gallons. Complaints from customers about the toilets not operating properly were usually leveled at the plumbing contractors and not the manufacturers for poor performance design. This left many a small business owner footing the bill for callbacks and new installation.
Municipalities in water challenged areas will also have to deal with a lower volume of water passing through the pipes and treatment plants. Less water means a greater percentage of, well, non-water material which could foul older systems in unpredictable and possibly catastrophic ways. Imagine that, if you dare.
Then there is the general public perception of low-flow toilets that has to be dealt with. Compared to the roar and thunder of the 7 gpf monsters of the 1960's, these new johns seem downright anemic for many homeowners. Riding on the heels of the EnergyStar labeling program, the EPA has launched their WaterSense label which brands bowls that are certified by independent laboratory testing to "meet rigorous criteria for both performance and efficiency." A "cake and eat it too" scenario for the serious flusher.
However when it comes to urinals, avoid the cake.
One could argue, however, that if the consumer really wanted to "mellow yellow - brown down" the whole water consumption issue they would just go gray, as in gray-water.
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This blogger has to admit to being a bit biased - I've been working with the Department of Energy for the past year on the Builders Challenge - and I'm delighted to see that they've launched the initiative, and the E-Scale, after some deliberation. But, despite being biased, my unbiased self thinks the E-Scale is a great tool for consumers and builders. It's about time someone created a simple, consumer-friendly tool for evaluating home performance. Now I'm just hoping that everyone, the NAHB's Green Building Program included, will pick up the E-Scale and use it.
What are your thoughts on these two new initiatives, and the new E-Scale?
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