Green Building. Chapter 9. Chapter 9. Included in this chapter. Green building at home Green building certification programs

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1 Chapter 9 Green Building Chapter 9 Green building means designing, constructing and operating buildings and landscapes to incorporate energy efficiency, water conservation, waste minimization, pollution prevention, resource efficient materials and indoor environmental quality in all phases of a building s life. Green building is a fundamental change in the way buildings are designed and built, and it addresses all major aspects of a building s design, operation and maintenance. Included in this chapter Green building at home Green building certification programs Buildings are large energy users. Minnesota s commercial and residential buildings consume 68 percent of the natural gas and 47 percent of the electricity used in the state. Additional environmental impacts include increased storm water running off hard surfaces, such as roofs and parking lots, that can carry pollutants down storm drains and into nearby lakes and streams. Construction and demolition debris from building construction and renovation can also be a burden on existing landfill space. Green building techniques, coupled with upgrades and proper maintenance of existing buildings, can help reduce these impacts. Compared with traditional building construction and operation practices, green building techniques can significantly reduce waste and save energy. According to the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), increasing building efficiency can meet 85 percent of future demand for energy in the United States. Green building technologies apply to all kinds of building and construction projects, ranging from skyscrapers to highways to bathroom remodels. Master Recycler/Composter Program Chapter 9 Green Building 75

2 Waste prevention, reuse, recycling and choice of building materials are important aspects of building or remodeling green. This chapter focuses on residential choices for green building and remodeling. Green building at home Green building is all about planning. Planning with an architect and contractor to incorporate green building principles into a project before it starts is perhaps the most important step to take to ensure a project is built green. Planning ahead will ensure that everyone understands the vision for the project and will enable the architect to incorporate green design principles into the project from the outset. Hiring architects and contractors that have experience with and interest in green building can enhance your project s success. Proper planning reduces the need for costly design changes later. Waste prevention The following are waste prevention strategies to consider in a green building project: Design the structure of a new house or addition to match traditional material lengths. For example, if wallboard comes in 4-foot by 8-foot panels, a design that calls for 8-foot or 16-foot walls will create less waste than one that calls for 6-foot or 10-foot walls. Incorporate energy- and waterefficient appliances and fixtures. Design flexibility into a space to avoid the need for future remodeling. Repair, resurface or renew fixtures and surfaces instead of buying new. Use care when constructing or installing materials to prevent waste. For example, follow the old saying measure twice, cut once, and properly caulk and install flashing around the roof and window penetrations to prevent waste caused by water damage. Reuse Reusing building materials preserves what is referred to as the embodied energy of the materials. Embodied energy is the energy consumed by all the processes involved in producing a material, from acquisition of natural resources to manufacturing to product delivery. Reusing materials helps reduce the solid and hazardous waste produced in the manufacturing of new building materials. Many stores in the Twin Cities sell salvaged building materials, such as doors, windows, light fixtures, cabinets, hardwood flooring and hardware. These materials lend authenticity to a remodel in an older home or interest and style to any construction project. A good reuse strategy in remodeling projects is trying to reuse some or all of the original materials or fixtures. For example, refacing cabinets is a cost-effective way to give a kitchen a new look while minimizing waste. Deconstruction One emerging trend in reuse is deconstruction. Deconstruction occurs when a building being demolished is carefully dismantled, allowing the materials to be reused or recycled. This differs from traditional demolition of a building, in which heavy equipment would quickly tear down the building and all the materials would become waste that was sent to landfills. 76 Master Recycler/Composter Program Chapter 9 Green Building

3 Materials Material choice is a critical component of building green. The following are some characteristics of green building materials: Sustainably and/or locally produced. Minimal use of toxic components. Durable or easy to repair. Building a cabinet for recycling in the kitchen is a good way to incorporate recycling into your green building project. Recycling Recycling materials during new construction or remodeling projects is simpler than recycling demolition wastes. The easiest way to ensure building materials from a project are recycled is to stipulate in the contract that contractors must recycle a specific percentage of materials. A number of private companies in Hennepin County recycle building materials, including asphalt, concrete, brick, porcelain, wood and gypsum wallboard. Visit waste-management-guide/materialscategory/construction for a list of recyclers of building materials. Planning ahead for what materials will be recycled and how much space will be needed to separate those materials for recycling is important. Finding enough space for the recyclable materials can be a challenge on some properties, but planning ahead should help maximize the success of recycling. Many processors accept mixed loads of materials for recycling, but this is not always as effective as keeping materials separated from the beginning. Another way to incorporate recycling into a green building project is to ensure that the room or home includes space for recycling and composting. For example, a green remodeled kitchen might have cabinet or closet space for recycling bins, or even a chute in the countertop leading to a bin for food scraps that will be composted. Jupiterimages Designed for future reuse and/ or recycling. A wide range of green building materials are available, including sustainably harvested lumber, paints with few or no volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and recycled-content carpet. Salvage yards and home centers that specialize in green building products can be found in the phone book or online. Lumber Wood is a major component of most building projects and is also a major part of the waste stream when buildings are demolished. Reusing beams, hardwood flooring, cabinets, doors and other salvaged materials reduces the use of new wood. Builders employ various techniques and alternative materials to reduce the use of wood in commercial and residential construction, including: Steel is used in place of lumber in many commercial buildings. Panelization, in which the frames for homes are built in panels in a factory-like setting, reduces wood waste in the construction of large subdivisions. By constructing many homes of the same design, the precise measurements are known and less wood is wasted. Master Recycler/Composter Program Chapter 9 Green Building 77

4 Plastic or composite lumber provides a durable alternative to wood for decks or patio furniture. Cork makes attractive and durable flooring, and the fast-growing bark is a rapidly renewable resource. Sustainable landscaping Sustainable landscaping is another key component of green building practices. When clearing or grading a site, look for ways to preserve existing native vegetation. Also when designing a building or remodel, incorporate sustainable landscaping practices that reduce runoff and minimize the future production of yard waste. Selecting drought-tolerant plants, planting them in the right location, leaving grass clippings on the lawn and composting are all ways to reduce or manage yard waste. For more information on preventing and reusing yard waste, see Chapter 5. Green building certification programs Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) is a set of national standards developed by the U.S. Green Building Council for both commercial and residential projects. The U.S. LEED standards are voluntary, national standards for developing high-performance, sustainable buildings. Different versions of LEED exist for new commercial construction and major renovations, existing buildings, core and shell, commercial interiors, and homes. Each version contains a checklist of credits that a building project can obtain in the following categories: Sustainable sites Indoor environmental quality Energy and atmosphere Water efficiency Innovation and design process Materials and resources There are four levels of certification: Certified, Silver, Gold or Platinum. Projects receive points in the different green building categories and are certified based on the number of points received. Find out more at Minnesota GreenStar The Minnesota GreenStar Certified Green Remodeling rating system is Minnesota s own green remodeling certification program. The rating system was developed by a partnership of remodelors, builders and environmental and green building advocates. Comprehensive guidelines help homeowners and contractors select measures to create healthy, durable homes. Find out more at Making connections When you implement green building practices, you are connecting to other important MRC issues: Waste prevention, reuse and recycling Using less toxic materials and protecting indoor air quality Choosing materials with longer lifecycles that are more sustainable and materials made from rapidly renewable resources Composting, practicing natural yard care and using drought-tolerant plants to conserve resources 78 Master Recycler/Composter Program Chapter 9 Green Building

5 Resources Web resources Information on the LEED certification rating system and case studies of LEED-certified buildings. Information about the Minnesota Green Home Certification. mn.gov/commerce/industries/energy The Office of Energy Security has information on practices and programs to save energy at home. Information on green building and remodeling, directory of green building products, green building case studies and more. Print resources The following factsheets are available from the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency at learning-resource-center-fact-sheets#energy. Green Building: A healthier, more efficient home helps our environment A list of green building strategies. Green Remodeling: Tips for Minnesota Homeowners Tips from the MPCA on implementing green building practices into home remodeling. Where to Find Green Building Products Information about and links to businesses and organizations that offer green building products. 79 Master Recycler/Composter Program Chapter 9 Green Building

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