Affordable Green Affordable Green Basics and SelectedBasics and Selected

Lessons LearnedLessons Learned

Christine Bruncati, R.A.Christine Bruncati, R.A.New Jersey Institute of TechnologyNew Jersey Institute of Technology

Center for Architecture and Building Science ResearchCenter for Architecture and Building Science Research

Affordable GreenAffordable Green

Use an integrated design processUse an integrated design process Make it energy efficientMake it energy efficient Make it durableMake it durable Plan for improved indoor air qualityPlan for improved indoor air quality Make it resource efficientMake it resource efficient Use environmentally responsible materialsUse environmentally responsible materials Follow through in the fieldFollow through in the field Educate residentsEducate residents

Energy BasicsEnergy Basics

Reduce loads FIRST Reduce loads FIRST – Orient for passive solar heating/coolingOrient for passive solar heating/cooling– Provide a well insulated envelopeProvide a well insulated envelope– ““Build tight ventilate right”Build tight ventilate right”

Next, meet loads efficientlyNext, meet loads efficiently– Use efficient properly sized systems Use efficient properly sized systems

THEN meet loads renewablyTHEN meet loads renewably

Long axis east-west

– Shade from high summer sun

– Admit low winter sun

Building OrientationBuilding Orientation

Building Envelope Building Envelope Insulation – money well spentInsulation – money well spent Minimize thermal bridging Minimize thermal bridging

– steel framing – ORNL study steel stud wall with steel framing – ORNL study steel stud wall with R-11 batts, whole wall R-6.1R-11 batts, whole wall R-6.1

– slab edges slab edges – masonry masonry – metal window and door framesmetal window and door frames

Air sealing – if it’s not tight, it’s not energy Air sealing – if it’s not tight, it’s not energy efficient efficient

Energy Star windows Energy Star windows – (energystar.gov, nfrc.org)(energystar.gov, nfrc.org)

Lighting, Appliances & EquipmentLighting, Appliances & Equipment

Energy Star lighting and appliancesEnergy Star lighting and appliances Energy Star or high efficiency HVAC, Energy Star or high efficiency HVAC,

properly sizedproperly sized– Manual J for residential loadsManual J for residential loads– ASHRAE or manufacturer’s software for ASHRAE or manufacturer’s software for

“commercial” loads“commercial” loads

DurableDurable

Use durable materialsUse durable materials Air sealingAir sealing Control waterControl water

– Rainwater controlRainwater control– Groundwater controlGroundwater control– PlumingPluming

From “Read This Before From “Read This Before

You Design Build or Renovate”You Design Build or Renovate”http://www.eere.energy.gov/buildings/building_america/pdfs/db/32114.pdfhttp://www.eere.energy.gov/buildings/building_america/pdfs/db/32114.pdf

IAQIAQ

Source controlSource control– Low offgassing materialsLow offgassing materials– Air sealingAir sealing– Moisture control and Moisture control and

material selection in wet material selection in wet areas i.e. use cement areas i.e. use cement board, not “green” boardboard, not “green” board

VentilationVentilation– Designed and controlledDesigned and controlled

Resource EfficiencyResource Efficiency

Reduce materials usedReduce materials used– OVE framing, panelized OVE framing, panelized

constructionconstruction– Designing on 2’ gridDesigning on 2’ grid

Recycle or salvage C&D Recycle or salvage C&D debrisdebris

Use durable materialsUse durable materials

Builder’s Guides www.eeba.org

Lessons Learned Lessons Learned

Missed insulation Missed insulation – Tub/shower Tub/shower

installed before installed before insulation - and insulation - and often on outside often on outside wall.wall.

Lessons Learned Lessons Learned

Air sealing Air sealing – Visual Visual

inspections ofteninspections often– Blower door test Blower door test

while you can while you can still correct still correct problemsproblems

Lessons LearnedLessons Learned

Ventilation Ventilation Systems Systems Specify rigid ductSpecify rigid duct– Verify fans are Verify fans are

workingworking

Lessons LearnedLessons Learned

Vegetated swales for Vegetated swales for stormwater management stormwater management – No heavy equipment or No heavy equipment or

materials on vegetated materials on vegetated swales swales

– If soils are compacted If soils are compacted infiltration wont occurinfiltration wont occur

– Diligence in the field is keyDiligence in the field is keyHigh Point Seattle, WA

Lessons LearnedLessons Learned

Linoleum flooring Linoleum flooring – Tile linoleum has a grain, Tile linoleum has a grain,

rotate each tile 90° or you rotate each tile 90° or you can get buckling. can get buckling.

PET carpetPET carpet– Investigate warrantee and Investigate warrantee and

wear issues. Some are wear issues. Some are less durable than others.less durable than others.

Lessons LearnedLessons Learned

Passive Solar Passive Solar Design Design – Residents can Residents can

undermine undermine design intent if design intent if not engaged in not engaged in process process

Lessons LearnedLessons Learned

Hold a Hold a preconstruction preconstruction meeting meeting – Everyone that will Everyone that will

actually be building actually be building the project should the project should attendattend

– Review the goals Review the goals objective objective andand accountability accountability measures. measures.

Affordable Green Case StudiesAffordable Green Case Studieswww.designadvisor.orgwww.designadvisor.org