green beyond the bottom line
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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.
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Green Beyond the Bottom LinePaul Marquis
and
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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):
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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.
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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
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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
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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?!
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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
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Source: Case Studies In Resource-Efficient Residential Building,Building America program
Ex.: Offsetting increased first cost insome areas with savings in others
Cost offsetting
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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
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Sweetening the pot
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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”
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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
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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
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Energy Efficient Mortgages, ex.
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Energy Credit Mortgages/ Green Loans
• Provide credit on closing costs
• Generally for new construction
• Being offered by Bank of America & WainrightBank among others
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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
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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
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•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
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The Truro home:Sustainability w/ economy
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Scale
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Compare this:
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To something like this:
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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
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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
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Design Basics
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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
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Durability
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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
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Materials
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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!
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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
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Interior Paints
Sherwin-Williams Harmony zero VOC
• Marginally more expensive than ‘conventional’(installed cost)
• Provides safer indoor environment by reducingVOC off-gassing
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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)
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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
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Water conservation
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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)
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Energy
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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
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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)
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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
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Skylights may contribute to summer overheatingand winter heat loss.
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Sky tube (TDD)
Installed cost typicallyless than skylights
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IEQ
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IEQ
• Low- VOC finishes & low-formaldehyde engineeredlumber products used
• Natural daylighting via skytube & effective use ofwindow area
• Ventilation??
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Site
• Gravel driveway provides good permeability forstorm water
• Less expensive than hard paving
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Some other things I might haveconsidered
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Basic design elements
• Overhangs on south-facing roof to limit summer(overhangs throughout to protect walls)
• Nighttime window insulation/ Thermal mass??
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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)
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Insulation
Some alternatives to Icynene to consider:
• Wet-blown (dense pack) cellulose
• Denim batts (w/ foam skin over exterior sheathing)
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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??
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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
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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:
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Advanced Framing & MA building code
780 CMR 56.00 Wall Construction
Advanced framing is specifically allowed by theMA One & Two Family Dwelling Code. See:
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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)
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Exterior trim
• Use non-vinyl based composites
• Examples:- HardiPlank- WeatherBoard
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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
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Water conservation
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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
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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
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http://www.gaiam.com/product/eco-home-outdoor/energy-efficient-climate-control/energy-saving-tools/toilet+lid+sink.do
Gray water: A direct approach
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Domestic Hot Water
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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
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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.
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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
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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
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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
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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)
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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
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• 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!
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Local Resources
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