GreenPoint Rated and Green MaterialsKaty Hollbacher, P.E. | beyondefficiency.org

May 16, 2009

Today’s Presentation:

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Considering individual choices in context of the project as a whole

Verification & testing: choosing a green material is not enough!

Example material-related measures in GreenPoint Rated

Who Is Build It Green?

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Drive policy development— partner with government to establish credible and accessible green building policies that promote private sector innovation and provide consistent guidelines statewide.

Increase supply of green homes—train building professionals on latest best practices and connect green product suppliers with consumers.

Stimulate consumer demand—build awareness of the benefits of green building by providing GreenPoint Rated as a trustworthy, recognized brand for green homes.

Mission is to promote healthy, energy- and resource-efficient buildings in California.

What Is Green Building?

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“Whole-Systems” approach for designing and constructing buildings that: are integrated into the building site

consume less energy and water are durable and easier to maintain use resource efficient techniques and materials

are healthier, safer, and more comfortable

Green=SMART

Traditional vs. Green Approach

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Traditional: how much more does it cost to install a 92% instead of 80% AFUE furnace?

Greener: how much more does it cost to operate and maintain an 80% instead of 92% AFUE furnace over 20 years?

Think lifecycle cost, not upfront cost Think value, not cost

The Whole-Systems Approach

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What is a ‘truly green’ heating system? Insulation is installed properly, and levels exceed code

Air sealing techniques minimize heat loss at doors, elec. outlets, attic hatches, etc…

Windows are dual-pane and low-E Ductwork and furnace have been sized and designed with appropriate manuals

System has been tested for proper performance

Furnace is properly maintained over its lifetime…

Step 1: Conserve Resources

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Use materials resourcefully Efficient design Smart construction Waste management/recycling

Always ask: What is the highest and best use of a product? Good: Downcycle Better: Recycle (salvage and reuse)

Best: Refinish or refurbish

Step 2: Choose Materials

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Recycled content Salvaged or reused Rapidly renewable Sustainably harvested Resourceful Safe and healthy Lifecycle considerations: Locally sourced or manufactured

Durable/low-maintenance Recyclable or biodegradable

Associated energy & water use

Beyond Product and Material Selection…

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Defining a product as “green” is not straightforward

A product is often just one component of a larger system

Rarely is there a ‘greenest’ choice; depends on specific situation

“Green Products” can be used in dumb ways!What Makes a Product Green? http://tinyurl.com/ber2ko

Think Big Picture. Think Critically. Use Common Sense!

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Making Green Building Happen: Communication and Coordination

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Subs/Specialty Trades

General Contractor

Owner

Architect/ Designer

Green Building Bu

ilding

Department

Product Supplier

How to collaborate?

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Identify project goals. Assemble quality team—and educate them. Identify and assign “gray area” roles. WHO is accountable for WHAT?

Who needs to be consulted when? How will accountability by measured or verified?

Educate and Make the Team Accountable

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“All trades are to become familiar with the GreenPoint Rated checklist and provide all documentation to the owner or Architect to complete the checklist.”

Specify

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Verify

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Why Green Rating Systems?

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Verify and quantify environmental benefits

Achieve energy, water, resource, and carbon-reduction goals

Empower consumers Provide competitive advantage for builders

Create green building market value for products, homes & services

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A program of Build It Green California based & stakeholder grown

Accessible yet credible

Single Family

Multifamily

GreenPoint Rated Certificate

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Minimum Requirements

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Minimum Points – 50 Categories – 5

Minimum thresholds in 4 SF Minimum thresholds in 5 MF

Prerequisites – up to 4 Perform 15% above T-24 50% Waste Diversion by Weight (Recycling or Reuse)

GreenPoint Rated Checklist in Blueprints 3-Yr. Warranty for Shingle Roofs on Multifamily Projects

CategoryMin

PointsMax Points

Community 0 31

Energy 30 194

IAQ/Health 5 51

Resources 6 103

Water 9 69

Totals 50 448

Why LEED Homes & GreenPoint Rated?

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Provide complementary opportunities to California builders: GreenPoint Rated--credible yet accessible point of entry

LEED for Homes--national environmental leadership award for top-performing new homes

California Code GreenPoin

t Rated LEED Homes

Collaboration: Memorandum of Understanding

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Cross-training of GreenPoint Raters and LEED for Homes Raters and Representatives

Dual branding with equivalency tool Cross-referrals to steer projects towards the most appropriate rating system

The GreenPoint Rated Process

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Build It Green Manages program Trains and certifies the raters Provides quality assurance of raters Issues certificates to builders

GreenPoint Rater Coordinates with Build It Green Provides rating and verification

Who are GreenPoint Raters?

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Certified by Build It Green; no contractual relationship

Prior building industry & green building experience required

Raters receive 3.5 day training

Written & field exams Ongoing certification requirements

GreenPoint Checklists

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Accompany guidelines and provide a tool to track green features of a project

Define specific metrics for achieving green building measures

Uses: Do-it-yourself assessment Communication tool for project team Policy tool for municipality and builder Basis for third-party verified projects

Verification Methods

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Four ways to verify each measure:

Rater Manual defines the recommended methods

Balance between rigor and excessive burden

Plan Review

Rough Inspection

Final Inspection

Documentation

Material-related GPR measures

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How do specific materials help earn points in GreenPoint Rated? Are environmentally preferable Improve durability or reduce maintenance requirements (eg overhangs)

Contribute to energy or water efficiency Improve air quality (eg hard surfaces in entryways)

Are part of a resource-efficient system… or not used at all!

Site

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Deconstruct Instead of Demolishing Existing Buildings on Site

SF MFSF MF

A2

Foundation

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Displace Portland Cement in Concrete with Recycled Flyash or Slag a. 20% b. 25% (MF 30%)

SF MFSF MF

C2B1

Foundation

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Use Frost-Protected Shallow Foundation in Cold Areas (C.E.C. Climate Zone 16)

SF MFSF

B2

Structure

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Optimal Value Engineering (Advanced Framing) a. Place Rafters & Studs at 24-Inch On Center

SF MFSF

C5D1

Structure

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Optimal Value Engineering (Advanced Framing) b. Size Door AND Window Headers for Load

SF MFSF

C5D1

Yes

No

Structure

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Engineered Structural Elements b. Insulated Engineered Headers

SF MFSF

D2

Quiz: Structure

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b. Size Door and Window Headers for Load?

SF MFSF

C5D1

NO

SF MFSF

C5D1

NOYes!

Structure

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Optimal Value Engineering (Advanced Framing) c. Use Only Jack and Cripple Studs Required for Load

NO

SF MFSF MF

C4D2

Engineered Structural Elements c. Wood I-Joists or Web Trusses for Floors

Structure

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Structure

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FSC Certified Wood

SF MFSF MF

PD3,4

D3 C3

Structure

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Design Energy Heels on Roof Trusses (75% of attic insulation height at outer edge of ext. wall)

MFMF

C8D6

SF

Structure

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Install Overhangs and Gutters (16” & 24”)

SFSF MF

D10

Manual: Measured horiz. from finish siding to end of fascia, not gutter

Must be on all sides of roof, not just eaves

Exterior Finish

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Install a Rain Screen Wall System

SF MFSF MF

C11E2

Manual: A 3/8” min air space (spacer strips or rain screen mat) that allows for effective ventilation

Exterior Finish

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Select Durable and Fire-Resistant Roofing Materials

SF MFSF MF

C10E4

Manual: • Class A assembly (SF/MF)• 3 yr subcontractor installation guarantee & 20 yr mfr warranty (req’d in MF)

Finishes

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Vandalism Deterrence E.13 Project Includes Vandalism Resistant Finishes and Strategies

F.5 Vandalism Management Plan

SF MFSF MFE13, F5

Insulation

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Install Insulation with 75% Recycled Content Note: post-industrial OK

SF MFSF MF

C9F1

Field: ONLY cellulose, cotton, rockwool meet this

Insulation

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SF MFSF M

F3

Pre-Drywall Inspection Shows Quality Insulation Installation Note: HERS verification req’d

Holes everywhere…

44energystar.gov

Caulking and Sealing

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Air sealing Increase comfort and reduce energy bills

25% or more of heat loss from homes is due to air infiltration

Rated vs. Actual R-Value Air infiltration can reduce a wall's rated insulative value from R-13 to an effective value of R-5

Tax credits up to $1500

Building Performance

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Home obtains EPA Indoor Air PLUS Certification Home must be ENERGY STAR rated

Same HERS Rater does the IAP

Pilot phase is just ending

SF MFSF

J3

SF MFSF

J3

++ Materials

Moisture Control ++

Pest Barriers++

Combustion Systems++HVAC Systems++

Radon Control++

Building Performance

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Home obtains EPA Indoor Air PLUS Certification No extra IAP fees over regular fees at this time

EPA Indoor Air PLUS

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“Specifications were developed based on best available science and information about risks associated with indoor air quality problems, and balanced with practical issues of cost, builder production process compatibility, and enforceability” epa.gov/iaq/indoorairplus

Finish Measures

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Paints, sealants, adhesives

Cabinetry & furnishings Flooring Appliances

Invoices, MSDS, cut sheets as documentation

Watch for switch-outs during construction (but it’s in the specs!)

Finishes

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Design Entryways to Reduce Contaminants SF/MF - Provide Hard Surface & Permanently Installed Shoe Storage System at Home Entrances

MF - Permanent Walk-Off Systems are Provided at All Main Entrances & in Common Areas

SF MFSF MF

E2K1

Manual: Built-in cubby or shelf is req’d, bench isn’t

Finishes

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Use Low/No-VOC Paint

Field: Documentation is key. Finding cans in field is often difficult and not necessarily indicative of which paint was applied where.

Finishes

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Use Environmentally Preferable Materials for Interior Finish A) FSC Certified Wood, B) Reclaimed, C) Rapidly Renewable D) Recycled-Content or E) Finger-Jointed or Local

SF MFSF MF

E7K6

PK1

Appliances

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Install a Built-in a. Recycling Center b. Compost Center

MFMF

E3M4

SF

Community Design

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Cluster Homes / Keep Size in Check c. Home Size Efficiency

SFSF MF

O2 O2

The Not So Big House

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Since 1949, the square footage of housing per person has jumped by 3.6 times from 214 to 769 in the U.S.! Sarah Susanka,

notsobighouse.com Typically calls for building one-third less in square footage than homeowners think they need

“McMansion”

Market Trends: Small Is In?

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Living small: Defying trend, some homeowners make more of less square footage MarketWatch.com: tinyurl.com/livingsmall

2009 Forecast: Smaller Single-family Home Trend Will Continue Trulia.com: tinyurl.com/smallertrend

Homework?

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Ask an architect or builder friend if you can review a few old sets of plans

Practical exercise: Review plans with a critical eye regarding material use

How is this project doing a good job?

What can be improved? Where do you require more info to make an honest assessment?

Questions…

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