Residential GREEN BUILDING GUIDE Healthy Home
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Santa Monica Residential GREEN BUILDING GUIDE Healthy Home. Healthy Planet. Santa Monica Residential GREEN BUILDING GUIDE www.greenbuildings.santa-monica.org ABOUT THIS GUIDE RESIDENTIAL GREEN BUILDING ccording to the most recent City Finally, a green building of Santa Monica Sustainable City can easily reduce monthly survey, 93% of Santa Monica utility bills by as much residents believe that building as 25% or more. Many Ahealthier and more environmentally responsible of the energy saving buildings is important. If you are reading practices also make the this you probably agree. Green buildings are home healthier and more healthier, more environmentally sound, and more comfortable at the same economical. You will find you can make a real time. impact without sacrificing quality or breaking the bank. In fact, the principles behind green building So what does it take to achieve a healthier, more promote just the opposite: quality design, pleasing environmentally responsible, and energy efficient aesthetics, functionality, comfort, and wellbeing. home? The main ingredient is dedication. If you take the time to set goals for your project, work ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT OF BUILDINGS with your architect or designer to integrate them 65.2% of total U.S. electricity consumption in the plans, and get your contractor to 30% of total U.S. greenhouse gas emissions commit to your goals, 136 million tons of construction and demolition a healthy, environmen- waste in the U.S. (approx. 2.8 lbs/person/day) tally responsible home is 12% of potable water in the U.S. achievable. While some 40% (3 billion tons annually) of worldwide homeowners use innova- raw materials use tive designs and uncom- mon materials that cost In addition to making an impact on the environment more, there are many (see inset), buildings can also have an impact on green measures that cost the health of occupants. A California Air Resources nothing to implement and many that save money Board study showed that indoor air quality can in operating and maintaining the home. In short, be 2 to 50 times worse than outdoors. They also green building is not only a luxury reserved for those found that 87% of an average Californian’s time is willing to endure the extra costs. Clean air, reduced spent indoors-- making indoor air quality a very real environmental impacts, and lower utility bills are concern. luxuries we can all afford. FINALLY, A GREEN BUILDING CAN EASILY REDUCE MONTHLY UTILITY BILLS BY AS MUCH AS 25% OR MORE. MANY OF THE ENERGY SAVING PRACTICES ALSO MAKE THE HOME HEALTHIER AND MORE COMFORTABLE AT THE SAME TIME. 3 4 ABOUT THIS GUIDE (CONT.) Purpose of the Residential Green Building Guide egardless of whether you are building your dream home or just taking on a weekend project, there are ideas in this guide that you can use. The The first section of this guide is Green Rguide was created by the City of Santa Monica Building Attributes. The attributes Green Building Program to help residents: are words or phrases used to describe building systems and materials. These • Make more informed decisions when updating terms will help you evaluate products and upgrading their home to determine if they meet your green • Identify health and environmental measures for new construction or remodeling projects building goals. The terms will also be • Collaborate with their architect and contractors used throughout the other sections of during the design and construction process the guide. to ensure creation of a healthier and more environmentally sound home The Homeowners: Things to Consider • Find additional green building resources section highlights green building measures that are more commonly or The process of building a more sustainable home easily achieved. Use this section to set will be made easier by using an architect and goals for the green building measures contractor familiar with green building materials you would like to include in your home. and practices. Be sure to visit the Green Building Resource Center (see Other Resources section for It may be helpful to review this section address and hours) during the design process to with your architect or contractor. browse green building products and resources and for referrals to experienced contractors. The Detailed Measures will be more Other resources are also listed throughout this useful to contractors and do-it- document. yourselfers. Finally, complete the Checklist with THE PROCESS OF BUILDING A MORE your architect or contractor to ensure SUSTAINABLE HOME WILL BE MADE your green building goals are clearly EASIER BY USING AN ARCHITECT AND documented. CONTRACTOR FAMILIAR WITH GREEN BUILDING MATERIALS AND PRACTICES. 3 4 CONTENTS I. Green Building Attributes 6 II. Homeowners: Things to Consider 9 Construction and Demolition Waste 10 Building Orientation 11 Lighting 12 Heating and Cooling 13 Appliances 15 Plumbing / Domestic Hot Water 16 Building Shell 17 Interior and Finishes 18 Flooring 19 Landscape / Hardscape 20 Outdoor Decks 21 Solar Electricity 22 Furnishings 22 III. Builders: Detailed Measures 23 A. Site 24 B. Foundation 26 C. Structural Frame 27 D. Exterior Finish 30 E. Plumbing 31 F. Electrical 33 G. Appliances 34 H. Insulation 34 I. Windows 35 J. HVAC 36 K. Renewable Energy and Roofing 40 L. Natural Heating and Cooling 41 M. Indoor Air Quality 42 N. Flooring 44 O. Other 46 IV. Builder’s Checklist 47 V. Other Resources 50 Cover photo: Benny Chan/Fotoworks 5 6 GREEN BUILDING ATTRIBUTES any attributes describe and furnaces. The Energy Star® label used on many healthy and environmen- products is a good indication that it is more efficient tally sound materials and than the standard model. building practices that Formaldehyde-free Mshould be considered when designing a Insulation, particleboard, medium density fiberboard, home. Ask yourself whether the following or cabinets and furniture made from these materials can be used to describe the materials and can contain the toxin formaldehyde. Look for formal- systems you will be installing in your home. dehyde-free materials. When selecting products, look for products that use these terms to describe themselves, but be FSC Certified careful to make sure the claims are credible. The Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certifies managed forests to Biodegradable/ Compostable ensure they are less destructive to Biodegradable products have the ability to break forest ecosystems. Selecting lum- down, safely and relatively quickly, by biological ber or wood products made with means, into the raw materials of nature and disap- wood from FSC certified forests pear into the environment. Be aware that sending will help ensure healthier forests. biodegradable products to the landfill defeats the purpose. Solid biodegradable products can often be Local composted. Compostable materials are solid biodegrad- In addition to environmental impacts from the able materials that break down in the process of com- creation of building materials, transportation of posting. Composting is a process dedicated to breaking materials from great distances has a negative im- down organic materials into rich soil called compost. pact on the environment. Buying materials that are produced locally can minimize this impact. Durable Durable materials are environmen- Low/ No VOC tally sound because they have to Volatile organic compounds be thrown away and replaced less (VOCs) are found in paints, seal- often. They also reduce life cycle ants, adhesives, and some car- costs by reducing maintenance and pets. VOCs are toxic to humans replacement costs. and contribute to smog. Look for W3 Architects low or no VOC versions of these materials. Energy Efficient Almost anything that burns Non-toxic natural gas or is plugged in has Materials may contain toxins that are dangerous to an efficiency rating. Look for human health. Most materials are relatively benign, the most energy efficient model but some materials, such as CCA-treated lumber, in everything from appliances contain dangerous toxins. and furnaces to light bulbs and televisions. Also, insulation and low-e, dual paned windows increase home energy efficiency by reducing demand on air conditioners 6 Post-Industrial/ Post-Consumer wood taken from old-growth clear cuts are not renewable. Rapidly renewable materials Recycled materials can have either post-industrial or are often defined as those that are planted post-consumer recycled material or a combination or harvested within a ten-year cycle. Bam- of both. Post-industrial recycled material is a waste boo, straw, bio-based resins, and natural product from an industrial process. Post-consumer fiber carpets are among the materials that recycled content is material that was recovered are rapidly renewable. Renewable energy is from the urban waste stream such as used paper generated from fossil fuel-free sources such and soda cans. Recovering post-consumer materials as solar, wind, and geothermal. is more difficult to achieve and more likely to reduce landfill waste than post-industrial waste Salvaged and, therefore, often favored when selecting recycled content materials. Reusing materials means that new materials do not have to be Recycled/ Recyclable harvested or extracted from the earth. Salvaging materials during Many common materials can be the demolition of an old home selected with or without recycled saves them for someone else to content. Recycled content prod- re-use. ucts mean that the material used has been kept out of our landfills Sustainable and has reduced the extraction of precious and limited natural A sustainable product is one that resources. Examples of materials that can contain can be produced today without recycled content are concrete, tile, steel, and carpet. impacting the ability to produce As important as having recycled content is whether the same product in the future. a material can be diverted from the landfill (recycled) Therefore, sustainable products at the end of its useful life. should be produced and trans- ported using renewable materials Resource Efficient and renewable energy sources.