Ideas for "Greening" Your Project

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 – Forest Stewardship Council

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.

© cj architects, inc. 2009