walhof + associates

green building

Green Building Approaches for New and Remodel Designs

green building

 

 

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We approach all design with the earth in mind. It is important to position new houses to accommodate passive solar. Designing a house with the least impact means keeping the square footage to a minimum. Remodeling an existing house provides an opportunity to make it more energy efficient. Using local and or sustainable products and non-toxic materials, we follow “Green-Spec” by Building Green and LEED for residential design guidelines. We keep our resources updated by regularly attending conferences.  
 
The Acacia house is a great example of building green. We sourced most materials locally, recycled every scrap during construction and used recycled newspaper cellulose insulation.  The windows are made from recycled wood and the floors are made from sustainable wood. The flooring is Marmoleum and the energy efficient in-floor heating system has an integral on-demand water heater.  The 40-year composition roof is made from recycled materials. The framing was done with I- joists and trusses that uses smaller lumber sizes and the house contains no formaldehyde glues. Low Impact Development (LID) direct rain/groundwater into a dissipation field.
 
Here is a typical “green specification” example.
 
General Requirements

Temporary Protection Best Management Practices
1. Use an erosion control blanket, silt fence by Bio-Fence, and/or Straw Wattled
2. During clean-up, construction debris should be sorted and brought to the appropriate recycling centers (wood, concrete, gypsum board, roofing, etc.). During the course of construction, there should be clearly marked recycling bins.
 
Site Work
Use pervious asphalt for the driveway.  Use the LID practice of “no-run-off” drainage systems.
 
Concrete
1. Use reusable concrete forms with ‘vegetable-based form release oils’ wherever possible. Or, if insulation is needed, use ICF, such as greenblock.com
2. Use fly ash replacing up to 25% Portland cement in the concrete mixture.
Always use Low VOC products for concrete Admixtures.
 
Wood & Plastic
1. Use Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certified wood products.
2. Use “Non-Formaldehyde” or “Formaldehyde-free” materials, even for the plywood, glulams, LVL’s, etc.
3. For preservative-treated wood use “borate-based” preservative.
 
 
Thermal & Moisture Protection
1. Use “formaldehyde-free” fiberglass insulation. Other options include cellulose insulation with non-toxic, Borate, ‘damp spray’ application, “Ultra-Touch” recycled jeans natural fibers or Batt-Insulation.
2. Use at least a 40-year composition roof with asphalt shingles.
3. Don’t use gutters.
4. Use wood for exterior siding.
 
Doors & Windows
Sierra Pacific Industries uses FSC certified wood for door and windows. Clad on outside for no maintenance.
 
Finishes
Use Gypsum board with recycled content and ask the supplier to take the clean scraps to be recycled.
 
Tile
1. Use FSC certified hardwood for wood flooring.
2. Laminated flooring should use recycled content and no formaldehyde.
 
Painting
1. Use Low VOC or No VOC recycled eco-paint.
 
Specialties
Louvers + vents. Shower doors.
 
Equipment
Install energy-efficient appliances.
 
Cabinets
No formaldehyde.
 
Mechanical
Plumbing. Fixtures. Dual-flush toilet. Also check EPA’s website epa.gov/watersense.
 
Heating & Ventilation
Use Solar radiant “on-demand” hot water heaters. Use “In-floor” radiant heat systems, such as radiantec.com, or radiant sub floor system by warmboard.com, cooling system by “whole house fans alternativelycool.com, bathroom venting Panasonic Ultra quiet “WisperGreen.”
 
Electrical Wiring
1. Use insulators for receptacles on outside walls.
2. Use LED lighting.

 
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