Green Building and Remodeling For Dummies E-Book

Eric Corey Freed

• Herausgeber: John Wiley & Sons
• Kategorie: Geisteswissenschaft
• Sprache: Englisch

Seitenzahl: 508

Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2011

Beschreibung

Want to build responsibly, reduce waste, and help preserve the environment? Green Building & Remodeling For Dummies is your friendly, step-by-step guide to every facet of this Earth-friendly method of construction. Building a home--even a green home--uses plenty of resources and energy. This practical, hands-on book shows you how to build or remodel conscientiously, whether your dream home is a simple remodel or a brand-new multimillion-dollar mansion. You'll start by identifying green materials and sizing up potential systems and construction sites. You'll weigh the pros and cons of popular green building methods and identify opportunities for saving money in the long run. Need to find some green professionals to assist you in your venture? We'll help you do that, too. This book will also help you discover how to: * Understand the lifecycle of building materials * Choose the right system for your green building project * Put together a green team * Work within your budget * Use green building methods and sustainable systems * Speed construction and reduce energy use and waste * Refinish old fixtures and materials * Beware of asbestos and lead-paint hazards * Avoid costly mistakes Complete with lists of ten green things to do on every project and ten things you can do right now in your home in order to go green, Green Building & Remodeling For Dummies is your one-stop guide to planning and building the home you've always wanted.

Leseprobe

Green Building & Remodeling For Dummies®

by Eric Corey Freed

Green Building & Remodeling For Dummies®

Published byWiley Publishing, Inc.111 River St.Hoboken, NJ 07030-5774www.wiley.com

Copyright © 2008 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Indianapolis, Indiana

Published simultaneously in Canada

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About the Author

Eric Corey Freed is an architect, lecturer, and writer based in San Francisco, California, with 15 years of experience in green building. He is a practitioner in the tradition of organic architecture, first developed by Frank Lloyd Wright.

Eric is founder and principal of organicARCHITECT, part architecture firm, part think tank. In addition to designing award-winning green buildings, the firm publishes its research and produces the annual organicAWARDS (www.organicawards.com) to recognize designs that are both innovative and environmentally responsible.

During Eric’s early years working in his hometown of Philadelphia and in New York City, noted architect and critic Philip Johnson cited Eric as “one of the real brains of his generation.” After several years in Santa Fe, New Mexico, working with natural building materials, he moved to San Francisco in 1997 to join the heart of the green building movement.

In 2002, he was Founding Chair of Architecture for the San Francisco Design Museum, the exhibits of which were featured in Metropolis, ARTNews, and Newsweek. In 2005, San Francisco magazine named Eric the city’s “Best Green Architect.”

Eric teaches in the Sustainable Design program he co-developed at the Academy of Art University and the University of California, Berkeley. He is on the boards of Architects, Designers & Planners for Social Responsibility (ADPSR), Natural World Museum, Green Home Guide, and West Coast Green, as well as the advisory boards of nearly a dozen other organizations.

A much sought-after lecturer, Eric speaks extensively around the United States, giving nearly 50 talks a year, and consults directly to large companies seeking to transition into sustainability.

His monthly column, Ask the Green Architect, is published by GreenerBuildings and syndicated to dozens of other publications. He is a regular columnist for LUXE Magazine and his work has been featured in Dwell, Natural Home, Newsweek, and Town & Country, among others.

Eric loves talking with people about design and the environment. For more information on his work and activities, visit www.organicarchitect.com or contact Eric directly at [email protected].

Dedication

This book is dedicated to my beautiful wife, Laurie. If you wish to “be the change you wish to see in the world” it helps to have someone with whom to share your vision. I strive to make the world a better place for her.

This book is also dedicated to my dad, my first mentor.

Author’s Acknowledgments

A hundred times every day I remind myself that my inner and outer life depend on the labors of other men, living and dead, and that I must exert myself in order to give in the same measure as I have received and am still receiving.

—Albert Einstein

As a teacher and mentor, I am fortunate to meet hundreds of students a year. Their questions, enthusiasm, and energy inspire me each day.

I am privileged to work with some of the most fun and passionate people who contributed their research and ideas to this book: Joey Becker, Lamia Bensouda, Sara Buck, Hannah Hunt, Elisa Kim, Tanya Lee, Amie Lewis, Liz Maquire, Emily Naud, Emily Privot, Jessica Resmini, David Waldorf, Marita Wallhagen, and Drew Wentzel.

Building Green (www.buildinggreen.com) is a daily and invaluable resource, and I drew heavily on their insight and expertise.

The following people must be thanked by name, (and you can just assume they know what they did to deserve mention): Nick Aster, Chris Bartle, Nicole Cassani, Howard Chambers, James DeKoven, Gabrielle Fladd, Gil Friend, Stacey Frost, Jennifer Gadiel, Matt Golden, Christi Graham, Jeff Hamaoui, Ryan Hamilton, Zem Joaquin, David Johnston, Miriam Karell, Hunter Lovins, Joe Lstiburek, Willem Maas, Tyler Manchuck, Joel Makower, William McDonough, Laura Rodormer, Michael Sammet, Amy Sagalkin, Richard Silver, Mark Singer, Arthur Young, Dennis Yanez, and Jerry Yudelson.

I would particularly like to thank my editor, Elizabeth Kuball, for being such a strict taskmaster and keeping me on schedule through a strategy of fear and intimidation. The staff at Wiley Publishing, Inc., is incredibly impressive and I am appreciative of their dedication.

This book could not have been possible without my clients, the generous patrons providing the canvas on which I paint.

Publisher’s Acknowledgments

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Contents

Title

Introduction

About This Book

Conventions Used in This Book

What You’re Not to Read

Foolish Assumptions

How This Book Is Organized

Icons Used in This Book

Where to Go from Here

Part I : The Need for Green

Chapter 1: Going Green

Understanding Why Green Matters

Looking at Cost in a New Way

It Is Easy Being Green: Steps to a Green Building

Location, Location, Location: Choosing a Site for Your New Green Home

Designing Your Way to a Better Green Home

Following the Rules

Picturing the Perfect Green Room

Chapter 2: Green Building in an Organically Grown Nutshell

Playing the Name Game

Green Building: An Idea Whose Time Has Come

Envisioning the Total Green Building

Looking at the Pros and Cons of Green Building

Chapter 3: Remodeling with a Green Eye

Deciding Whether to Remodel

Planning Your Remodel

Surviving Your Remodel

Chapter 4: Working with Building Professionals

Identifying the People You Need on Your Team

Finding Green Professionals

Getting Certified: Looking at Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED)

Part II : Paying Attention to Material Matters

Chapter 5: Looking at a Material’s Life Cycle: From Cradle to Grave

Looking at Life Cycle

Understanding the Effort That Goes into Materials

Being Clear about By-Products

Recognizing That There Is No Such Thing as Waste

Talking to Manufacturers about Any Material

Putting Standard Materials to the Life Cycle Test

Looking to Trusted Green Certification Programs When Shopping for Materials

Chapter 6: Material Opportunities: From Cradle to Cradle

Cradle to Cradle: Designing Like Nature

Setting Priorities and Goals for Your Home

Remodeling an Old Home with Green Materials

Finding Green Materials

Knowing Whether Manufacturers Are Telling the Truth

Chapter 7: Green Finish and Construction Materials

Identifying the Dangers in Traditional Finishes

Hidden Materials: What’s Behind the Walls

Walls

Floor Finishes

Countertops

Other Finishes

Furnishings

Exterior Finishes and Trim

Remodeling: Bringing Old Materials to Life

Part III : Green Building Methods

Chapter 8: Framing Things Up

Traditional Wood Framing

Engineered Lumber

Advanced Framing Techniques

Heavy Timber

Steel Framing

Chapter 9: Natural Building Methods

Straw Bale

Adobe

Rammed Earth

Cob

Pneumatically Impacted Stabilized Earth

Cordwood

Earthships

Ceramic Earth

Chapter 10: Manufactured Building Methods

Structural Insulated Panels

Insulated Concrete Forms

Part IV : Green Building Systems and Site Planning

Chapter 11: Energy Systems

Our Growing Energy Need

Global Warming

Renewable Energy Systems

Introducing Energy Efficiency

Chapter 12: Heating and Cooling Systems

Mechanical Systems

Natural Methods

Conservation Techniques

Chapter 13: Water and Waste Systems

Conserving Water

Reusing Water: The Controversy over Graywater

Harvesting Rainwater

Cleaning Your Water

Chapter 14: Landscaping and Site Planning: Going Green in the Great Outdoors

Placing Your Home on a Site

Using the Natural Environment to Bring Beauty to Your Home

Part V : The Part of Tens

Chapter 15: Ten Common Myths about Green Building and Remodeling

Green Buildings Always Cost More Than Traditional Buildings

Green Materials Are More Expensive

Green Buildings Take Longer to Build

Green Buildings Look Like Mud Huts or Rice Cakes

Green Buildings Offer No Economic Advantage

One Building Doesn’t Make a Difference to the Environment

Nobody Cares Whether a Building Is Green

Green Buildings Are Just Buildings with Recycled Materials

Green Buildings Are Fragile and Require More Maintenance

You Can’t Have High-End Design in a Green Building

Chapter 16: Ten Green Things to Do on Every New-Home Project

Turn toward the Sun

Use Recycled-Content Drywall

Stuff the Walls with the Right Kind of Insulation

Choose Healthy Paints

Change Your Concrete Mix

Pick the Right Toilet

Heat Your Water with the Sun

Recycle Construction Waste

Choose Your Carpet Carefully

Watch Your Plywood

Chapter 17: Ten Green Materials You Can’t Live Without

Recycled-Paper Countertops

Recycled Glass Terrazzo

Recycled-Glass Tiles

Eco Resin Panels

Kirei Board

Earthen-Clay Plaster

Bamboo Flooring

Linoleum Flooring

Cork Flooring

Recycled Denim Cotton Insulation

Chapter 18: Ten Green Things You Can Do in Your Home Right Now

Replace Your Old Appliances with New Energy-Efficient Ones

Buy a Water Filter instead of Bottled Water

Install Water-Saving Devices in Your Bathroom and Kitchen

Install a Solar-Powered Clothes Dryer (a.k.a., a Clothesline)

Insulate in Normally Forgotten Locations: Pipes, Water Heater, and Attic

Go Green with Your Yard

Convert Your Wood-Burning Fireplace to a Gas Fireplace

Weatherize Your Windows and Doors

Make Your Heating and Cooling Work Better

Switch to Compact Fluorescent Light Bulbs and Install Occupancy Sensors

Appendix: Resources

Locating Green Materials

Finding Rebates and Incentives

Identifying Green Product Certifications

: Further Reading

Introduction

Our grandchildren will look back at this time in history, this push toward a sustainable world, as the moment of the greatest opportunity, excitement, and challenge in human history. As you read this book, you won’t be able to help but get caught up in this feeling. You’ve heard about green building, maybe even read books and magazines about various homes with a green focus. Now is the time to plan your green dream home and discover the art of building in a responsible manner.

As you learn more about green building, you may start to have feelings of guilt. After all, the act of building is disruptive. Building a home, even a green home, uses materials, resources, and energy, and it produces waste. This is inevitable. And there is no perfect green material — all materials will have some impact on our planet. But don’t beat yourself up about what you can’t control; instead, focus your energy on what you can control.

For thousands of years, human beings built their homes out of natural materials, using the sun to heat and cool, and harvesting the rainwater for other uses. We can learn from our past to understand how to build our future. In fact, in the future, I believe that all buildings will be green buildings.

Whether your green dream home is a simple remodel, or a multi-million-dollar mansion, Green Building & Remodeling For Dummies is for you. Instead of making you feel guilty about the environment, this book guides you step by step toward selecting the finishes, systems, and structure to make your dream a reality.

About This Book

Building or remodeling a home is a stressful, expensive, and exhilarating experience. Countless details and decisions go into design and construction. This book is not a comprehensive guide to building or remodeling your home. Several other For Dummies books are far better at covering those topics in greater detail. But if your interest is in green building and remodeling, and examining the issues, costs, and considerations surrounding it, this book provides all the answers you need — a wonderful, easy-to-use reference you can take with you anywhere.

Although dozens of books have been written about green building, most are targeted at professionals already interested in green building, while others assume that readers have some experience with it. Part of the reason I chose to write this book was to create this missing piece — a book targeted at normal people wanting to green their homes, but not having any idea where to start.

I divide this book into five parts, each targeting a different area of understanding in building a green home. Each chapter is broken down into specific topics, each exploring the various issues and questions that will arise in looking at your own home. For example:

The various people you’ll need on your team, from architects to financing people

How to develop a set of priorities for the materials you choose, including wading through the endless choices available

How certain construction methods influence your design

Comprehensive advice on how to budget these features into your home, and ways to save money in the process

The wonderful design of the For Dummies series is that you decide how to read it. You can start to read from any point in the text, getting just to the information you need. The table of contents in the front and the index in the back help you find exactly the information you want.

Conventions Used in This Book

I use the following conventions throughout the text to make everything consistent and easy to understand:

All Web addresses appear in monofont.

New terms appear in italics and are closely followed by an easy-to-understand definition. Everything is in plain English to make it accessible.

Bold text indicates keywords in bulleted lists or highlights the action parts of numbered steps.

When this book was printed, some Web addresses may have needed to break across two lines of text. If that happened, rest assured that I haven’t put in any extra characters (such as hyphens) to indicate the break. So, when using one of these Web addresses, just type in exactly what you see in this book, pretending as though the line break doesn’t exist.

What You’re Not to Read

This book was carefully written so you can easily find and understand everything you need to know about green building and remodeling. I know you’re busy and don’t have time to read every single word, so I’ve designed this book so you can identify the stuff to skip over. Unless you’re trapped in a remote mountain cabin, please feel free to skip the following:

Text in sidebars: Those shaded boxes that appear from time to time in the book are called sidebars. These include fun, extra asides in case you’re looking for more detail. But they’re nothing essential or required to make your home green.

Anything with a Technical Stuff icon: This information is interesting, but a little nerdy, so if you skip it, it’s not the end of the world.

The tiny text on the copyright page: Do you really care about the pub-lisher’s address? I don’t either. Skip it unless you want to test your eyesight.

Foolish Assumptions

Throughout the writing of this book, I had only you (the gentle reader) in mind. Don’t be alarmed, but here’s what I assumed:

You’ve already heard about green building, and you are interested in it enough to buy this book.

You’re not a hippie, but you probably recycle.

You don’t want to live in a mud hut.

You either own, or are thinking about buying, a hybrid car.

You want to improve your home through remodeling, adding on, or building something new.

You’re not a lottery winner, and you have real concerns about cost and budget. You need and want to make well-informed decisions regarding the budget and the long-term costs of operating your home.

You’re willing to be realistic and accept certain realities about cost, availability, and the environment.

You’re aware of the environmental issues facing our planet. You know that global warming, air and water pollution, and an energy crisis are all real problems that need to be addressed.

You don’t want to feel guilty about your own impact on the environment — you’d rather do something positive to better it.

How This Book Is Organized

This book is divided into five parts. Feel free to jump to any part you want! The following sections explain what you’ll find and where it will be.

Part I: The Need for Green

This section begins by defining what makes a building green. In order to understand green building, you first need to understand the huge impact buildings have on our planet; Chapter 2 covers this, as well as identifying the hidden opportunities in any building. Because you probably already live in a house, Chapter 3 discusses remodeling issues and ways to add value to your existing home. Before you start a construction project, you’ll need to put a team together, and Chapter 4 explains how to find good professionals.

Part II: Paying Attention to Material Matters

This section is the core lesson in materials. Beginning with exploring the entire life of materials in Chapter 5, you see how to analyze any material or product for its green qualities. Chapter 6 explores an innovative way to create new sustainable materials and talks about how to choose between the various choices out there. In Chapter 7, I get into the details of a green house, from the walls to the floors and everything in between.

Part III: Green Building Methods

This part focuses on construction methods. I cover framing in Chapter 8, natural building in Chapter 9, and manufactured systems in Chapter 10. Don’t worry, though: I evaluate the pros and cons of each system I introduce, allowing you to make the decision about what’s right for your own home.

Part IV: Green Building Systems and Site Planning

This part offers a detailed look at the wonderful world of the sustainable systems that go into a building. Chapter 11 begins with the variety of energy systems available. After this come the heating and cooling systems that keep you and your family comfortable, explored in Chapter 12. The last type of systems, water systems, are discussed in Chapter 13. And Chapter 14 covers the landscape and orientation of the building, where you’ll see there is more to landscape than just grass.

Part V: The Part of Tens

Because green building is so misunderstood, Chapter 15 gives you ten of the most common misconceptions people have regarding green building. Chapter 16 explains the things you should do for every green building project. You may start drooling when you read Chapter 17 and the ten green materials you can’t live without. Finally, plan your weekend projects with Chapter 18’s list of ten things you should do right now in your own home.

Appendix

The appendix is a helpful reference guide. From sources to find green materials, respected green certification, and detailed information on the LEED Green Building Rating System, the appendix covers information you’ll want to have handy.

Icons Used in This Book

To make this book easy to read and simple to use, I include these helpful icons to help you find the key ideas and information:

Discover ways to protect the health of you and your family wherever you find this icon.

This icon highlights information that’s so important you’ll want to remember it later.

Although this information may be fascinating, it’s not critical to your understanding of the subject. Unless you’re feeling like an overachiever, feel free to skip it.

Using expert advice and real-world experience, these tidbits save you time and money — and preserve your sanity!

Avoid costly mistakes by following the sage advice next to this icon.

Where to Go from Here

Everything in this book is organized as an independent topic, so you can jump to just that section and understand it completely. If you already understand the reasons why you should build green, but you don’t understand green materials, jump ahead to Chapter 5 to find out about analyzing materials. Unsure what solar panels really do? Flip to Chapter 11 to explore all the energy systems. Even if you’re just looking for quick tips on what you can do in your current home right now, turn to Chapter 18 for a complete list.

If it all sounds interesting and you’re not sure where to begin, you’ll enjoy Part I. It gives you a firm foundation in understanding the issues around green building and remodeling. From there, skip around to the areas that interest you.

Finally, give yourself a pat on the back for doing your part to save our environment. Small steps you can take in your own building or remodeling project can reap major rewards for you, your family, and the planet.

Part I

The Need for Green

In this part . . .

I begin this part by defining what makes a green building. In order to understand how green building and remodeling works, you need to understand the huge impact buildings have on our planet; Chapter 2 covers this subject, as well as identifying the hidden opportunities in any building. Chapter 3 discusses remodeling issues and ways to add value to your home. Finally, before you start a construction project, you need to put a team together; Chapter 4 explains how to find good professionals for your team.

Chapter 1

Going Green

In This Chapter

Discovering the reality of how buildings are built

Asking the right questions before building a new home

Realizing the benefits of building in a green way

Considering design

Mapping the steps to a green building

The way people construct their buildings is about to change radically. It has to. The majority of modern-day buildings waste energy, water, and resources beyond comprehension. It’s not our fault, really. Most architects and builders are completely unaware of the impact buildings have on people’s health and the environment.

Green building is a way of looking at buildings that allows people to be more responsible with energy and natural resources. Going green is usually the most logical and economical choice, whether you’re building or remodeling your home. In the near future, all buildings will be green buildings, whether by preference or regulation — it’s inevitable.

Because green building is a mystery to most people, various rumors, misconceptions, and misperceptions swirl around it. You’ve probably heard a range of odd and funny comments about green building. In this chapter, I dispel these myths and explore why your new home or remodel should incorporate the green building techniques outlined in this book. In addition, I cover the steps to building a green home, including how to select a proper building site. I conclude the chapter with a discussion on costs and the new mindset you’ll need in building your green dream home.

The first green buildings

When do you think the first green building was built? Odds are, you’re picturing something built in the past 50 years or so. What if I told you that the first truly green buildings were the stone dwellings of the Anasazi Indians from A.D. 1?

The Anasazi were a rich culture of farming people who lived in the Four Corners region of the United States (where Colorado, New Mexico, Arizona, and Utah meet) up until 1300, when drought forced them to migrate. The best examples of their buildings appeared around 700 and consisted of apartment-house-style villages. These villages, built at the tops of mesas, included multiple-room dwellings of beautiful stone masonry.

Why are the pueblos of the Anasazi considered to be green buildings?

Understanding the sun and heating, the Anasazi oriented their dwellings to the light. These were textbook passive solar buildings featuring natural ventilation.

Rainwater was captured and irrigated because water is a valuable resource.

The Anasazi buildings predated electricity but were heated and cooled without heat or air-conditioning.

Natural stone, mud, and wood were the only materials used.

The buildings of the Anasazi were completely nontoxic and healthy.

Centered around a village concept, the Anasazi buildings fostered interaction and a sense of community.

Many of the so-called “innovative” green features we marvel at today are actually ancient methods of building. Fresh air, passive solar orientation, passive cooling, and many other concepts have been in use for thousands of years.

For a more modern example of green building, you just need to look to the global energy crisis of the 1970s for some pioneering efforts in energy conservation. Arguably, the pioneering Willis Faber and Dumas Headquarters by architect Norman Foster could be considered the first modern green building. Built in 1977, the building features a grass roof, a naturally sunlit atrium, and mirrored windows used to reduce solar gain.

Why is this building considered to be a green one?

The building is located in the center of the town of Ipswich, centrally located for ease of access.

The building features a landscaped roof garden.

The glass curtain wall is tinted to counter solar gain and is suspended from a continuous clamping strip. The building’s design exhibits a pioneering use of low energy consumption.

An irregular shape of black glass creates a striking and natural form.

The building is designed to encourage social contact. These social ideas shaped the arrangement of the plan.

Understanding Why Green Matters

Green building is the healthy, common-sense choice for a better life. In traditional construction, the quality of the indoor environment is often far more polluted than the outdoor one, because of the building materials we use, our inadequate lighting, and a variety of other variables.

Green buildings are sited, designed, constructed, and operated to enhance the well-being of their occupants, and to minimize negative impacts on the community and natural environment. Buildings consume 40 percent of the world’s total energy, 25 percent of its wood harvest, and 16 percent of its water. Compared to traditional construction, a green-built home takes some of this pressure off the environment.

You’re losing money on every green feature you don’t include. Any time you build a new home or remodel an existing one, you have the opportunity to save money in the operational costs of your home. After all, you’ll spend a great deal more money on the operation, maintenance, and utilities in your home than you ever spent on the initial construction costs.

A green building:

Provides a healthier and more comfortable environment

Incorporates energy- and water-efficient technologies

Reduces construction and demolition waste

Brings higher resale value

Includes renewable energy technologies

Improves indoor air quality and occupant satisfaction

Is easier to maintain and built to last

All these factors can save you money in both the construction and operation of your home — and they’re all good reasons to go green with your building or remodeling project.

Looking at Cost in a New Way

The common perception is that a green building costs more than a traditionally built one. The fact is, with a clear construction budget, there is no reason you can’t build a green building for the same price as, or less than, a traditional building. In the following sections, I break down the three major types of expense in every building project, and let you know where green building fits in.

Initial costs

The initial cost is the actual cost of the material or product — what you pay once to buy the material or product and install it in your home.

If you compare similar materials (a traditional one, and a green one), the costs often end up being the same. For example, a bamboo floor is installed exactly the same way as a traditional wood floor. The material costs are now the same, and the use of bamboo doesn’t result in the clear-cutting of a forest. So bamboo is a better environmental choice, and it doesn’t cost you any more at the outset than another type of wood floor would.

Although some green materials do cost more than their traditional counterparts, there are also many more green products whose costs are far below the standard. Advances in recycling, new materials, and better designs have allowed for a new generation of environmentally friendly products that are less costly to produce. Of course, green materials also have a very important long-term benefit of not destroying the planet’s resources.

The trouble arises when you try to compare apples to oranges. For example, if you’re comparing a building with solar panels to a traditional building without solar panels, of course the traditional building costs less. But this comparison focuses solely on the upfront cost of building and fails to take into account how the building with solar panels will immediately begin producing energy and eliminate your monthly electricity bill. The lifecycle cost of the solar building will be much less. This monthly benefit, called a return on your investment, pays for any additional upfront costs of purchasing the solar panels, in most cases within five to ten years.

Lifecycle costs

Lifecycle costs are the costs of a product or material over the product or material’s entire life — not at the moment of purchase and installation.

Green products and systems pay for themselves at least ten times over the life of the building. This is true even if the features cost more at the outset (see the preceding section).

Homes are built to last for at least a century. In that time, the cost of heating, cooling, and maintenance will be far greater than the cost of construction. Turn your attention to these costs to discover the savings — they can be enormous.

For the items that may increase your initial costs during construction, be sure to calculate the return on investment — the period of time it takes to realize the savings for items such as solar panels or added insulation.

Maintenance costs

Many people overlook maintenance costs, the costs associated with maintaining the house. Seen as the cost of owning a home, these maintenance costs are often high. Some homeowners are unprepared for these expenses, so they ignore problems until serious damage occurs.

Green building encourages the use of durable and unfinished materials to save on the costs and effort of maintaining your home. From the expense of painting and staining, to the effort of changing light bulbs, you can save a lot by going green.

It Is Easy Being Green: Steps to a Green Building

Although every home project will be unique and different, the steps to planning a green building are similar. The following list shows what you need to consider in the early planning phases for a typical green building:

1.Decide whether you want to remodel or add on to your existing home, or build a new home (see Chapter 3).

2.Plan your financing; consider a green mortgage program (see Chapter 4).

3.Choose a site — preferably in a dense area, with lots of sunlight (see Chapter 14).

4.Research the planning code requirements for height limits, setbacks, and allowable size (see Chapter 4).

5.Ask about priority permitting for a green building (see Chapter 4).

6.Have a survey prepared by a civil engineer (see Chapter 4).

7.Diagram the site for sunlight, wind, views, and features (see Chapter 14).

8.Research grants and incentives for green builders (see the appendix).

9.Interview and hire an architect (see Chapter 4).

10.Create the preliminary design (see Parts II, III, and IV).

11.Talk to your neighbors about your project before you begin (see Chapter 4).

12.Orient rooms based on the location of the sun (see Chapter 14).

13.Set priorities for the materials you use, giving preference to healthy, natural, and low-toxic finishes (see Chapters 5 and 6).

14.Consider exposing the structure to reduce your use of materials (see Chapter 7).

15.Dimension the building to match the unit of construction — 16 inches, 24 inches, and so on (see Chapter 8).

16.Provide space for thicker walls to allow for more insulation (see Chapters 8, 9, and 10).

17.Choose a structural system based on local resources and know-how (see Chapters 8, 9, and 10).

18.Design the roof to allow for solar panels (see Chapter 11).

19.Design to allow for passive solar heating and cooling (see Chapter 12).

20.Allow space for water-recycling systems, such as graywater and water catchment (see Chapter 13).

21.Design the shape of the roof to accommodate rainwater catchment (see Chapter 13).

22.Design the roof to allow for a green roof (see Chapter 13).

23.Interview and select a contractor (see Chapter 4).

24.Obtain all required permits and approvals (see Chapter 4).

25.Prepare a plan for construction waste management (see Chapter 3).

Location, Location, Location: Choosing a Site for Your New Green Home

Although most homes sit on their lots arbitrarily facing the street, a green building turns toward the sun and wind to use these natural features to your advantage (see Chapter 14). Consider the following when shopping for a site for your new green home:

Encourage in-fill development. An in-fill development is a project built on an existing building site, usually between other buildings. Building on an in-fill site is better than destroying a pristine natural lot.

Minimize dependence on your car. Locate your new home close to public transportation or bicycle paths, or within walking distance of shops and basic services. Include a home office in your design to reduce commuting; you’ll reduce your stress and save on fuel costs.

Locate buildings to minimize environmental impact. Design the home to preserve open space and wildlife habitats. Avoid sensitive areas such as natural wetlands. Try to keep as many of the existing trees as possible.

Designing Your Way to a Better Green Home

The more time you spend in the initial planning phase, the more time and money you’ll save during construction. Consider the following issues at the beginning of the design process:

Go for a smaller home instead of a large one. Many people have a tendency to build the largest home they can afford, only to find the large home a waste of space and expensive to heat and cool. Consider doing more with less and making the house not so big. Create multipurpose spaces — such as a home office that doubles as a guest room; they’re much better uses of space.

To save on construction costs, consider building more floors instead of a sprawling one-story home. Going up is usually cheaper than spread-ing out. A multistory home also reduces the impact on the landscape.

Make the structure adaptable to other uses, and choose materials and components that can be reused or recycled. Avoid putting anything painted outside; it will have to be repainted every three to five years. Use unfinished, natural materials instead. (Refer to Chapter 5.)

Consider an addition to your existing home instead of building new. Remodeling your home is a form of recycling. Before assuming you need to build something new, consider putting an addition on your home instead. Take the money you save and put it into more important things, like solar panels. (See Chapter 3 for a full discussion on remodeling versus building new.)

Work with green professionals. Building or remodeling a green home is much easier when you work with sympathetic professionals. Choose people already familiar with green building practices. From green financing to green contractors, everyone on your team can find ways to protect the environment and save you money at the same time. (Chapter 4 outlines all the people you’ll need on your team and tells you how to find them.)

Make it easy to recycle. Early on, make provisions for storing recyclables. For example, install recycling bins in the kitchen, with an undersink bucket with a lid for compostable food waste. If you have it, you’ll use it.

Choose healthy and low-toxic materials. At the beginning of your design, commit to using only healthy materials in your new home. (Chapters 5 and 6 help you find these materials.)

Select recycled and sustainably harvested products. In the early parts of design, you probably already have ideas for finishes. (For example, you may already know what kind of floor you want in your living room.) Chapter 7 helps you select recycled and sustainably harvested materials. Order samples early so you’re ready to choose the right one.

Minimize waste and speed up installation by designing around standard sizes. For example, design your bathroom to fit the tiles you’re planning to install.

If you’re building out of wood, consider using optimum value engineering techniques. You’ll use up to 55 percent less wood. (Chapter 8 explains the benefits of this practice.)

Design for alternative construction techniques. Don’t just assume you’ll build your new house out of wood. Several alternative construction methods may be better choices. (Turn to Chapter 9 for an explanation of natural building methods; Chapter 10 includes discussion of manufactured building methods.)

Design an energy-efficient building. Making an efficient building is the easiest thing you can do to save energy. Use high levels of insulation, high-performance windows, and tight construction. (Refer to Chapter 11 for more on all these options.)

Design buildings to use renewable energy. Consider solar water heating and photovoltaics, or design the roof for future solar panel installation. (See Chapter 11 for more information.)

Let the sun shine in.Daylighting (using natural sunlight to light a room) is an easy way to bring warmth into your home while reducing energy use. (Find ideas in Chapter 11.)

Use the sun to heat and cool the building. Passive solar heating, daylighting, and natural cooling can be incorporated cost-effectively into most buildings. (I explore these in Chapter 11.)

Consider a graywater system. You can save the soapy water that has been used for bathing, dishwashing, or clothes washing and reuse it later for flushing toilets or irrigating the garden. (You can read about the benefits in Chapter 13.)

Use the rainwater. Clean water falls on your roof every time it rains. Collect this water and use it to flush your toilets or water your lawn. (I describe these systems in Chapter 13.)

Design water-efficient, low-maintenance landscaping. Lawns require a great deal of maintenance, pesticides, and mowing. Avoid this high impact with native and natural landscaping. (Chapter 14 provides alternatives.)

Avoid potential health hazards, including radon, mold, and pesticides. The issues of mold and radon are important concerns. Protect your home by designing to reduce their risk. Design insect-resistant detailing to reduce the use of pesticides. (See Chapter 14 for more information on all these topics.)

Following the Rules

You may assume that building codes would favor green materials, given their tendency toward less-toxic materials. In reality, building codes have little to say about the finishes or fixtures in a building. Generally, codes exist to protect the health, safety, and welfare of the inhabitants.

Bottom line: You should be able to use green finish materials as freely as traditional building materials. On the other hand, the walls, floors, or beams in a building impact the occupants’ health, safety, and welfare, so they do fall into the purview of the local building code.

Ancient alternative materials such as straw bale or adobe are still not accepted by many building departments. Cost-saving measures such as the use of finger-jointed wood studs are also frowned upon by the local building inspectors. You’ll have to check with your local building department before planning any construction project with these nontraditional methods.

Any wood intended for structural use must be inspected and grade stamped prior to use, or it will not comply with the building code. Ask the supplier for grade stamps — some suppliers provide this service for a reasonable fee. (Note: This rule does not apply to finish and nonstructural wood.)

Always check with your local jurisdiction before using any unusual materials.

A number of local governments have discovered the value in getting people to build green buildings. In addition to being a healthier way to build, green buildings reduce the strain on the local infrastructure. Cash-strapped governments can save considerable amounts of money simply by getting their residents to reduce their energy, water, and waste. Whether you live in these areas or not, visit the Web sites of the following agencies to download their free and incredibly useful green building guidelines and checklists:

Alameda County (California) Waste Management Authority (ACWMA; www.stopwaste.org): ACWMA has been a pioneer in green building. Its free guides are so well done that the City of San Francisco adopted them for its own use.

Chicago Department of the Environment (www.cityofchicago.org/environment): Chicago has been striving to become the greenest city in the United States through visionary programs promoting green roofs and energy efficiency. Its green building checklists are a valuable tool.

City of Seattle Green Building Program (www.seattle.gov/dpd/GreenBuilding): Seattle is a visionary city in terms of promoting green building. Although its guides are written specifically for the unique climate of Washington, they’re beautifully done and incredibly informative, no matter where you live.

Scottsdale (Arizona) Green Building Program (www.scottsdaleaz.gov/greenbuilding): It comes as no surprise to find green building being discussed in the hot, dry climate of Arizona. The benefits of green building are even greater there. The drawings and checklists provided by the Scottsdale Green Building Program are a wonderful resource.

RecycleWorks, San Mateo County, California (www.recycleworks.org): Located just south of San Francisco, San Mateo County is one of the most populated regions in the Bay Area. Its RecycleWorks program offers innovative programs and checklists to help people build green homes.

Picturing the Perfect Green Room

If you’re starting on a journey, you need to know where you’re going. In the following sections, I cover four common rooms (kitchen, bathroom, bedroom, and nursery) and show you how you can create the ideal green room — and home. The information shown in these diagrams is covered throughout the book, but here you can see an overview of what the perfect green room should look like — think of this section as a green road map.

The perfect green kitchen

On first glance, Figure 1-1 illustrates what looks like a typical kitchen, but a closer look reveals all the green opportunities that were capitalized on — opportunities you can capitalize on in your own kitchen.

Figure 1-1: The perfect green kitchen.

Courtesy of GreenHomeGuide.com.

Fresh air is important throughout your home, but especially in the kitchen. Windows and skylights are the most energy-efficient way to vent cooking vapors from your kitchen. Vent your Energy Star–rated exhaust fan directly to the outside to remove smoke, gas, and odors (see Chapter 11).

Natural sunlight is free and offers the best quality of light you can find (see Chapters 11 and 13). Place the work and food preparation areas near windows and skylights so you won’t need to use electric lighting, saving energy and money.

While you’re cutting down on your lights, switch your bulbs to energy-saving compact fluorescent bulbs (see Chapter 11). Advancements in the bulbs now provide better color and light quality.

The appliances in your kitchen consume most of your home’s energy. Replace old appliances with new, Energy Star–rated appliances (see Chapter 11). The money saved could pay for your new appliances in less than a year.

If your plumbing fixtures were installed before 1992, replace them with new low-flow fixtures (see Chapter 13). You’ll get the same pressure with much less water use. Fun options such as foot-pedal controls will reduce the amount of water you use in a simple way (see Chapter 13).

The perfect green bathroom

Figure 1-2 shows the ideal green bathroom.

Instead of vinyl flooring, buy natural linoleum (see Chapter 7). Made from sawdust and linseed oil, it’s the healthy choice. Natural linoleum comes in a large selection of colors, and you can cut it into any pattern you desire.

Avoid cabinets using formaldehyde-based particle board. Select alternative materials such as bamboo, FSC-certified wood, and wheat straw panels (see Chapter 7).

Select a green countertop, such as recycled glass, salvaged stone, or paper resin materials (see Chapter 7). Wall tiles are available from recycled glass and ceramic sources (see Chapter 7).

Figure 1-2: The perfect green bathroom.

Courtesy of GreenHomeGuide.com.

Without sufficient ventilation, the toxic substances in conventional caulking can have serious health impacts. Safer, green alternatives are now available (see Chapter 7).

Paint the walls with low- or zero-VOC paints (see Chapter 7). Open the window to allow fresh air into the bathroom.

Older toilets use as many as 5 gallons per flush. Replace old toilets with a dual-flush model (see Chapter 13). Consider a composting (waterless) toilet as the greenest choice (see Chapter 13).

Purchase nontoxic cleaning products, soaps, and lotions (see the “Green cleaning alternatives” sidebar in this chapter). Not only are they safer for you and your family, but they stop chemicals from washing down the drain and polluting the water supply.

The perfect green bedroom

Figure 1-3 shows the opportunities for greening your bedroom.

Figure 1-3: The perfect green bedroom.

Courtesy of GreenHomeGuide.com.

For many people, their bedroom doubles as a TV room, office, and reading room. Avoid sleeping problems by using your bedroom only for sleeping. Design the room specifically for that purpose with black-out curtains and operable windows for fresh air.

Insulate all the walls of the bedroom with formaldehyde-free insulation to block unwanted noise from disturbing you (see Chapters 11 and 12). Turn the thermostat down and use an extra blanket instead. A timed, programmable thermostat can warm up your room before you wake up (see Chapter 12).

Select a mattress and linens made of natural materials. You can find an incredible selection at stores like Gaiam (www.gaiam.com). Select nonvinyl carpeting (see Chapter 7) and low- or zero-VOC paints (see Chapters 3 and 7). Removing VOCs will help you sleep better.

Keep your electric clock away from your head. The electromagnetic field is known to disturb dream patterns.

The perfect green nursery

In Figure 1-4 you see how to make the perfect green nursery for your newborn baby.

Figure 1-4: The perfect green nursery.

Courtesy of GreenHomeGuide.com.

A newborn baby has not yet developed resistance to chemicals. Because babies can spend up to 18 hours a day in their nurseries, the finishes you select are even more important for their health.

Try to create a nontoxic nursery using zero-VOC paints (see Chapter 7). Pregnant women should avoid painting altogether — have someone else do it. Paint at least one month before the baby is due, and open the window to flush the room with fresh air.

A space heater will help the paint cure faster.

Avoid wall-to-wall carpeting, because it traps dust mites and allergens (see Chapter 7). A natural linoleum floor is the best choice, but wood works just as well (see Chapter 7). And be sure to clean the floor well.

In order to block and control the sunlight, use wooden shutters. Leave them unpainted, or use zero-VOC paints or stains (see Chapter 7). Aluminum miniblinds work just as well as wood and don’t require paint.

Select naturally finished wood furniture with pure, organic cotton and wool linens (see Chapters 7 and 18). Avoid plastic toys; most are made in China and can contain traces of lead and other potent toxins. Cloth and wood toys are a better choice.

Clean your green nursery with natural or nontoxic cleaning products. You can find some homemade cleaners on the Cheat Sheet in the front of the book, and nontoxic cleaners in the “Green cleaning alternatives” sidebar in this chapter.

Green cleaning alternatives

Cleaning is often considered a healthy thing to do. After all, it feels kind of good and self-satisfying to remove all the inevitable dust, food crumbs, fallen hairs, and other gross remnants of daily life.

Ironically, people typically clean their homes with chemically intensive and potentially toxic cleaning materials. Did you ever wonder why you have to wear gloves (and sometimes even masks) to clean? The chemicals used to clean are adding to the already overloaded toxic soup in most indoor spaces.

The American Association of Poison Control Centers (www.aapcc.org) ranks household cleaners as the leading source for acute human exposure to toxic substances. In addition, these caustic cleaners, pesky pesticides, raucous removers, and other potent products with their toxic ingredients also damage our environment through their production, use, and disposal.

Fortunately, a number of commercially available healthy alternatives exist:

Ecover (www.ecover.com): Established in 1980, Ecover is one of the global leaders in healthy cleaning products. Not only are the products healthier, but the company is incredibly dedicated to sustainable business. Their solar-powered factory features green building features such as passive solar and water-efficient methods.

Seventh Generation (www.seventhgeneration.com): Named in deference to the Iroquois Great Law of Peace, “in our every deliberation we must consider the impact of our decisions on the next seven generations,” Seventh Generation offers a full line of household cleaning products, including paper and baby products. Its Web site is an incredible resource for information on healthy living.

Mrs. Meyers (www.mrsmeyers.com): With their striking graphics and packaging, Meyers’s products are made with natural essential oils and are all biodegradable and phosphate-free.

Method Home (www.methodhome.com): With their sensuous, almost sexual, bottles designed by Karim Rashid, Method Home has targeted its market quite differently. Selling on design and style, rather than simply on health, these gorgeous bottles are filled with all-natural ingredients.

Instead of purchasing new products, your kitchen offers a wide array of ingredients for naturally cleaning your home and office. Save some money and make batches of your own household cleaners. Eco-cleaning is easier than you may think. Most everything you need is already in your pantry. Basic products will tackle most of your cleaning and disinfecting needs, plus it will make your home smell fresh without the need for harsh perfumes or chemicals. Here are the basics you need:

White vinegar: A natural disinfectant and stain remover, white vinegar also reduces mineral and lime deposits. Vinegar is a perfect substitute for ammonia-based cleaners. You can use white wine vinegar, but white distilled vinegar is cheaper. Don’t use malt vinegar — unless you want your house to smell like a bar after a long night.

Baking soda (also called bicarbonate of soda or sodium bicarbonate): Baking soda is the miracle cleaner. When mixed with water, it forms a paste that cuts through grease and dirt on almost any surface. In powder form, the abrasive texture can scrub out problem stains. Often vinegar and baking soda are mixed together for maximum cleaning strength.

Lemons: The citric acid in lemon juice makes it perfect for bleaching, disinfecting, deodorizing, or cutting grease.

Olive oil: Olive oil is a wonderful alternative to furniture polish. Don’t worry about using the extra-virgin type — the most basic, cheapest olive oil will do.

For general cleaning, try damp dusting; it ensures that dust isn’t scattered around. For best results, soak your duster in two parts water, two parts vinegar, and two drops of lemon oil. Then wring out and store in a covered glass jar until you need it.

Remember: Manufacturers can make almost any claim they want about their products. Buzz words like biodegradable, all-natural, nontoxic, hypoallergenic, and fragrance-free technically don’t have to mean anything. Building health expert Debra Lynn Dadd (www.dld123.com) writes, “In general, it is best to avoid using products that say ‘Danger,’ ‘Poison,’ or ‘Warning,’ on the label.” Dadd continues, “I do all of my cleaning with a squirt bottle of 50-50 distilled white vinegar and water, liquid soap, and baking soda.”

Chapter 2

Green Building in an Organically Grown Nutshell

In This Chapter

Defining sustainability

Envisioning the total green building

Finding opportunities to save money by going green

Unless you’ve been living under a rock, you’ve no doubt heard about the environmental crisis facing the planet. From global warming and air and water pollution, to the destruction of the rain forest and oil spills, the bad news about the planet is everywhere.

It’s not just in Al Gore’s movie, either: Mainstream media powerhouses (including the New York Times,The Economist, and Oprah) have dedicated considerable coverage to sustainability issues. The rise of people’s interest in green is not the overnight sensation it may appear.

After more than 30 years as an architectural subculture, sustainability has finally penetrated all areas of building. After all, the building industry traditionally has the largest environmental impact of any industry. Combine this impact with the crippling rise in oil and electricity costs (some 40 percent in the last decade), and you can easily understand this interest. Homeowners can no longer afford to ignore the environmental impact of their own homes, both economically and globally.

In this chapter, I tell you what green building is and why it’s necessary.

Playing the Name Game

Green, eco, sustainable, ecological. . . . You hear these terms used more frequently, but what do they mean? These words are used to define the same thing and are often interchangeable. In recent years, the term green seems to be the most popular among journalists (and it’s the term I’ve chosen to use as part of the title of this book).

In the early part of my career, in the late 1980s, when people heard the term green buildings, they would often ask, “Do they come in any other color?” Today, this confusion has changed, as issues of sustainability are becoming more important to the general public.

Uncovering the meaning of sustainability

Back in 1954, R. Buckminster Fuller, the famous architect and theorist, defined sustainability as:

the conscious design of our total environment, in order to help make the Earth’s finite resources meet the needs of all of humanity without disrupting the ecological processes of the planet.

Notice that Fuller said “finite,” not “infinite,” when talking about natural resources. Many people believe that the Earth can provide an endless supply of wood, oil, or stone — after all, the planet is huge, right? But if you stop to think about it, assuming that natural resources are infinite just doesn’t make sense.

Fuller also said that we have to meet the needs of “all” of humanity — not just rich people, and not just Americans. This is the same man who figured out how to house, clothe, and feed everyone on the planet. He didn’t keep it secret either; he published it in one of his 28 books. At the time, he was dismissed as an eccentric and dreamer; only now, over 50 years later, are people starting to understand Fuller’s genius.

In 1994, the United Nations (UN) came up with their own definition of sustainability: “meeting the needs of the present, without sacrificing the needs of our future.” People everywhere have been consuming as if there’s no tomorrow, and with little regard for the barren world that our children and grandchildren will inherit.

The concept of sustainability is also based on the ancient Great Law of the Native American Iroquois people, which states, “In every deliberation, we must consider the impact on the seventh generation. . . .” Each decision they made was based on the effect it would have seven generations into the future. This philosophy ensured their survival.

Because our resources are so finite, we need to adopt a similar approach — whether you go with Fuller’s definition, the UN’s definition, or the philosophy of the Iroquois.

Getting back to your roots

The prefix eco– comes from the Ancient Greek word oikos, which loosely translates to “house.” In the case of environmentalism, the house being referred to is the Big House, the planet Earth, and it’s the only house we have. The suffix –nomy means “management” and the suffix –logy means “knowledge.” So, the term economy literally means “house management” and ecology literally means “house knowledge.”

The funny thing is, people often assume that you need to sacrifice economy in order to achieve ecology. But as you can see, the two terms are interrelated. After all, nature has a perfectly balanced economy. When a tree sprouts in the spring, you don’t look at it and ask, “Gosh, how many leaves does it take?!” The number of leaves depends upon the sun, the water, and the soil.

If you change your thinking about economy and ecology, and think of the two terms as part of the same concept of the Earth as our home, you can begin to understand sustainability.