green beyond the bottom line

The Green Roundtable(copyright © Green Roundtable 2007)

Green Roundtable

Consulting, education, trainingand strategic planning

to create healthy environments byintegrating principles of

sustainability into mainstreamplanning, design and construction.


The Green Roundtable

Green Beyond the Bottom LinePaul Marquis

[email protected]

and


Download presentations at:www.nexusboston.com/space/events/

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Why do green….


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• Economics- Reducing energy cost/ protecting thebottom line

• Health- Maintaining a safe and healthy environmentfor one’s family & oneself

• Personal impact- Addressing the greater good-minimizing environmental footprint

The three prime movers (in order):


Economic realities

Up front costs or first-costs of green buildingare often greater than conventional building

That doesn’t need to be the case!

Cost of Truro home: $190/ sq. ft.


Economics of green building

• Sometimes we need to look beyond the issue of first-cost and take Total Cost of Ownership into account

• When looking at TCO, in addition to energy &operating resources, we need to look at durability &ease-of-maintenance

• Rebates, tax credits & other financing vehicles canhelp to manage first-costs

• In valuing green building, we may want to look atother, less-tangible factors as well


The trump card

A University of Michigan study demonstrated thatgreater than 90% of the embodied energy in a home

is attributable to operating energy

Reduce operating energy and potentially reduce totalcost of ownership (TCO) or life-cycle cost

significantly

Center for Sustainable Systems, University of Michigan


Justifying increased up-front costs

Making the case for reduced Life-Cycle Cost or TCO:

• Green buildings usually use less energy/ resourcesto operate than their conventional counterparts

• Green buildings are typically more durable &maintenance-free due to the application of soundprinciples of building science

• Additional benefits like improved IEQ, minimizingimpact, increased security, etc. may warrant theincreased cost – What value do we place on these?!


Why build green?

• Reduces the ecological footprint of the building

• Creates a safer and healthier indoor environment

• May improve property resale value

• May increase affordability

• Typically results in a more durable, maintenance-free building

• Reduces our dependence on foreign oil

Beyond the bottom line of energy efficiency/utility savings

• Provides security/ passive survivability


Source: Case Studies In Resource-Efficient Residential Building,Building America program

Ex.: Offsetting increased first cost insome areas with savings in others

Cost offsetting


Green criteria

• Efficiently uses energy & resources

• Contains high recycled material content

• Derived from rapidly renewable resources

• Can be reused/ recycled at the end of it’s useful life

• Locally sourced

• Biodegradable

• Durable & low-maintenance

• Produces minimal off-gassing


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Cornerstones of green building

Site Site

Site Site


Sweetening the pot


Rebates and incentives

• Energy efficient mortgages

• MA state renewable energy tax credit

• MA state sales tax exemption

• Federal Energy Policy Act of 2005 (renewed for ’08)

• See DSIRE database (Database of StateIncentives for Renewables & Efficiency):http://www.dsireusa.org/

• Utility incentives

• Energy credit mortgages & “green loans”


Federal Energy Policy Act of 2005

Examples:

• Energy Star windows/ skylights: 10% of cost up to$200 for all windows

• Exterior/ Storm doors: 10% of cost up to $500

• Insulation: 10% up to $500

• Geothermal heat pump: $300

• http://www.energy.gov/taxbreaks.htm


Energy Efficient Mortgages

• Remodelers/ Refinancers:-Owner gets all the EEM benefits without moving.-Make improvements which will actually save money.-Increase the potential resale value .

• Allows you to increase your debt-to-income ratio

• Home Energy Rating System (HERS) report mustindicate that home will save money as a result of theimprovements- http://www.energy.ca.gov/HERS/;http://www.energyratings.org/

• For more info:http://www.pueblo.gsa.gov/cic_text/housing/energy_mort/energy-mortgage.htm


Energy Efficient Mortgages, ex.


Energy Credit Mortgages/ Green Loans

• Provide credit on closing costs

• Generally for new construction

• Being offered by Bank of America & WainrightBank among others


MA Renewables Tax Credit

• Solar Water Heat, Solar Space Heat, Photovoltaics,Wind

• 15% of cost up to $1000

• Excess credit may be carried forward three years

• http://www.state.ma.us/doer/programs/renew/renew.htm#taxcred

• Personal tax credit


MA State Sales Tax Exemption

• 100% of sales tax exempt; no maximum

• Solar Water Heat, Solar Space Heat, Photovoltaics,Wind, Geothermal Heat Pumps

• http://www.state.ma.us/doer/programs/renew/renew.htm#taxcred


•High-efficiency space heating equipment

•High-efficiency indirect water heating equipment

•ENERGY STAR® qualified windows

•ENERGY STAR® qualified thermostats

•ENERGY STAR® qualified central air conditioning

•ENERGY STAR® air source heat pump systems

Typical utility rebates


The Truro home:Sustainability w/ economy


Scale


Compare this:


To something like this:


Stats:

• Size of Truro home prior to remodel: 1200 sq. ft.

• Size after remodel: ~2100 sq. ft.

• Size of lot: 0.22 acres

• Family of four


The average size of a U.S. single-familyhouse has increased by 33% since 1975. At

the same time average family size hasdecreased

Consider this:

Center for Sustainable Systems, University of Michigan


Design Basics


Orientation/ Design Basics

• Structure oriented along East-West axis; i.e. long sidefacing south (roofline adjusted to accommodate solar)

• Glazing on south-facing walls optimized for passivesolar gains

• Existing footprint maintained


Durability


Durability

• Uncomplicated design w/o too many intersectingplanes- improved durability, ease of maintenance

• Foamboard insulation exterior skin creates effectivedrainage plane

• Sprayed Icynene foam insulation provides moreeffective wall-cavity moisture management

• Enviroshake roof is a 100 year roof if properly installed

• Certainteed fiber-cement siding has expectedminimum life >50 years


Materials


Exterior Siding

CertainTeed Fiber Cement Siding - WeatherBoard

• >30% post-industrial recycled content- fly ash

• In addition to durability requires fewer paint cycles(15 year warranty on finish)

• Sustainable Forestry Initiative certified wood fibers

• Cheaper than cedar clapboards & shingles!


Roofing

Enviroshake composite roofing

• High post-industrial recycled content

• Most of these types of roofing materials are abouthalf-again as much as premium asphalt-fiberglass(material cost), but durability may be the trump card


Interior Paints

Sherwin-Williams Harmony zero VOC

• Marginally more expensive than ‘conventional’(installed cost)

• Provides safer indoor environment by reducingVOC off-gassing


Flooring

- PlyBoo DuraPalm coconut flooring- WeCork cork tiles

• Made from rapidly renewable resources

• Pre-finished- reduces installation cost

• Finished with low-VOC polyurethane (water borne)

• Cork comparable in cost to T & G oak strip flooring;DuraPalm a bit more expensive (product only)


PEX tubing for water supply piping

• Less embodied energy than copper

• More freeze-tolerant

• Facilitates structured plumbing; minimizes piping runs;shallow bends can improve delivery performance

• Less heat loss

• Easier to install; less expensive w/ competent sub-contractor


Water conservation


Water conservation

• Toto Aquia dual flush toilets installed

• Low-flow Hans Grohe bathroom fixtures

• Danze temperature control kitchen faucet

Assuming a cost premium of 100 –150; w/MWRA rates, payback can be as little as 3 years!(typ. Family of four)


Energy


Windows

Fibertec windows with fiberglass frames

• Hollow, non-conductive window frame increaseseffective R-Value

• More expensive than vinyl-clad wood products, butincreased performance & environmental benefits mayjustify added cost


Appliances

• Energy Star appliances used throughout (LG)

• Horizontal axis washing machine installed

• Dryer w/ dual moisture sensors

• Saves water as well as energy-can have fast payback time

• Dishwasher w/ booster heater

• Use 30 – 50% less water; 50 –60% lessenergy; 1/3 less detergent; kinder onclothes! (source: MWRA)


Natural daylighting

• Can reduce lighting loads and cooling loads

• Residential systems typically consist of skylights,clerestory windows or tubular daylighting devices(TDD’s; “sun tubes” or “light tubes”)

• Improves indoor environmental quality

• ODL Sun Tunnel installed in Truro project


Skylights may contribute to summer overheatingand winter heat loss.


Sky tube (TDD)

Installed cost typicallyless than skylights


IEQ


IEQ

• Low- VOC finishes & low-formaldehyde engineeredlumber products used

• Natural daylighting via skytube & effective use ofwindow area

• Ventilation??


Site

• Gravel driveway provides good permeability forstorm water

• Less expensive than hard paving


Some other things I might haveconsidered


Basic design elements

• Overhangs on south-facing roof to limit summer(overhangs throughout to protect walls)

• Nighttime window insulation/ Thermal mass??


Materials: Low-hanging fruit

• Employ advanced framing techniques

• Use structure as finish

• Use salvaged/ surplus materials (Existing shelllargely maintained)

• Use FSC-certified lumber (Forest StewardshipCouncil; fscus.org)


Insulation

Some alternatives to Icynene to consider:

• Wet-blown (dense pack) cellulose

• Denim batts (w/ foam skin over exterior sheathing)


Advanced Framing

• Saves on labor cost since fewer “sticks” installed

• Saves on framing lumber expense

• Reduces lumber disposal cost/ impact

• Savings estimates range to 20% of overall framingexpense

In a Building America test project, advanced framingreduced lumber expense by $1.05 per sq. ft.(Canoffset the cost of using FSC-certified lumber)

• Reduces drywall cracking – fewer callbacks forbuilders??


Advanced framing & efficiency

• Providing more room for insulation!

• Reducing bridging heat loss

Improves thermal efficiency of building by:

In the same Building America test project, annualheating and cooling costs were reduced by29.2%, or $293*

* http://www.toolbase.org/pdf/techinv/oveadvancedframingtechniques_techspec.pdf


Advanced Framing

• “Right-sized” headers; insulated, engineered headers

• 2 x 6 studs on 24” centers

• Jack studs eliminated at window openings

• No headers in non-load bearing partitions

• Single top plate if trusses/ roof rafters placeddirectly over wall studs (stacked framing)

• Open corner framing (2-stud corners)

• Ladders at T-intersections

Some major elements:


Advanced Framing & MA building code

780 CMR 56.00 Wall Construction

Advanced framing is specifically allowed by theMA One & Two Family Dwelling Code. See:


Kitchen

• Source cabinets locally (Neil-Kelly cabinets shippedfrom Oregon)

• Examples of alternatives:- Paperstone- Ice Stone- Squak Mountain Stone

• Use countertops made from recycled or rapidlyrenewable materials (granite countertops used inproject have a high embodied energy due toextraction, cutting & polishing)


Exterior trim

• Use non-vinyl based composites

• Examples:- HardiPlank- WeatherBoard


Roofing

• Use light colors on low roofs to minimize coolingload & heat island effect

• Example:- Authentic Roof by Crowe Building Products- Naturals fiber/cement composite

• Look for higher (post-consumer) recycled content


Water conservation


Water conservation

• Collect rainwater for landscape irrigation

• Incorporate graywater systems

• Use demand pumps in supply system (Metlund,TACO; see gothotwater.com for example)


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Gothotwater.com


Gray water

• Collected from drain-waste-vent system other thantoilets, dishwashers & kitchen sinks with garbagediposals (“Black water”)

• May be difficult to get local code approval for somesystems

• Generally used for flushing toilets, landscapeirrigation & other non-potable, utility purposes


http://www.gaiam.com/product/eco-home-outdoor/energy-efficient-climate-control/energy-saving-tools/toilet+lid+sink.do

Gray water: A direct approach


Domestic Hot Water


DHW

• Use instantaneous hot water heaters (tankless)

• Save energy by eliminating standing heat loss (vs.conventional tank-style water heater); estimated savings24 – 34%

• May enjoy substantial rebates from utilities


Tankless water heaters

• Examples of brands: Rinnai, Noritz, Takagi

• Gas-fired typically more responsive and can provideneeded capacity more effectively

• Cost more than standard water heaters but last longer

• More choices as to location/ placement

• Direct-venting; e.g. can exhaust through wall

• Look for min. flow rates of 0.3 – 0.5 gal./min.


http://www.energystar.gov/index.cfm?c=dishwash.pr_dishwashershttp://www.energystar.gov/index.cfm?c=clotheswash.pr_clothes_washershttp://www.energystar.gov/index.cfm?c=boilers.pr_boilers

Energy Star savings calculators


A general list of tools offered by the U.S. Departmentof Energy are available over the web at:http://www.eere.energy.gov/buildings/tools_directory/subjects.cfm/pagename=subjects/pagename_menu=whole_building_analysis/pagename_submenu=load_calculation

General analysis tools


Defining green: Design resources

• Building America-http://www.eere.energy.gov/buildings/building_america/about.html

• Environmental Building News/ Greenspec-http://www.buildinggreen.com)

•http://www.austinenergy.com/Energy%20Efficiency/Programs/Green%20Building/Sourcebook/index.htm


Measuring Green:Rating Systems

• LEED - www.usgbc.org

• Energy Star Homes- www.energystar.gov

• International Energy Conservation Code (IEEC)-http://www.iccsafe.org/

• HERS (http://www.energy.ca.gov/HERS)


GRT: www.greenroundtable.orgRenewable Energy: www.nrel.govUS DOE: www.eere.energy.gov/buildings/EPA: www.epa.gov/ne/greenbuildings

Residential Green Building Guide:A Web Source Book for New Englandwww.epa.gov/ne/greenbuildings

NAHB: Model Green Home Building Guidelines:www.nahb.org

Additional Resources


• Upcoming workshops• Reference library• Samples library• Cyber Lounge• Online resources at nexusboston.com (in the

pipeline)• Local green building community

And don’t forget about NEXUS!


Local Resources


The Green Roundtable, Inc. (GRT) is an independent non-profitorganization whose mission is to mainstream green building andsustainable design and become obsolete. We work toward this goal bypromoting and supporting healthy and environmentally integrated buildingprojects through strategic outreach, education, policy advocacy andtechnical assistance.

[email protected]

617-374-3740

www.nexusboston.com38 Chauncy Street, Boston

Located in downtown Boston, NEXUSwelcomes all to come ask questions,research topics, and attend tours andevents on green building and sustainabledesign innovation.

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