Making your home improvement project more environmentally friendly and sustainable – thus lowering your carbon footprint - is a 3-legged process. Though each leg works harmoniously with the next, it is important to understand the individual components of each. Here are some ideas to consider:
ENERGY EFFICIENCY – (lowering energy demand, thus saving money on energy bills)
Insulation and vapor barrier as a system
(R-values to meet International Energy Conservation Code for roofs, floors and walls)
- Batts – Fiberglass, cotton, or mineral wool – used with 6mil polyethylene sheets
- Blown-In Cellulose or Fiberglass – Loose Fill (can contain recycled materials)
- Spray-on Polyurethane Foam – Yields high R-value and is its own vapor barrier ($$$)
- Rigid Foam Insulation – Installed in sheets to interior OR exterior of home
Insulate water pipes and ductwork – they conduct, transmit, and “leak” heat
Lighting
- Use Compact Fluorescent or LED bulbs for long-life and low energy consumption
- Use “zones” and dimmers to reduce wasted energy where lighting is not needed
Appliance
- High-efficiency furnace – for forced-air systems
- Tankless water heating – point-of-use or central instantaneous, gas or electric
- Use only appliances that carry an Energy-Star rating
Solar Power – photovoltaic panels to store power to supplement or replace grid power
Geo-Thermal Heat Pumps – eliminate need for high gas or electric resistance usage
- Underground water loops use the earth to heat water in winter and store heat in the summer
Radiant Floor Heating – In-floor hot water loops to radiate heat and reduce ductwork
Air-Conditioning – Select a system with a high SEER rating
Windows and Doors
- Good quality, Air-tight construction and installation – weatherstripping!
- Low Solar Heat-Gain Coefficient (SHGC) and U-value
- Insulated, Low-E coating and Argon gas filled between insulated panes
NATURAL RESOURCE CONSERVATION – (lower depletion and reduce landfill waste)
Low-flow plumbing fixtures – Conserve water demand while lowering water bills
FSC-Certified Wood –
Concrete with Fly-Ash – use this byproduct as a binder to reduce cement production
Gray water reuse – Reintroducing graywater back into supply
- Reduces demand on local water aquifer (oceans, lakes, rivers, and streams)
- Sources include sinks, showers, washing machines, and rainwater harvested in barrels
- Reused for non-potable uses like flushing toilets, laundry, and lawn irrigation
Renovating and Rehabbing – nothing is greener than reusing existing structures
Recycled Content – use materials with high pre- and post-consumer recycled content
Regional Materials – use products and materials that are manufactured locally to reduce the embodied energy lost in transportation
Rapidly Renewable Materials – use products and materials made from resources that can be grown, harvested, and re-grown all within a 10-year life-cycle
- i.e.: soy, cork, linoleum, bamboo, wool, cotton, straw insulation, and wheatboard
Recycle your own waste! – divert “garbage” from landfills by recycling regularly
- Participate in local government recycling programs or institute your own at home
- In construction projects, encourage tradesmen to order and install materials in such a way to generate less waste – and also to recycle their packaging, etc.
INDOOR AIR QUALITY – (promote healthier living at home)
Radon Mitigation – test your property and install a system to regularly remove radon gas
Natural and Mechanical Ventilation – promote air circulation in and out of the home
- Windows, operable skylights, ceiling fans, attic fans, exhaust fans
Proper Air and moisture barriers – reduce infiltration of allergens and pollutants
- Building paper on the exterior and polyethylene film or monolithic insulation inside
- Moisture barriers at basement floors and crawlspaces to reduce groundwater
- Waterproofing of exterior foundations at basements and crawlspaces
Insulation types – use those that do not produce and sustain airborne microorganisms
Low VOC-emitting materials and finishes
- VOC (Volatile Organic Compounds) off-gassing can produce poor air quality
- Choose carpet, paint, adhesives and sealants with low VOC contents
Urea-Formaldehyde – use products free of this air pollutant (usually composite woods)
Air Filters – use filters with a high MERV rating (MERV 8 as a MINIMUM).
Carbon Monoxide Detectors – Mandatory requirement of Building Codes
- At least one installed in the home placed between 3ft and 6ft above the floor.
- Place near bedrooms and/or attached garages
These items are just a few categorical examples of basic ways to make your home more “green” and are intended to be a design guide. Consult a LEED Accredited Professional for full analysis of your home to see what options will work most thoroughly and cost effectively for your project.
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