Green: Is It Your Color? Part II
By Molly Erin McCabe, AKBD
Reprinted with permission from West Sound Home & Garden Magazine
In the first installment of “Green: Is It Your Color?," we looked at the four R’s
of green design and build – rethink, reduce, reuse, and recycle. In this segment,
we will examine what it means to design and build green as well as how to tell
when you have an authentically green product/home.
What does it really mean to design and build a green home? A common
declaration in the built green sector is that a green built home "uses less energy,
water and natural resources; creates less waste; and is healthier and more
comfortable for the occupants because built green homes have better indoor air
quality, lower risk of pest infestations, lower levels of allergens, and reduced risk
of mold-related illnesses”. This mantra is achieved by aligning any given project
with the basic principals of green design and build:
- Prudent use of natural resources
- Minimizing energy and water consumption
- Using salvaged, recycled or agricultural waste content products
- Minimizing toxic emissions both inside and outside a home
- Using durable, low maintenance materials and finishes
Building and designing green is not an all or none proposition. So whether
your home addresses all of the points above or just a few, remember every little
bit counts!
How do you know if you are really purchasing a green home? When
referring to new construction, the answer is simple – green homes don’t smell!
They don’t smell because there is little or no off gassing from the carpets,
cabinets, caulks, sealants or painted surfaces. On a more serious note, look for a
green home certification such as Leadership in Energy and Environmental
Design (LEED) for Homes administered by the US Built Green Council or the
Built Green program developed by the National Home Builder’s Association and
its member Chapters. (An item of note, the Kitsap Home Builders Association
developed one of the very first Built Green certification programs in the United
States). Both of these certifications are based on a standardized check list of
actions and points are awarded for construction methods/practices and materials
used that achieve six primary environmental goals:
Site work that minimizes the environmental impact of the house during
and after construction: preserves native vegetation and minimizes storm water
run off as well as irrigation requirements of new landscaping.
Energy efficiency: uses energy star rated appliances, doors and window,
using location appropriate insulation materials and taking advantage of natural
day lighting and cross breezes to minimize the need for artificial lighting and
cooling.
Water Efficiency: using low flow or sensor activated plumbing fixtures as
well as low water usage clothes washers and dishwashers.
Use of recycled materials and materials whose production can be
sustained without harming people or the environment: reclaimed wood floors,
recycled glass terrazzo countertops, recycled doors, windows, cabinets, etc.
Healthful indoor-air quality: installing heat recovery ventilators, whole
house vacuum systems, radiant floor heating systems, using low VOC paints,
caulks and sealants, formaldehyde free cabinets and shelving materials, etc.
Homeowner education on the operation and maintenance of their green
home: providing a binder with all the appliance manuals and maintenance check
lists to ensure proper environmentally friendly care and maintenance of the
home.
LEED for Homes has four certification levels including certified, silver, gold
and platinum. Designations are overseen by a third-party certifier and have an
average cost of approximately $2,000. The Kitsap Built Green™ certification
program has three certification levels including one, two and three stars and is
self administered with an average registration cost of $50 (plus a $100 annual
program participation fee).
How does one find sustainable building products? A wide variety of
sustainable products and retailers can be found by conducting an internet search
under the heading Sustainable Building Products. Seattle happens to be home to
one of the nation’s largest green building material suppliers, EcoHaus (formerly
the Environmental Home Center) which has two showrooms in the greater metro
Seattle area and a mail order division. Home Depot is launching an
environmentally friendly products program and expects to have 5,000 green
products on their shelves by 2009 each with a special “green” tag.
Finding green products is relatively easy, determining their green
authenticity can take a bit more homework. To start, look for third party product
certifications such as WaterSense (www.epa.gov/watersense) which certifies
water efficient products and services, GreenSeal (www.greenseal.org) which
certifies a variety of products, including paints, caulks and sealants, for
environmental attributes such as low toxicity and who’s procedures conform to
international standards for ecolabelling or FSC (Forest Stewardship Council-
www.fscus.org) which oversees the certification of sustainably harvested wood
products.
Not all green product manufactures have their wares certified so as a fall
back you can perform a life cycle analysis. Begin by determining what the raw
materials are that go into the product – do they require environmentally
hazardous practices like copper mining or are they more benign like harvesting
bamboo? Second, what does it take to manufacture the product – considerable
amounts of energy such as the fabrication of stainless steel counter tops or
minimal energy such as butcher block counter tops? Third, how is the product
transported and distributed – is the product shipped across the Pacific Ocean
using an abundance of fossil fuel or is it manufactured locally reducing the
shipping and packaging requirements? Lastly, what are the options for the
product at the end of its useful life? Can the product be recycled, is it
biodegradable or is it destine for the landfill with a 2 million year half life?
By looking for certified products and/or conducting a simple life cycle
analysis you can weed out the authentically green from the “green washers”.
Green washing is the act of promoting a product or service as green when it
really isn’t. However, recognize that many manufactures and service providers
run their businesses in an environmentally sensitive manner but their products
are not eco friendly per se. As an example, a large local cabinet manufacturer
recycles its scrap wood, minimizes its emissions, is ISO 9001:2000 certified and
is the recipient of the EPA’s Evergreen award but it does not offer a
formaldehyde free cabinet with low VOC finishes. Hence, its business practices
are green but its product is not.
How does one select green products? Start by drafting your material list,
check your budget and then look for the most energy and resource efficient low
maintenance products that fit the design. For instance, consider using solar
panels to fuel some of your homes own power needs (excess power can be sold
back to your local utility) or install a sensor activated faucet or pedal valve to
save water at a busy sink.
Is building green more expensive? Yes, but on the front end only.
According to a McGraw Hill Construction survey, in 2006, the average Built
Green Home was only 6% more than a conventional home. However, these
costs are typically recouped in reduced utility and maintenance bills for the home.
Further, there are several utility rebates and tax credits available for green
products including windows, doors, insulation, heating/cooling equipment, water
heaters and solar systems. For more information go to www.energystar.gov.
As with a conventional build/remodel project, you can greatly control costs
by good planning and a cohesive design/build team that appreciates the
attributes of green building. By making the bulk of your design, build and product
decisions in advance you can reduce delivery delays, work stopages and
increase the overall efficiency of the work crew not to mention minimize
expensive change orders.
Just remember, in life there are many shades of green it is just a matter of
finding the right one for you. In our next installment we will look at specific
products and principals for making your kitchen project environmentally friendly.
About the Author
Molly Erin McCabe, AKBD is a professional kitchen and bath designer and
owner of A Kitchen That Works™. She is a member of the Olympic West Sound
Chapter of the National Kitchen & Bath Association and the Kitsap Homebuilders
Association Green Built Program. Ms. McCabe is the co-designer and co-builder
of a three star Built Green home. She can be reached at 206-780-1906 or .