As we all know the term “Green Building” is the talk of the industry. Unfortunately, the term is constantly being redefined by every company who is attempting to capitalize on the latest craze.  An effective implementation of all Green building strategies requires a complete understanding of the various components that together make up a viable “Systems” approach to building. Once we understand that every component within the building is dependent on some other component we are on our way to really making a difference.

The early creators of the Green movement clearly identified the most important aspects of a truly “Green Built” home was that it must substantially reduce it’s carbon foot print, it should be constructed in a way that  increases the durability or life expectancy of the structure and that the indoor environment should be a healthy place for humans to occupy. None of these aspects can be addressed unless we first improve the thermal building envelop. A superior thermal envelop provides many benefits and resolves many issues that cause building failures in today’s homes. Improvements in this area provide the highest ROI (return on investment) for the homeowner and the largest reduction in the carbon footprint of the home.  The reduction in the carbon footprint of a home is the single most important aspect when building green and should have the highest level of importance when it comes to setting priorities for improvements to any green building structure.

One example of an incorrect priority is when homeowners spend $8,000 to $12,000 on a solar hot water system when domestic hot water only accounts for 8%-12% of the total energy usage of the home.  Another example would be to pay three times the cost of a conventional HVAC system for a GEO thermal HVAC system and again makes no improvements to the thermal envelop.

While each of these systems can provide a reduction in the energy usage of the home, their impact is significantly less than it could be.  We should first focus our attention on improving the home’s thermal envelop and only then consider additional alternative technologies to further enhance the energy efficiency of the home.  This approach is very much like “keeping the horses in front of the buggy” instead of the “buggy in front of the horses”.

To truly build a “Green” home it must be constructed using techniques that will make it extremely energy efficient and durable. The more energy efficient and durable it is the more green it becomes. The longer a home last the longer the amortization period is for the home, consequently increasing the value from the beginning.  According to several independent studies which include the United States EPA and DOE, building envelop air leakage accounts for 40% - 50% of the heating and cooling cost for a typical home. If you are planning on building an energy efficient durable home you should first look at ways to improve the thermal envelop and reduce the air leakage rate of the home. There are many products on the market today that can address this issue; however none of them will work unless they are installed correctly. This is the biggest issue I see in the field today when inspecting homes for green certification.  To avoid this issue consider using products that inherently provide superior thermal performance by restricting air movement through the building envelop.

In the building science arena, we use the term “Build it tight and ventilate right” with almost every breath we take. Don’t believe the stories about homes being to tight, building science has come a long way. We now know that the indoor air pressure needs to be balanced with outdoor air, and that indoor-outdoor air should be exchanged frequently. The key point here is that unless you create air sealed envelop you cannot control the airflow through the building envelop. When we build it tight and manage the fresh air exchanges we can then begin to design the correct indoor environment providing an energy efficient, durable and comfortable home.

Certain practices will assist in making a home truly “Green” at little to no additional cost:

• Exteriors - Ensure every seam in the house wrap is taped when using a fibrous insulation material. Ensure all fibrous insulations are encapsulated on all six sides with an air barrier or solid material, such as OSB or drywall. Seal all exterior penetrations with expanding foam or flexible caulk.
• Doors and windows- Seal around them with expandable foam and/or sealing tape and keep threshold tolerances tight. A 1/8” gap below an exterior door is equivalent to a 4” hole in your wall.
• Chimneys - Bridge the gap between the framing and fireplace using sheet metal, caulked in place with heat tolerant caulking.
• Ducts - Seal ductwork tightly, especially in attics or unconditioned spaces.
• Add mechanical ventilation in the form of positive pressure ventilating air cyclers or energy recovery ventilators.

The use of advanced building products and techniques will increase the energy performance and durability of the home. In several instances the additional cost associated with these techniques and products can be offset from capital reductions in other areas of the building.

Advanced techniques and products to consider

• Advanced Framing

o   There are several concepts to consider and not all of them can be used in every situation do to structure load requirements.  Making changes to the way in which we frame exterior and interior walls can save you 10%-30% off the normal lumber package price.

• Use Spray Foam or Blown- in  insulations types

o   There must be a zero gap tolerance when using fiberglass batts, and we all know how difficult that can be when working with perfectly shaped insulation materials.  Consider spray foams first because they also reduce air infiltration. The stated R-value of a material is not necessarily the performance R-value.  Spray foam performance is actually much higher than the stated R value of the foam, because of the reduction in the convective loop process that occurs within all fibrous insulating materials. Since all spray foams help reduce or eliminate the convective loop process their performance R is much higher than the stated R value.

• HVAC right sizing

o   Ensure the HVAC contractor you choose performs a Manual J loads on every house, using accurate building specifications and by someone who has been properly trained to perform the load. Reductions in the total HVAC tonnage required for the house can save you several thousands dollars, to be used in other areas of the home.

In summary, there are many opportunities available for you to investigate and consider. What is most important is that you prioritize them according to their impact. Builders and homeowners new to green building often focus immediately on “deep green” technologies such as photovoltaic’s, solar and geo thermal HVAC systems. But the most important choices that can make a house green happen far earlier in the building process and usually provide a bigger impact for much less cost.

Bio

Scott Nichols is the Principle Green Building Consultant of Environmental Resource Partners, Inc. He is a certified ResNet Green Rater, EarthCraft House Technical Inspector and USBGC LEED H certified program manager and inspector.  Last year his company was awarded the Green Advocate and For Profit Education program of the year by the USGBC and the Charlotte Business Journal.  He provides Green Building training sessions to Architects, Builders, local HBA and homeowners.  He can be reached at 704-596-0055 or scott@enviroresourcepartners.com

by Michael Holster

But passive solar heating has other benefits besides saving energy, saving money and saving our planet. A passive solar home has a spatially inviting environment that reconnects with nature. A solar home is the most comfortable because it is bathed in warmth and light. Studies show that, under these conditions, physical, emotional, and mental health are improved, and productivity is increased. People prefer this environment to conventional design and consider it a higher quality living space.

In order to reduce the mystery surrounding modern day passive solar heating design and construction, here are some of the most frequently asked questions and their answers:

What type of passive solar heating design is best?

There are many different design approaches that can be taken to build a successful passive solar heated home. But the following four requirements are pretty basic:

1. The house has an exterior wall that faces south or nearly south to maximize solar gain.
2. During the heating season, heat rays from sunshine are absorbed during the daytime into the structure of the house.
3. At night, the stored heat continues to be released inside the house to keep the occupants warm.
4. During the summer cooling season, sunlight is blocked to prevent excess heat from entering the house.

The degree to which all four of these requirements are met determines the effectiveness of the solar heating system. Unfortunately, there are many companies that claim to provide solar heating but really don’t care about performance. When the basic design principles are not followed, the results are poor. Based on these criteria, for example, most sunrooms would fail miserably.

Does the whole house have to be designed for passive solar heating?

No. Starting from scratch and designing the entire house to optimize passive solar heating is certainly the best idea. This option will achieve the greatest energy savings at the least cost. However, almost any standard home design can be modified to successfully incorporate passive solar heating.

Can an existing home be modified to incorporate passive solar heating design?

Yes, it can. And, if possible, it should be. But the potential for passive solar will vary widely with each application. The existing home design places some limits on what can be done and how cost effective it will be.

What should a builder or homeowner do if they are interested in passive solar heating?

The easiest approach is to hire an energy consultant who will then come up with the best design for your application. There are many different passive solar design approaches and each has its own rules of thumb. Using an energy consultant will save a great deal of money as well as time that would otherwise be spent going down blind alleys, “reinventing the wheel”, or developing designs that are too costly.

Why do homeowners find passive solar heating so comfortable and so superior to conventionally heated homes?

Heat is transferred by convection, conduction, and radiation (also known as radiant or infrared). Most conventional heating systems, such as warm air or hot water, heat primarily by convection. The air in the room is heated first which in turn heats our bodies. Passive solar systems provide much more radiant heat that directly enters our bodies via infrared rays. This heat comes from direct and reflected rays from the sun. It also comes from the floors and walls that emit more infrared heat due to their higher temperature.

Human skin, regardless of color, actually has the highest infrared absorptivity factor (0.99) of any material. This means that our skin absorbs infrared heat better and faster than brick, metal, earth, man made materials, or plants and animals. There is no other explanation for this phenomenon except that our bodies are meant to get most of their heat via infrared rather than convection or conduction methods. So, one of the reasons that passive solar heating is so enjoyable may be our own biology: Our bodies crave infrared, not convective, heat.

Does passive solar heating require exotic materials or unusual construction techniques?

No. Most passive solar designs employ the same type of construction materials and techniques that the homebuilder normally uses. However, the choice of materials, how and where they are used makes all the difference. Over the years, some exotic products and techniques have been developed but they have not been widely adopted and are not necessary.

If a house does not have concrete slab floors, can it still have passive solar heating?

Yes. Although the traditional passive solar heating design includes lots of glass windows to admit sunshine, and masonry or ceramic materials to store heat, there are many other design methods that can be followed. This means that even if you don’t have a slab floor or don’t want a whole lot of windows, there are still practical solutions available. On the other hand, if you have slab construction anyway, passive solar heating will give great results at very little additional cost.

Besides saving money on utility bills and increasing home value, are there any other financial incentives for passive solar heating?

Yes. North Carolinians who install passive solar heating between now and the end of 2010 have a special bonus waiting for them. The state offers tax incentives for passive solar heating projects equal to 35 percent of installed cost up to a maximum of $3,500. These incentives are for new construction as well as retrofitting existing homes and are the highest incentives available anywhere in the country. South Carolina has the second highest tax incentive at 25 percent of installed cost up to $3,500.

Passive solar heating is a science, a skill, and an art that has been advanced by dedicated professionals all over the world. State-of-the-art products and design innovations have been created that not only provide many more options, but can achieve superior results. Energy efficient windows and modern insulating materials enhance the effectiveness of solar designed homes. Research is also underway to manufacture construction materials that will store heat more effectively.

The ancient Greek playwright, Aeschylus, wrote in 500 B.C.: “Only primitives and barbarians lack knowledge of houses turned to face the winter sun”.

We have the knowledge. Now we need to get moving!

Michael Holster is President of Solar Vision Inc, an energy consulting and design company specializing in solar, energy and water technologies.

What the green movement means for you.

by Michael Holster

As we move into a new era of rising energy prices, accelerated global warming, and economic concerns, there is no doubt that we are in a historic period of transition. These changes will affect virtually everyone in a variety of ways. The emergence of the “green” movement to center stage is one indication of our changing times. Green is a very broad term that has come to mean a lot of things to a lot of people.

What is green? Also known as sustainable design, “going green” is a process that transforms what we do and how we do it so that the end result is better for our environment. By “our environment” we don’t just mean the world, the rainforest, or the spotted owl, we also mean the places we work and play in, our homes, and where we travel. So when you think about the environment, think of your house, yard, workplace, the shops you visit, the town you live in, etc.

At its core, the green movement is about efficiency. It is about increasing the efficiency with which we use all of our resources. So the objectives are to pollute less, use less energy, consume less materials and destroy fewer ecosystems. The objectives are also to improve our health, increase our productivity, and enhance our quality of life.

One of the areas where we can meet all of these objectives is new home construction.

Housing accounts for more than 20 percent of total energy consumption in the United States and over 20 percent of total CO2 emissions. This amount of energy is roughly equal to all the oil that we import from other countries (4.4 billion barrels of oil per year). Adopting intelligent green building design principles can dramatically reduce this number.

The environmental impact of housing is affected by many factors. These factors can be organized into four basic categories:

1) Energy  2) Water  3) Materials  4) Site impact

Energy refers to the ongoing energy that is consumed or produced at the home. This energy consumption is reflected in the homeowners monthly utility bills. So energy improvements that are incorporated into the green home design can reduce utility bills and yield substantial dollar savings. And these savings will increase over time as energy prices continue to rise.

The question is: How far do you want to go? Using existing technologies, we can achieve anywhere from zero to 40%, 50%, 60%, even 70% energy savings- and do it in a cost effective manner. That is, not only will the home be green, but additional money spent can yield a good return on investment.

Energy consumption is affected by the size and shape of the house, and how well it is sealed and insulated. It is also affected by the ways we deliver space heating, cooling, hot water, and electricity, and the efficiency of the equipment we use. Technologies to look at include passive solar heating, active solar heating, solar water heating, high efficiency lighting, daylighting, water source heat pumps, hvac design and equipment, solar power, as well as many others.

Water includes all water usage inside and outside the house. Although water is a high priority in our region due to frequent droughts, water efficiency measures do not normally yield significant dollar savings. However, if water shortages continue or get worse, water use restrictions and water fee increases may become substantial. Water use restrictions can also kill lawns and gardens and reduce property values.

As with energy, there are many options to look at depending on how far you want to go. These include low-flow water fixtures, natural landscaping, low water irrigation design, rainwater harvesting, and re-use of gray water.

Materials include all construction materials and furnishings. When it comes to materials, there are many different paths that can lead to green. Recommended materials are superior to traditional materials based on one or more of the following attributes:

• Require less energy to manufacture.
• Are locally produced (So less energy is used to transport them)
• Use natural rather than synthetic ingredients
• Use natural ingredients that are abundant and easy to renew
• Do not contain chemicals that are dangerous to people or the environment
• Do not release dangerous gasses to the air
• Are re-used or recycled from other materials or places.
• Are recyclable or biodegradable.
• Have insulating or other properties that will reduce energy consumption.

Site impact refers to how the new construction affects the surrounding land areas. It includes how many trees are knocked down, excavation, landscaping, storm water runoff, wastewater removal, and the amount of solid waste generated. Positive steps include preserving the original conditions, reducing erosion, reducing contamination, and intelligent landscaping. There are also techniques available to dramatically reduce or eliminate construction waste.

Savvy home builders understand that they can provide the best service to their clients by offering them good choices and helping them to make informed decisions. This is even more important when going green since there are so many options that are available.

One of the first questions the builder should ask the homeowner is whether or not they want to go green. Not asking this question in the beginning could lead to headaches later on. If the answer is no, then the builder can continue with the standard house process and nothing has been lost. But if the answer is yes, the builder has the opportunity to save the homeowner thousands of dollars by modifying the design of the home at the beginning to meet the homeowner’s goals.

If green building is the goal, the builder and homeowner can simplify the process, and save time and money by hiring a Green Consultant. After an initial meeting, the consultant can quickly come up with specific green technologies, preliminary designs, and costs for review. The consultant can also help qualify the home for green certification and can review green products for effectiveness. This frees the builder to concentrate on getting the home built on time and on budget.

Another question for the homeowner, is whether or not they want to comply with any of the green home certification programs such as NAHBGreen, GBI: Green Globes, USGBC LEED for residential, or NC Healthy Built Homes. If this is a goal, there are specific criteria to follow and checklists to comply with. Keep in mind that these programs are a starting point only, not a goal unto themselves. The real goal is to reduce the home’s carbon footprint and the quickest route is through innovative green design.

How much does green building cost? That depends on what approach you take. Given almost any budget, a green home can be designed instead of a standard home. Designers have come up with green homes that are innovative, attractive and reasonably priced. And a green home will have a higher market value than a standard home. Always remember that the easiest way to keep the cost of going green low is to start as early as possible in the design stage.

The green movement is a powerful process that can radically transform all our products and systems. It can deliver us from our energy, environmental and economic dilemma. In order to make this happen, we not only need the desire, we need to have an open mind and take a different approach in the way we do things.

As energy prices continue to go up, water supplies go down, and the environment continues to deteriorate, the trend toward green design will also continue to grow. The old inefficient and unhealthy practices of the past will become obsolete. The way of the future is green, and forward thinking individuals will choose to lead rather than follow this trend.

Michael Holster is President of Solar Vision Inc, a green consulting and design company specializing in energy and water technologies.

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Dear Reader,

As the creator and publisher of Visions, I have high hopes for the launch of our first edition. Having spent a great many years in the construction industry – as a framer, a licensed general contractor and a professional home designer – I’ve enjoyed countless opportunities to consult with developers, builders, trade professionals and homebuyers about residential projects large and small. In my personal quest to make an even bigger difference in the field, many ideas have been born and bred. Visions is the latest and, very truthfully, one that keeps me awake at night with its potential to serve.

In the course of my career, I’ve learned that networking is a key ingredient in all successful businesses. Those who run the most successful companies network unconsciously, as a matter of course. They surround themselves with suppliers of valuable products and services, the most important of which is information – generally accumulated through time and experience. My vision for this magazine is to provide an avenue through which this information can be shared – a network at your fingertips!

Visions is geared toward residential building professionals and their clients, the home buyers. Our commitment is to bring fresh, honest, meaningful articles of interest to our audience. Our primary goal is not to sell but, rather, to provide a portal to the information you need to make intelligent decisions regarding every aspect of the planning and execution of residential construction projects – from choosing a lot and selecting or customizing a home plan, to financing the project and finishing out the home with fabulous features and sensible, state-of-the-art materials.

Within its pages, Visions will incorporate a number of regular features that address such topics as “Easy Green” – how you can easily incorporate green building elements into home design and construction – and “Ask the Experts,” which provides quick and easy solutions to the challenges you may face throughout your project. Each issue will also highlight a collection of unique home plans that fit the specific needs and wants of today’s families.

For added convenience, articles will also be archived online at www.VisionsHomeMagazine.com . As a subscriber, you will be provided with a password that gives you access to additional articles which may be downloaded and printed as needed or desired. In addition, you can easily set up and manage your personal library of favorite home plans.

As we introduce Visions, we have chosen to focus first on the Carolinas, and circulation is expected to exceed 10,000 members of the building industry within the two-state community. Besides being “home” to our core team, the Carolinas offer as wide a range in tastes, cultures, lifestyle, geography, demography, and economy as one might find anywhere in the country. For these reasons, we felt that developing a publication for the Carolinas would provide us with the “proving ground” we need and prepare us for serving additional markets in the future.

As with any major endeavor, it takes a TEAM – as Together Everyone Achieves More! Visions is a product that represents the dedicated efforts of a very large team, and we would like to invite you to be a part! Send us your thoughts, ideas, questions and suggestions; we promise to listen carefully to your comments and incorporate your contributions whenever possible and practical. In the meantime, we hope that you enjoy our first issue and will look forward to future editions.

Sincerely,

Bill Elliott
Publisher