EarthCraft House Virginia. Technical Guidelines

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1 EarthCraft House Virginia Technical Guidelines Version 2010

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3 Building an EarthCraft House EarthCraft House recognizes that there are many ways to reduce pollution and the waste of natural resources when building. EarthCraft House gives home builders great flexibility by providing a point system. Builders can earn the necessary points by choosing the measures most practical for their specific homes. As environmental building products and techniques constantly change, the EarthCraft House Technical Guidelines cannot be all inclusive nor always reflect the latest building science theory. Under the Innovative Points section, builders may submit measures which are not included in these guidelines. The EarthCraft House Technical Guidelines are intended to illustrate broad design and construction guidelines and are not intended to substitute for manufacturer s installation or use recommendations or building codes. However, the EarthCraft House Technical Guidelines often exceed the minimum requirements of a product manufacturer, installer, or building code. Version June, 2009 *These guidelines highlight all the requirements for the EarthCraft House single-family residential program. In addition, EarthCraft Multi-family guidelines are included and keyed with the letter M in bold font throughout the publication. Multi-family builders should note that these guideline entries overlap and are in addition to the single-family residential program components. M = Multifamily guideline 3

4 The EarthCraft House program is a voluntary green building program for the Southeastern region of the United States that serves as a blueprint for healthy, comfortable homes that reduce utility bills and protect the environment. Any size and type of home can be certified EarthCraft House by following the technical guidelines in the program. The guidelines are flexible enough to allow for a variety of approaches to environmental construction. The program was created in 1999 as a partnership between the Greater Atlanta Home Builders Association and Southface Energy Institute, and is available in many different cities in the Southeast. Please contact an EarthCraft House staff member for availability in your area. The technical guidelines in this book apply to all new construction in the EarthCraft House program, including single-family homes, duplexes, townhomes, and low-rise apartments and condominiums. These guidelines must be used in conjunction with the appropriate EarthCraft House Worksheet. Available worksheets can be obtained from the program website or at an EarthCraft House training. Please note that there are different worksheets or single family and multi-family housing, as well as different worksheets for different geographic areas in the Southeast. In order to join the EarthCraft House program, the builder of the home must attend a one-day training. This training includes an overview of program requirements and detailed discussions about practical techniques for improving the energy efficiency, durability, comfort, air quality, and environmental sustainability of homes. For a list of upcoming trainings, please visit the EarthCraft House Virginia website. In order to participate in the EarthCraft Multifamily program, the development team must conduct a charrette with EarthCraft Virginia staff specific to the project pursuing certification. This charrette will allow program specifics to be discussed and a strategy for certification to be agreed upon by all stakeholders involved in the project. As part of the EarthCraft House certification process, the builder must complete the EarthCraft House worksheet to show that the home will score enough points to qualify, and every EarthCraft House is inspected and tested by an independent thirdparty inspector approved by EarthCraft House Virginia. For technical assistance or scheduling information please contact: EarthCraft Virginia Phone: (804) Fax: (804) admin@earthcraftvirginia.org W. Main Street Richmond, VA

5 EarthCraft House Virginia Technical Guidelines Single Family and Low-rise Multifamily Dwellings Table of Contents Site Planning... 7 Energy Efficient Building Envelope and Systems Required Air Sealing Measures Additional Air Sealing Measures Blower Door Test Required Insulation Additional Insulation Windows Heating and Cooling Equipment Duct Work / Air Handler Duct Blaster Test Water Heater Energy Efficient Lighting/Appliances Resource Efficient Design Resource Efficient Building Materials Recycled and Natural Content Materials Advanced Products Durability Waste Management Indoor Air Quality Combustion Safety Moisture Control Ventilation Indoor pollutant control Water Conservation Indoor Use Outdoor Use Homebuyer Education Builder Operations Bonus Points

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7 Site Planning Required: Must comply with all federal, state, and local government erosion control and tree protection measures. Required: Workshop on erosion and sediment control (Responsible Land Disturber Certificate) The site supervisor shall attend the Basic Erosion and Sediment Control in Virginia workshop or hold a Responsible Land Disturber Certificate. Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation - (Responsible Land Disturber Certificate). Erosion control site plan Builder shall follow guidelines set forth in Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation s Virginia Erosion and Sediment Control Handbook. Builder shall submit documentation of a site plan for erosion and sedimentation control before site is cleared or graded including contours of slopes to be cleared, location and type of erosion control measures, storm water and sediment management systems, and a vegetative plan for temporary and permanent stabilization. Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation Virginia Erosion and Sediment Control Handbook Excavated topsoil protected from erosion Builder shall have a site plan that designates topsoil areas to be protected throughout all construction activities. Protected topsoil areas shall be clearly marked and the builder shall communicate protection measures to all subcontractors. Excavated topsoil shall be protected from erosion by wind or rain with tarps or other suitable material. Use of redundant mulch, compost, or straw bales for erosion control In addition to required silt fencing, builder shall install mulch, compost, or straw bale berms or blankets. These additional measures shall be installed on steep slopes, locations where silt fences do not hold up, and around storm drains. For specifications on using compost for these applications, please see the article Erosion Control and Environmental Uses for Compost, For additional information, see also Compost Utilization for Erosion Control, Permanent Storm Water Control 7

8 Builder shall participate in Low Impact Development (LID) by incorporating bioretention measures, to include vegetated swales or rain gardens. Specific measures can be obtained from the EPA, available online at Grind stumps and limbs for mulch Builder shall grind a minimum of 80% of all tree stumps and limbs for mulch. Mulched material cannot be buried in a landfill. Mill cleared logs A minimum of 80% of logs that meet commercial sawmill standards shall be taken to a sawmill for processing into lumber, pulp, or other use. Logs cannot be buried in a landfill, burned, or chipped. Remove Invasive Plants from site Builder shall remove significant invasive plant growth as per the Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation s Managing Invasives in Natural Areas, Parks, and Small Woodlands booklet. Significant invasive plant growth shall be defined as plant growth grasses, trees, vines, etc. covering 5% or more of the total lot area. DCR booklet is available online at Tree preservation plan A site plan shall be developed prior to clearing, grading, or construction that identifies existing trees to be protected during all construction activities. Tree root zones (area extending in all directions from the trunk) must be protected with a physical barrier. Tree Preservation Plan shall be reviewed with subcontractors and posted on job site. Tree planting Site plan shall document that a minimum of 12 trees per acre are planted. For example, if the house is built on a ½ acre lot, 6 trees must be planted. Trees will be at a minimum 2 inch caliper. Protected tree save area A minimum of 25% of the lot must be protected from all grading and tree clearing for lots 1 acre or smaller. These points can also be taken if 25% of the land in the community is protected, even if not every lot has 25% of its area protected. Lots larger than 1 acre must protect 75% of their area in order to take these points. Utilities in tree root zones tunneled or hand dug Trees that are marked to be preserved on a site plan and for which utilities must pass through their root zones shall not have surface dug trenches. Tunnels shall be dug through the root zone in order to minimize root damage (one point per tree maximum 5 trees). 8

9 Figure: Tunnel to minimize root damage (top) as opposed to surface-dug trenches in root zone (bottom). Individual trees fenced at drip line (Critical Root Zone) No soil from clearing, grading, or construction activity shall be placed on top of any root zone for trees that are designated on a site plan to be preserved. Trees must be fenced at a diameter according to their size the fence is one foot away from the tree for every inch of trunk diameter throughout the construction process. Fences must be firmly set.. One point per tree with a maximum of 5 trees used for these points. Protected green space Existing green spaces shall be preserved on 25% of the lot or 40 % of the development, or for additional points be preserved on 40% of the lot or 60% of the development. Certified wildlife habitat The site shall have a wildlife habitat area that is approved by the National Wildlife Federation. Wildlife habitats can be established by planting native plants or leaving tracts of land undisturbed and protected. Habitats can be lot specific, or cover a larger area on the development as a whole. Information on creating such a habitat can be obtained from the National Wildlife Federation at Lot size </= 1/5 acre, 1/10 acre, 1/15 acre 9

10 Home built on lot less than 1/5, 1/10, or 1/15 of an acre. M Road/Vehicle protocols A vehicle washing station shall be provided in close proximity to each construction entrance and protocols describing appropriate use shall be clearly posted both at the on-site office and at the washing station. Protocols for road sweeping and cleaning shall also be clearly posted at the on-site construction office and implemented. Descriptions of washing station features and construction can be found online at the EPA s website: utton=detail&bmp=63&minmeasure=4. M Plant materials from disturbed site areas relocated Appropriate ornamental and native plants not included within tree-save or undisturbed areas of the site shall be relocated, stored, and replanted, or made available for relocation by others prior to the area being disturbed. In Virginia, the Virginia Native Plant Society may help organize such relocation efforts. Information on plant rescues can be found at M On-call sedimentation/erosion control personnel Developer or contractor shall provide on-call personnel for inspecting erosion control measures and repairing erosion control failures during rain events that occur during non-working hours at the site. Site should automatically be inspected by designated personnel during rain events of 1/3 or greater in any 24-hour period. M Downstream water quality testing Testing of surface water shall be conducted following National Pollution Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) standards. Information can be found at M Phase I Environmental testing and remediation Conduct a Phase I Environmental Site Assessment and additional assessments if required, and provide a plan for abatement of any hazards with documentation of its proper removal. 10

11 Energy Efficient Building Envelope and Systems The building envelope defines the conditioned and unconditioned spaces in the house. The building envelope consists of two parts: a thermal barrier (insulation) and an air barrier (any number of materials and approaches). For instance, an unfinished basement (without carpet, drywall, etc.) where the exterior walls are insulated and air sealed shall be considered conditioned space for the purposes of the EarthCraft House TM program. An unfinished basement where the insulation and air barrier are in the ceiling is considered unconditioned space. M For the purposes of Multi-family buildings, the building envelope is defined at the dwelling unit and must be completely air sealed. Required: ENERGY STAR HOME CERTIFICATION. Note: Homes with all items marked * will likely qualify as ENERGY STAR Homes using a Builder Option Package. See Home must be certified ENERGY STAR in compliance with guidelines set by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Department of Energy. Builder must provide verification of ENERGY STAR certification upon completion of construction. This evaluation must be performed by a certified HERS Rater and requires a blower door and a duct pressurization test plus a certified software rating. Certified HERS raters can be found on the web at All EarthCraft Technical Advisors are Certified HERS Raters. A builder option package (BOP) is a list of construction specifications that can qualify a builder for ENERGY STAR. The following example is for Virginia, Climate Zone 4 (CZ4). For a list of BOPs by state and county visit Note: all specifications must be verified in the field. - Maximum window area: 18% - Window U factor less than or equal to Window SHGC less than or equal to Attic R-38 - Exterior walls R-13, except for marine climates - Floor above unheated space R-19 - Basement/Crawlspace walls R-10 continuous/r-13 cavity - Slab insulation R10, 2 ft. - Gas furnace greater than 90 AFUE - Duct leakage less than 4 cfm to outdoors/100 sq. ft. - Air infiltration less than 6 ACH 50 /~.30ACH nat - ENERGY STAR programmable thermostat - 5 ENERGY STAR lights and appliances *Note: these prescriptive Energy Star specifications are effective July 1,

12 Required Air Sealing Measures Penetrations through top and bottom plate sealed All holes in the floor assembly for plumbing, wiring, ductwork, and other purposes connecting conditioned and unconditioned (and exterior) areas shall be sealed. Penetrations for flues and other heat-producing items shall be sealed with noncombustible sheet materials and high temperature sealant. Bottom plate sealed to floor or foundation Bottom plates shall be sealed to floor or foundation with a proper sealant. An optional strategy is a foam gasket beneath the bottom plate in combination with a suitable sealant. Penetrations through insulated subfloor sealed All penetrations through insulated floor systems over unconditioned areas (such as basements, crawlspaces, and garages) must be sealed including duct, electrical, and plumbing penetrations. 12

13 Seal all HVAC boots to subfloor or to drywall Seal HVAC supply and return boots through subfloors or drywall using appropriate sealant. Supply and return boots located on the ceiling must also be sealed to drywall. Shower and Tub drains sealed Plumbing penetrations shall be blocked with sheeting and sealed at edges with proper sealant. Rockwool or similar product does not qualify. 13

14 Cantilevered floor sealed and blocked above supporting wall For floors with conditioned area over unconditioned open areas, the floor joist cavity shall be sealed with sheet material or blocking and sealant above the supporting wall and insulated to minimum R19, either with batt insulation between floor joists or with a combination of joist insulation and insulated sheathing on underside of floor joist. Window and door rough openings sealed The space between the framing for window or door (including attic access) rough openings and the installed units shall be sealed with non-expanding spray foam sealant, closed cell foam, backer rod, and other suitable sealant. Cellulose, fiberglass, or rock wool batt insulation is not acceptable as a sealant, but can be used 14

15 as a backing for a sealant (such as caulk). Thresholds for exterior doors shall be sealed to the subfloor. Gaps in exterior sheathing sealed All gaps greater than 1/8 in exterior sheathing, such as seams between adjacent sheets, shall be sealed with a proper sealant. Sheathing penetrations sealed 15

16 All sheathing penetrations including condensation lines, electrical outlets, exterior lighting fixtures, and locations with broken or missing sheathing shall be sealed with sheeting and a proper sealant or expanding foam. Exterior walls of fireplace chase sealed All exterior walls of fireplaces shall be sealed with proper sealant. Where permissible, a proper sealant shall be used at the junction between sheathing and flue pipe - must comply with the fire code and the manufacturer s specifications. Penetrations through drywall in attached garage sealed All penetrations through drywall in attached garage sealed. Band area shall be blocked and sealed between joists above interior garage partition walls. 16

17 Air barrier installed behind tubs and showers on insulated walls A secondary air barrier shall be installed behind tubs and showers before installing bath and shower assemblies. The sheeting material must be sealed with a proper sealant and the exterior wall must be insulated to the requirements of the Energy Code. No polyethylene shall be used on exterior walls or foundation walls No polyethylene or other materials with a perm rating < 1 shall be used on foundation or exterior walls. All chases in contact with building envelope blocked and sealed Chases which contact exterior walls require an air barrier measure such as OSB, plywood, or foam board on the interior of the chase where it meets the building envelope to prevent air escaping through the chases and out of the building envelope. Figure: Solid draftstop material sealed to framing to isolate utility chase cavity Penetrations through band and rim joist sealed 17

18 Seal all penetrations through the band and rim joist area including holes drilled for HVAC, plumbing, electrical lines, bathroom fans and exhaust fans using appropriate sealant. Sealed whole house fan cover A cover shall be constructed to air seal and insulate any whole house fan. This cover shall be air-sealed to the framing assembly with proper gaskets or weather stripping. All recessed can lights in insulated ceilings must be airtight and IC-rated Recessed lights in ceilings with an unconditioned area above must meet the current Energy Code specification for air tightness and must be Insulation Contact (IC) rated. Penetrations through insulated ceiling sealed All penetrations through insulated ceilings shall be sealed with a proper sealant including HVAC boots, bathroom fans, light fixtures, security, and audio speakers. 18

19 Attic pull-down stairs, scuttle hole, & knee-wall doors sealed at rough opening Attic scuttle holes that are located between conditioned and unconditioned space shall be weather-stripped to provide an airtight seal against the ceiling trim and drywall. Attic knee-wall doors & scuttle holes weather-stripped Doors in knee-walls that connect conditioned space to unconditioned attic areas shall be weather-stripped and latched to provide an airtight seal against the door trim and drywall (EarthCraft House requires insulation on attic access doors). 19

20 Chases sealed and insulated Framed spaces that connect conditioned areas to unconditioned attics, basements, or crawl spaces shall be sealed with sheet material and sealant. These areas include chases for plumbing, duct work, chimneys, and flues. For chases with high temperature heat sources, noncombustible sheet materials, such as sheet metal and high temperature caulk, shall be used. Where the code prohibits sealing this gap (such as with fireplace flues) manufacturer-supplied sheet metal shall be used that fits the flue pipe as closely as allowed. Breaks in framing and interior finish materials, such as dropped soffits and changing ceiling heights, which connect unconditioned and conditioned areas, shall be sealed with blocking or sheet material and sealant. 20

21 Stud cavities blocked at change in ceiling height Stud cavities shall be blocked at locations of varying floor/ceiling height to retard airflow through conditioned and unconditioned wall cavities. Attic knee-wall has sealed attic-side, rigid sheathing Sheet material shall be sealed to the framing on the attic side of the knee-wall to create an airtight seal using caulk or house-wrap tape. Sheathing or blocking must extend down between the flat ceiling joists to seal the floor joist cavities. Sheathing on air impermeable insulation not required unless mandated by fire code. Joist cavities under attic knee-wall blocked Sheeting material shall be installed between joist cavities underneath kneewalls and sealed at seams with proper sealant in any location in which attic air may enter the band area between conditioned floors. 21

22 M Seams in band joist between conditioned floors sealed All seams shall be sealed in band joists between conditioned floors, since the band is part of the building envelope. Additional Air Sealing Measures Drywall penetrations in insulated walls sealed All penetrations in drywall in insulated walls shall be sealed with a proper sealant including wall switches, electrical outlets, and knee-wall door rough openings. 22

23 Seams in band joist between conditioned floors sealed All seams shall be sealed in band joists between conditioned floors, since the band is part of the building envelope (see Figure under required multifamily line-item of same name). House-wrap installed with all seems and edges taped House-wrap shall be installed according to the manufacturer s specifications. All seams must be cut properly and all edges taped to ensure a continuous air barrier. 23

24 Ceiling drywall sealed to top plate Drywall shall be sealed to top plate on ceilings separating attic from conditioned space. Figure: Gaskets, caulk, or foam can be used to air seal drywall at any stage of the installation. Attic access with sealed attic-side cover or attic access outside of building envelope An insulated attic hatch shall be built to open to the attic and form an airtight seal when closed. The attic hatch must accommodate the hidden stairs. If attic access is outside of thermal envelope the project will automatically earn this. 24

25 If vaulted ceiling, blocking installed with baffles to prevent air washing through insulation or use foam insulation or dense pack cellulose If fiberglass batt or loose-fill insulation is used in vaulted ceiling, baffles shall be installed at both the high and low ends of the rafters. Vaulted ceilings which are insulated with foam insulation or dense-pack cellulose insulation do not require baffling, and are eligible for these points. M Gypcrete on all framed floors separating unit envelopes Gypcrete or other approved poured-floor system shall be installed at all framed floors with conditioned space below them. Application of the material shall be after all plumbing, electrical, and mechanical systems have been roughed-in and drywall has been installed with at least one application of joint compound. M Two-pour application of gypcrete to include areas blocked by drywall Gypcrete or other approved poured-floor system is installed in areas that will be made inaccessible after drywall installation, such as underneath bathtubs and at party-wall separations. This is in addition to the above requirements and occurs prior to that installation. Temporary blocking or curbing may be necessary to achieve proper coverage in some areas such as underneath bathtubs. M Firewalls/party walls that eliminate airspace All walls separating unit envelopes shall be constructed using rated constructions that do not require the use of an airspace or gap between two independent walls (e.g. the UL-U370 assembly). 25

26 Blower Door Test Required: Blower Door test result < 0.50 cfm 50 / square foot of building envelope (SFBE) SFBE Building Envelope Leakage Test The home must meet minimum criteria for air tightness. The standard ASTM test is a blower door test conducted at 50 Pascals. The results of the test for a single family house must satisfy the following condition: CFM 50 / SFBE < 0.50 where CFM 50 is the volume of air in cubic feet per minute moved through the fan to maintain a 50 Pa pressure difference and SFBE is the square footage of the building envelope between conditioned and unconditioned spaces. EXAMPLE: SFBE = Slab + Walls + Room over Garage +Ceiling 26

27 Slab = (40 x 40) (20 x 20) = = 1200 ft 2 Walls = 20 x (160) = 3200 ft 2 Room over Garage = (20) x (20) = 400 ft 2 Ceiling = (40) x (40) = 1600 ft 2 SFBE = = 6400 ft 2 Blower Door Test Result: 2000 CFM50 at 50 Pa pressure Calculation: 2000 CFM 50 / 6400 SFBE = 0.32 Since 0.32 < 0.50 testing criteria is fulfilled M Required: Blower Door test result < 0.35 ACH Natural with outside ventilation ACH Building Envelope Leakage Test Each unit must be completely air sealed at the dwelling unit s building envelope. The housing units must meet minimum criteria for air tightness. The minimum required blower door test result shall be < 0.35 ACH Natural with outside ventilation ACH natural = ACH 50 / N N = C x H x S where C is the climate correction factor, H is the height correction factor, and S is the wind-shielding factor. Equation: ACH 50 = (CFM 50 x 60) / Volume Where: ACH natural = ACH 50 / (H x S x C) H: Height correction factor # of stories H = S: wind Shielding factor Extent of Shielded Normal Exposed Shielding S = C: Climate correction factor Virginia West of I-95 C = 20 Virginia East of I-95 C = 19 27

28 *See also: Example: 2,000 sq ft unit with 8 ft. ceiling Blower Door test reveals 1,760 cfm 50 S = Normal H = 1 story C = 21 So, ACH 50 = (1,760 x 60) / 16,000 ft 3 ACH 50 = 6.6 and, ACH natural = 6.6 / (1 x 1 x 21) ACH natural = 0.31 Figure: Blower door diagnostics determine building envelope leakage Required Insulation Exterior walls and band joist R-13 Flat Ceilings Sloped ceilings Cantilevered floors R-38 (requires baffling and blocking in vented attics) R-30 (or R-20 spray foam) R-19 (blocking between joists required) Framed floors R-19 Foundation walls R-10 cont. / R-13 cavity 28

29 Attic knee-walls R-19 insulation & attic side air barrier Insulated sheathing on metal-framed R-3 exterior walls (thermal break) Slab edge insulation R-10 Attic pull-down or scuttle hole R-5 (compressed batt not acceptable) For fireplace chase(s) on exterior wall Solid air barrier to interior of chase The minimum insulation levels must meet or exceed those listed above. In addition, insulation must comply with the energy code, which may require insulation beyond the above requirements. The insulation shall be continuous (no gaps or missing pieces) and contiguous (in contact with the air barrier). For example, in the floor of a roomover-garage, the insulation must be in continuous contact with subfloor sheathing. No paper faced batts allowed in contact with concrete foundation walls or in contact with subfloor in crawlspace applications. M Insulated sheathing on metal-framed exterior walls In buildings where steel framing or studs are used in exterior walls, insulated sheathing equal to or greater than R-3 shall be installed as a thermal break on a minimum of 80% of the exterior wall area. 2 x 6 attic knee-walls with R-19 cavity insulation and non-insulated sheathing Knee-walls shall be constructed with non-insulated sheathing on the attic side properly blocked between floor joists and sealed at the seams. 29

30 Sealed, insulated crawl space walls Crawl space walls shall be airtight and sealed with caulk, foam sealant, or gasket between the foundation stem wall and the sill plate, between the sill plate and the band joist, and between the band joist and subfloor. All penetrations in the crawlspace wall shall be sealed and access doors weather stripped. Walls shall be insulated to R-10 continuous or greater. Any vents must be closed and sealed. Figure: Insulate crawl space walls Insulate Fireplace Chase Exterior fireplace chase which connects to conditioned space shall be insulated to a minimum of R-13. Insulation must be in continuous contact with exterior walls and ceiling above. Insulation shall be located no closer than 1 inch to the flue pipe, or according to local code. 30

31 Flat ceilings R-38 Ceilings with unconditioned attic space above shall have complete coverage of attic insulation equal to or greater than R-38. Figure: Increase height of joists for utility flooring in attic to add more insulation Vaulted and tray ceilings R-30 Vaulted, tray, or cathedral ceilings shall be insulated to R-30 or greater. *Attic pull-down or scuttle hole R-5 Pull-down attic stairs located in conditioned space shall have an insulated box equal to or greater than R-5. Scuttle holes that are located in conditioned space shall be insulated with batt insulation or rigid foam insulation to R-5 or greater. Whole house fan must include sealed, min R-5 insulated cover Whole house fan shall be installed with an insulated cover. A cover shall be constructed to air seal and insulate the whole house fan with a minimum of R-5 insulating material, either spray foam or foam board. Home owner shall be instructed to remove cover before operating the fan and replace cover during seasons when not in use. Attic ventilation must provide at least one square foot of net free vent area 31

32 per 750 CFM of fan air flow (CFM = Whole House Fan ACM Capacity x Volume of House). Figure: A low-cost insulated whole house fan cover should be used during the off season. Slab insulation R-10 or greater exterior slab insulation, such as for monolithic slabs, may be installed with approved membranes (such as EPDM-type membranes) to protect against termites. Alternatively, non-monolithic slabs may use rigid insulation between the stem wall and the poured (floating) slab, using the protective membrane as termite flashing and as a capillary break. 32

33 Additional Insulation Insulation installation quality Grade I & II based on RESNET standard All insulation must be installed per manufacturer s recommendations to achieve quality grade specified by criteria set forth by RESNET. RESNET specifies grades I and II insulation installation as follows: Grade I: Installed according to manufacturers instructions. Fills each cavity side-toside and top-to-bottom. No substantial gaps or voids around obstructions (i.e. blocking or bridging). Split and/or fitted tightly around wiring and other services. No exterior sheathing is visible through gaps in the material, minimal compression. Incomplete fill or compression of up to 30% of intended thickness is less than 2% of the area. Grade II: Moderate to frequent defects (i.e. gaps around wiring, electrical outlets, plumbing, or other intrusions, and rounded edges or shoulders ). Gaps/spaces clear through the insulation amounting to up to 2% of total surface area covered by the insulation; or incomplete fill or compression of up to 30% of intended thickness, to up to 10% of the area. Installation grade must be determined by a certified EarthCraft Technical Advisor. Foundation walls insulated instead of floor over basement (no paper faced batts) Foundation walls shall be insulated to a minimum of R-10 by a code approved assembly instead of insulating the joist cavities over the basement. Options include code-approved foil-faced foam board, foam with furring strips and drywall, or framed 2 x 4 walls over vapor retarder with R-13 un-faced batts in the stud cavities. Foundation walls insulated with continuous insulation 33

34 Continuous insulation protects basement wood from framing condensation. Foam board between framing and foundation wall is one example. Sealed, insulated crawlspace walls R-10 Permanently install insulation to crawlspace walls and extend downward from the wall to within 3 inches of the finished interior grade adjacent to the foundation wall. Provide a 3 inch inspection strip immediately below the floor joists to allow inspection for termite prevention. Install continuous vapor barrier (minimum 6 mil) over all exposed earth in unvented crawl space foundations. Overlap all joints a minimum of 6 inches. Seal joints using appropriate sealant. Extend and seal edges of vapor barrier at least 6 inches up the stem wall and piers. Appropriate ventilation is required in all unvented crawlspaces using one of the following methods: - Continuously operated mechanical exhaust ventilation at a rate of 1 cfm for each 50 sq ft of crawlspace area. - Conditioned air supply sized to deliver at a rate of 1 cfm for each 50 sq ft of crawlspace area. Install a minimum of R-3 continuous insulation on underside of framed floors over unconditioned spaces Install continuous insulation on the underside of framed floor in order to completely encapsulate cavity insulation. Continuous insulation must be R-3 or greater, and must be in contact with cavity insulation. Cavity insulation must completely fill framed floor cavity and be in contact with subfloor and continuous insulation. No Fireplaces on exterior walls Design home so that no fireplaces are installed on exterior walls. Cantilevered floors R-30 For floors with conditioned area over unconditioned open areas, the floor joist cavity shall be insulated to minimum R-30. Sealed blocking between joists is required. \ Band joists insulated R-19 The band joist are seal and insulated to R-19 or greater. 34

35 Spray applied wall insulation Spray applied insulation shall be installed in a minimum of 80% of exterior wall stud cavities (plus walls adjacent to unconditioned spaces), including band joist areas between floors. Insulated wall stud cavities R-15 R15 insulation shall be installed in a minimum of 80% of exterior wall stud cavities (plus walls adjacent to unconditioned spaces), including band joist areas between floors. Wall insulation without vapor retarder Figure: Wall cavity insulation 35

36 Install wall cavity insulation without a vapor retarder, including Kraft paper. Products with a perm rating greater than 1.0 are acceptable. Insulated headers Exterior walls featuring headers (over windows and door openings) shall be framed with at least ½ inch of rigid foam insulation between the 2x members. Other methods of achieving insulated headers, such as boxed headers with insulation batts or spray foam, are also acceptable. 2-stud corners with drywall clips or alternative framing The intersecting corner of two insulated walls shall be framed such that insulation is continuous in the external wall (corners with unnecessary 2 x 4 s are not permitted). A California corner or two-stud corner with drywall clips are methods of achieving this. Figure: Advanced corner T-walls or alternative framing for insulation coverage improvements in wall field The intersection of an interior wall and an insulated wall shall be framed such that insulation is continuous in the insulated wall. A ladder type intersection is one method of achieving this. 36

37 Figure: Advanced ladder T-wall framing Insulated wall sheathing R-3/R-5 or greater A minimum of 75% of the sheathing for exterior walls shall be equal to or greater than R-3. Sheathing shall be installed with gaps no larger than 1/8 inch and provide complete coverage except for where structural sheathing is required by code (maximum of 25%). ICF or SIP for complete building envelope walls Construct all exterior walls using insulated concrete forms (ICF) or structural insulated panels (SIP) with a minimum R value of R-13. Loose-fill attic insulation card and rulers Written documentation (an attic card ) specifying the insulation type, coverage area, and R-value shall be provided if loose-fill insulation is installed in the attic. Attic rulers to verify insulation depth must be provided every 300 ft 2 and face the attic entrance. Insulation must be installed according to the manufacturer s specifications and provide for complete coverage and full R-value. Attic Insulation extended over wall cavity To ensure full depth of attic insulation above exterior wall top plates, energy heel trusses with raised top chord or raised top plate for joist/rafter assemblies shall be used. 37

38 Vaulted and tray ceilings R-38 Insulate vaulted, tray, or cathedral ceilings to R-38 or greater. Attic Radiant Barrier A radiant barrier must be installed over at least 80% of the vented attic space. The radiant barrier must have a reflective surface facing down towards a minimum 1 inch vented air space and have an emissivity rating of 0.05 or less. *Attic Knee-wall doors R-8 Doors in knee-walls that connect conditioned space to unconditioned attic areas shall be insulated to R-8 or greater. 38

39 *Attic pull-down or scuttle hole R-19 Pull-down attic stairs located in conditioned space shall have an insulated box equal to or greater than R-19. Scuttle holes that are located in conditioned space shall be insulated with batt insulation or rigid foam insulation to R-19 or greater. Compressed batts are not acceptable. 2 x 6 attic knee-walls with R-19 cavity insulation & R-3 insulating sheathing Knee-walls shall be constructed with R-3 insulated sheathing such as ½ inch foam board on the attic side properly sealed at the seams. 2 x 4 attic knee-walls with R-13 cavity insulation & R-5 insulating sheathing Knee-walls shall be constructed with R-5 insulated sheathing such as 1-inch foam board on the attic side properly sealed at the seams. Complete roofline spray insulation or SIP roof Insulate roofline of attic using foam insulation or a structural insulated panel (SIP) to create an unvented attic with a minimum of R-20. Ridge, soffit, gable, or other attic ventilation is prohibited. Combustion appliances installed in attic must be direct vent or sealed combustion. Manufacturer recommended installation procedures and ignition barrier code requirements must be followed. M Bond break at breezeway and contiguous slab locations Concrete slabs in unconditioned areas that are in contact or may come into contact with slabs in conditioned areas due to settlement shall be separated with an insulating material covering the entire surface of potential slab contacts. 39

40 Windows Required: Maximum window U-factor 0.40, SHGC 0.45 Required: windows are NFRC certified with label (0.75% WFA exemption) Windows shall be rated by the National Fenestration Rating Council (NFRC) and labeled accordingly. Window U-factor < 0.40 or < 0.35 U factor of all windows shall be less than 0.40 or 0.35, line item depending. 5% of glazing is excluded from this requirement. Glass door U-factor < 0.40 Installed glass doors must have a U-factor of less than Skylight U-factor < 0.60 All installed skylights must have a U-factor of less than Window, skylight, and glass door SHGC < 0.40 or < 0.35 Weighted average SHGC or all windows shall be less than 0.40 or % of glazing is excluded from this requirement. A free software program, REScheck ( can perform this calculation. 1.5-foot overhangs over 80% of windows 80% of all windows shall have a minimum 1.5-foot overhang to protect against moisture and solar gain. To qualify, overhangs must be no more than 2 feet above the window. Installed gutters may contribute to the 1.5 ft. distance. 40

41 Solar shade screens At a minimum, all windows facing east and west shall have solar shade screening with a shading coefficient of 0.7 or greater. Figure: Exterior shade screens reduce heat gain through windows by up to 70% West facing glazing less than 2% of floor area The total window and door glazing area within 25 degrees of due West shall be less than 2% of the total floor area. East facing glazing less than 3% of floor area The total window and door glazing area within 25 degrees of due East shall be less than 3% of the total floor area. Certified passive solar design Builder certifies that passive solar heating contribution shall reduce heating loads by 25% or greater and not increase cooling loads by more than 10%. Certification 41

42 shall be based on Energy 10 or similar modeling program and included with EarthCraft House tm scoring worksheet. Figure: Seasonal location of the sun in the sky can determine window location, overhangs and landscaping considerations in passive solar homes. SBIC Energy 10 Roof ENERGY STAR roof over minimum 75% of total roof area Install ENERGY STAR qualified roof product that meets specifications for solar reflectance on 75% of total roof area. Heating and Cooling Equipment Required: Manual J calculation for sizing heating and cooling equipment based on actual house orientation. Using specified inputs provided by EarthCraft Virginia, manual J calculation shall be based on the actual orientation (for example, southwest) to ensure the heating and cooling equipment are properly sized. Required: Installed cooling equipment and/or heat pump oversized by no more than 15% of Manual J. The size of all heat pump equipment (for Multi-Family: all units) shall be within 15% of the cooling load as determined by the Air Conditioning Contractors Association (ACCA) and American Society of Heating, Refrigeration, and Air Conditioning Engineers 42

43 (ASHRAE) Manual J guidelines. Prior to installation, builder must submit documentation of Manual J sizing with EarthCraft House tm scoring worksheet. Required: Adaptive recovery for programmable thermostat(s) when programmable thermostat(s) is used with heat pump(s). If a heat pump is installed and a programmable thermostat is used, thermostat must be equipped with adaptive recovery. Adaptive recovery thermostats optimize the efficiency of the heat pump and prevent unnecessary dependence on the emergency heat source. Required: No electric resistance heat as primary heat source for any portion of conditioned space. Electric resistance heaters, such as an electric furnace or a baseboard heater, may not be used as the primary source. Required: Indoor and outdoor coils matched. Indoor and outdoor coils must be matched in accordance with ARI standards. ARI Certificate of ARI-Certified Performance (from or manufacturer s performance data must be provided to EarthCraft House Technical Advisor. Required: Cooling equipment has non-cfc and non-hcfc refrigerant All cooling equipment shall be charged with refrigerants not containing CFCs or HCFCs such as R-410A. M Required: 8.2 HSPF/11 EER Each unit will be served by a system with an 8.2 HSPF/11 EER rating or better. Required: Installed furnaces and/or heat pump oversized by no more than 25% of Manual J. All furnaces and heat pump equipment shall be within 25% of the heating load as determined by the Air Conditioning Contractors Association (ACCA) and American Society of Heating, Refrigeration, and Air Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) Manual J guidelines. Prior to installation, builder must submit documentation of Manual J sizing with EarthCraft House tm scoring worksheet. 90% AFUE furnaces or 8.5 HSPF heat pumps A minimum of 75% of the heating equipment shall meet these minimum efficiencies, 90% Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency for gas combustion furnaces or 8.5 Heating Seasonal Performance Factor for heat pumps (indoor coil and condensing unit must be ARI verifiable). Meets sensible and latent heat loads All cooling equipment must meet both sensible and latent heat loads as determined by the ACCA Manual J. 43

44 SEER 14 cooling equipment A minimum of 75% of all cooling system output shall have a Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio (SEER) of 14 or greater (indoor coil and condensing unit must be ARI verifiable). SEER 16 cooling equipment A minimum of 75% of all cooling system output shall have a Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio (SEER) of 16 or greater (indoor coil and condensing unit must be ARI verifiable). Dual-stage compressor cooling equipment A minimum of 75% of all cooling systems shall use dual stage air compressors. Dual stage compressors utilize two speeds to reduce energy usage. Variable speed blower A variable speed blower shall be operable (VAV enabled) in all of the heating and cooling systems. Geothermal heat pump All geothermal heat pumps shall have a cooling Energy Efficiency Ratio (EER) of 11.0 or greater and a heating Coefficient of Performance (COP) of 3.0 or greater as determined by the Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Institute (ARI). ENERGY STAR certified programmable thermostat All heating and cooling equipment shall have an automatic, programmable indoor thermostat installed according to manufacturer s specifications. Adaptive recovery is required for heat pump systems. Outdoor thermostat for heat pump All air source heat pumps shall have an outdoor thermostat installed according to manufacturer s specifications that restricts electric resistance heating when outdoor air temperatures are above 40 degrees Fahrenheit. Zone control with wired dampers one system serves multiple zones For multi-zoned HVAC systems, each zone must have separate temperature control and wired damper controls. 44

45 If zone control, zoned returns or transfer grills between zones Install wired damper controls on each zoned return or install transfer grills between zones to prevent pressure imbalances between separate conditioned areas. Verification of proper refrigerant charge Perform refrigerant charge test to ensure appropriate charge for HVAC equipment. M Sensible heat fraction less than or equal to 0.75 All air conditioners and heat pumps shall have a cooling Sensible Heat Fraction of 0.75 or less. Builder must submit documentation of Sensible Heat Fraction with EarthCraft House tm scoring worksheet. A specification sheet on the installed equipment can be used for documentation. SHF = (Sensible Cooling) / (Sensible + Latent) Duct Work / Air Handler Required: Air handlers & duct systems sealed with mastic or mastic tape All transverse seams in supply and return ducts, including supply and return plenums and leakage sites in the air handler, shall be sealed with duct mastic and fibrous reinforcing mesh according to SMACNA specifications. Seal all seams, joints, and connections in forced-air delivery systems using mastic paste or Butyl rubber foil tape (mastic tape), including: - supply and return ducts - supply and return plenums - duct-to-plenum connection - y-splits, butt joints, and boot connections - outdoor air intakes - air handler condensate and refrigerant line, wire penetrations, and unused holes in the air handler cabinet. Wrap mastic tape at least two times around duct seam touching at least 1.5 of duct inner liner and metal collar or sleeve. Assemble duct board using code-approved foil tape and coat seams with layer of mastic. Note: Duct tape is not a suitable sealant for ducts. Foil tape may be used for sealing leakage sites at the air handler s removable access panels and at filter access panels. 45

46 Required: Code approved solid connector for all flex-duct to flex-duct connections. Splice all flex-to-flex duct connections together using code approved solid connectors or sleeves. Flex duct liner must be connected to sleeve using a duct tie and mastic paste/mastic tape. Required: All supply and return ducts fully ducted with code approved materials (no panned joists or stud cavities) Install all supply and return ducts using code approved air duct materials. Supplies located in toe kicks must be fully ducted and sealed to the exterior face of the toe-kick. Required: Supply and return duct work insulated to R-8 outside of conditioned space Insulate all ducts in unconditioned attics and exterior locations using R-8 insulation or greater. Required: All supply duct take-offs spaced at least 6 apart All supply duct take-offs shall be spaced at least 6 apart from each other with no duct take-offs originating from the cap of the supply plenum. 46

47 M Required: Fresh air provided per dwelling unit Fresh air must be mechanically provided and conditioned per dwelling unit. Air Handler located within conditioned space Locate all air handlers within conditioned space. Atmospherically-vented furnaces (e.g. 80 AFUE furnaces) located in combustion closets are not considered to be within conditioned space. Furnaces using room air for combustion (including unfinished basements) are not eligible. A sealed combustion, 90% furnace or heat pump located within conditioned space is acceptable. Ducts located within conditioned space At least 90% of all supply and return ducts are located within conditioned space. 47

48 Installed duct design complies with Manual D on a room-by-room basis Duct work design and installation shall comply with the ACCA Manual D guidelines. Builder must submit documentation of Manual D design prior to predrywall inspection. Return plenum duct take-off free area is 120% of supply plenum duct take-off free area All ductwork installed should provide capacity for at least 120% more return air than supply air for every system. As an example, a 2 ton system with a 0.09 friction rate has the following flex duct supply take-offs: Two 10 ducts = 570 cfm One 8 duct = 160 cfm One 6 duct = 75 cfm Total supply side: 805 cfm To achieve a return capacity that is at least 120% of the supply capacity, the system would need the following flex duct return take-offs: Two 10 ducts = 570 cfm Two 8 ducts = 320 cfm One 6 duct = 75 cfm Total return side: 965 cfm No duct take-offs within 6 of supply plenum cap No duct take-offs from supply plenum cap. All duct take-offs shall be located at least 6 inches away from the supply plenum cap. Rigid ductwork or all flex duct pulled tight with no pinches All duct work shall be made of rigid duct materials (sheet metal or duct board) or all flex duct shall be pulled tight for optimal air flow with no pinches or kinks. 48

49 Figure: Correctly supported flex duct Figure: Incorrectly supported flex duct Figure: Correct; flex duct installed with enough material to create smooth turns with proper angles Figure: Incorrect; flex duct installed with extra material, creating bunched turns with pinched angles No ducts in exterior walls or vaulted ceilings along rooflines No supply or return ducts, boots, or registers shall be located in exterior walls. This includes vaulted ceilings and insulated walls between conditioned and unconditioned space such as the common wall between the garage and the rest of the house. 49

50 Rigid supply trunk All duct systems shall feature at least one long supply trunk with multiple takeoffs. An octopus system with all duct runs originating at the supply plenum is not acceptable. Airflow for each duct run measured and balanced to within 15 cfm of design value Airflow for each duct run shall be measured and balanced to comply with Manual D specifications to within 15 cfm of design air flow; balancing dampers are required. Builder must submit documentation of airflow measurement by independent third party testing agent. Multiple return ducts or transfer grills Each bedroom shall have a dedicated return duct or, for homes with no return ducts located in bedrooms, all supply air shall have a direct path back to a return grill even when doors are closed. This path shall be through transfer grills or jumper ducts. Houses with undercut doors to bedrooms do not qualify for these points. M No pen return systems, all units All air handlers shall be installed with a ducted return plenum sealed to the unit and any associated ducts with mastic or mastic tape. Duct Blaster Test Required: Duct blaster test result < 6% of floor area served leakage to outside Required: If the air handler and ductwork are in conditioned space then total leakage must be <15% of floor area served. Duct blaster test result < 5% / < 4% of floor area served leakage to outside 50

51 Unless builder is employing BOP, certify that ducts have a maximum leakage in cubic feet per minute (cfm) of no more than 5 cfm/100 sq. ft. of floor area served (Or 4 cfm/100 sq. ft. served, line item depending) using standard duct testing protocol set forth by ASTM for duct pressurization testing at 25 Pascals. As an example, a 1000 ft 2 house may have up to 50 cfm of duct leakage at 25 Pascals. Figure: Duct blaster diagnostics can determine duct leakage in an HVAC system Total duct leakage not to exceed 10% of system airflow capacity/nom. 400 CFM/ton The total duct leakage shall not exceed 10% of the capacity of the installed system. For example, a 2.5 ton system (1000 CFM) must have total duct leakage at or below 100 CFM. Water Heater Required: Efficient water heater (electric: at least 0.90 EF; gas: at least 0.60 EF). Required: heat trap on all water heaters. 51

52 Shower drain heat recovery device A drain heat recovery device shall be installed on one shower in the home. This device recovers a minimum of 25% of the wasted heat from the shower drain water such as a GFX. Note: heat recovery devices can only be installed on homes with more than one floor, or homes built over a basement. Single story homes built on a slab cannot accommodate heat recovery. High efficiency storage water heater Tank type water heaters shall be high efficiency, either meeting Energy Star standards or meeting Energy Factor ratings listed on the worksheet. Tankless gas water heater A tankless gas water heater shall be installed according to manufacturer s specifications. Water heater tank insulation 52

53 Water heater tank shall have an insulating jacket equal to or greater than R-5. Jacket must be installed according to manufacturer s recommendations. Pipe insulation on first two feet of pipe The first two feet of cold and hot water pipe closest to the water heater tank shall be insulated with a minimum of ½ inch foam, preferably through the heat traps installed in the hot and cold water pipes. Insulate 100% of hot water pipe to R-4 Insulate all hot water pipes in home using polyethylene, neoprene, fiberglass, or other approved insulation types. Insulation should fit tightly around hot water pipe. Install insulation seam face down and secure every 2 feet using wire, tape, or clamp. Heat recovery water heating A refrigerant-to-water de-superheating coil shall be used to recover waste heat from an air conditioner or heat pump to heat domestic water. Solar domestic water heating A solar domestic water heater shall be installed according to manufacturer s specifications to handle a minimum of 40% of the annual water-heating load. Heat pump water heater A heat pump water heater shall be installed according to manufacturer s specifications. All hot water fixtures have less than 20 ft of pipe connecting them to water heater Design hot water delivery system so that all hot water fixtures have no more than 20 horizontal feet per floor connecting them to water heater or manifold. Energy Efficient Lighting/Appliances Light tubes, cupola, or clerestory for day-lighting Light tubes, cupola, or clerestory responsible for 25% of planned lighting in the house. ENERGY STAR Advanced Lighting Package Design and construct home in accordance to ENERGY STAR Advanced Lighting Package. Home must use a minimum of 60% ENERGY STAR qualified hard-wired fixture or 80% Energy Star qualified bulbs and 100% ENERGY STAR qualified ceiling fans (when installed). 53

54 Preset lighting control system At a minimum, 5 contiguously lit spaces (rooms, hallways, conjoined kitchen/dining room/living room areas, outdoor scenes, etc.) shall have preset lighting controls designed around the amount of day lighting available and the expected usage of the rooms. A whole house off master switch option shall also be a part of this system. Automatic indoor lighting controls All kitchens, bathrooms, hallways, and utility rooms shall have an automatic occupancy (motion) sensor with timer as lighting control. Manually activated lighting with an automatically timed off-switch is also eligible for these points. Indoor fluorescent fixtures with integrated ballast Interior lighting shall include a minimum of 10 watts of fluorescent lighting fixtures per 100 square feet of conditioned floor area. These may include the kitchen overhead fixtures; under-cabinet fixtures do not qualify. The lighting fixtures must be hard wired and have the ballast integrated into the fixture to ensure that the fluorescent lighting will remain permanent. 100% fluorescent fixtures in garage All lighting in garage is fluorescent pin lighting, to ensure only fluorescents can be used by the home owner. All recessed light fixtures are ballasted compact fluorescents or LED All recessed light fixtures shall be ballasted compact fluorescents or LEDs. Screw-in compact fluorescent bulbs or screw-in LED bulbs At least 90% of all bulbs used for lighting shall be screw-in compact fluorescent bulbs. Houses using LED screw-in bulbs for at least half of all lighting are also eligible for these points. Bulbs in appliances (refrigerators, ovens, etc.) are excluded from the bulb percentage count. 5 or more ENERGY STAR bath fans, light fixtures, ceiling fans with light fixtures, appliances Install 5 or more ENERGY STAR qualified products. Any combination of products may be used, excluding dishwasher and refrigerator. If home qualifies for Advanced Lighting Package, ENERGY STAR qualified hard wired lighting fixtures may not be counted. Automatic outdoor lighting controls with integral photocell to prevent daytime use All exterior lighting shall have automatic photocell, and either a motion sensor or timer controls. High efficiency exterior lighting 54

55 All exterior lighting shall be high pressure sodium, fluorescent, LED, or equivalent high efficiency. A maximum of 100 watts of outdoor incandescent or halogen lighting shall be permitted. ENERGY STAR dishwasher Builder installed dishwasher shall be ENERGY STAR rated. ENERGY STAR refrigerator Builder installed refrigerator shall be ENERGY STAR rated. No garbage disposal Plumbing system shall not include a garbage disposal. Composting of food wastes is recommended in place of a garbage disposal. ENERGY STAR clothes washer Builder installed clothes washer shall be ENERGY STAR rated. M Fluorescent or compact fluorescent fixtures at foyer, hallways, main living and kitchen areas Lighting fixtures in above rooms in each dwelling unit shall be fluorescent or integrated-ballast compact fluorescent fixtures. M High efficiency parking area lighting Parking area lighting shall be high-pressure sodium, LED, or equivalent high efficiency. M High efficiency exterior building/common area lighting Exterior, hallway and corridor lighting shall be fluorescent, high-pressure sodium, LED, or equivalent high efficiency. Any illuminated exit signage shall be LED type unit. 55

56 Resource Efficient Design Total floor area of house ft 2, ft 2, or < 1800 ft 2 The total conditioned floor area of the house shall be between 2100 and 2500 sq. ft., 1800 and 2100 sq. ft., or less than 1800 sq. ft. Outside dimensions of floor plan adheres to 2-ft dimensions The perimeter of the house shall comply with 2-ft dimensions to minimize material waste. Floor joists 24-inch or 19.2-inch on center A minimum of 80% of all floor joists shall be spaced 24 inches or 19.2 inches on center. Non-load bearing wall studs 24-inch center Non-load bearing wall studs shall be spaced 24 inches on center. All wall studs 24-inch center All non-load and load bearing wall studs shall be spaced 24 inches on center. Window rough openings eliminate jack stud Framing shall not include jack studs to support header. Header hangers or other support required by code shall be used. 56

57 Non-structural headers in non-load bearing walls Non-load bearing walls shall not have structural window and door headers. Single top plate with stacked framing Roof rafters and ceiling joists shall align within 2 inches of exterior wall studs such that a single top plate can transfer loads to the wall framing. 2-stud corners with drywall clips or alternative framing Corner framing shall eliminate non-structural studs and allow for full corner insulation through the use of drywall clips, horizontal nailers, or other means to support drywall. T-walls or alternative framing The intersection of exterior and interior walls shall eliminate non-structural studs and allow for full exterior wall insulation through the use of advanced ladder T- wall framing or other advanced framing technique. 57

58 Figure: Advanced framing techniques allows for more complete insulation Job site framing plan with cut list A plan shall be submitted that designates all framing for two of the following: floors, roof, and walls. The plan shall be reviewed with framing crew to ensure minimization of unnecessary framing. Job site framing plan with locations of studs, joists, and roof structure with cut list A plan that designates all framing for the roof, walls, and floors shall be prepared and reviewed with framing crew to reduce unnecessary framing. Builder must submit documentation of framing plan with EarthCraft House tm scoring worksheet. 58

59 Resource Efficient Building Materials Recycled and Natural Content Materials Sustainably harvested lumber The house shall be constructed of at least 50% lumber that meets criteria for sustainable harvesting as set by the Forestry Stewardship Council (FSC). The lumber shall come from forests that are managed to maintain ecological health and biodiversity. Builder must present documentation that the lumber meets the criteria of a sustainable harvest. 25% of cement in concrete replaced with fly ash or slag A minimum of 25% of the cement in all concrete used for footings, foundation, and basement walls, and slabs shall be replaced with fly ash or slag. Recycled concrete used as aggregate Demolished concrete shall be used as an aggregate in poured concrete structures. Insulation All insulation materials shall have a minimum of 25% recycled material content. Recycled content must be certified by Scientific Certification Systems (SCS) or the manufacturer. SCS is on the web at Reclaimed wood flooring A minimum of 50% of wood flooring shall be re-used wood. Recycled content tiles A minimum of 50% of tile floors shall contain a minimum of 30% recycled material content. Cork or bamboo flooring Home shall contain at least 10% of the floor area as cork or bamboo flooring, rapidly renewable and durable materials. Carpet All floor carpeting shall have a minimum of 50% recycled material content for face fibers and backing. Biodegradable carpet and backing The carpet and carpet backing shall be constructed of organic materials such as wool or hemp that readily biodegrade when exposed to moisture and sunlight. 59

60 Outdoor decking and porches A minimum of 90% of outdoor floor decking shall have a minimum of 40% recycled material content. Recycled content must be certified by Scientific Certification System or the manufacturer. SCS is available online at Air conditioner condensing unit pad The outdoor pad for an air conditioner or heat pump condensing unit shall have a minimum of 50% recycled material content (such as plastic or rubber tires). Recycled content must be verified by the manufacturer. Composite roofing shingle with recycled content Install composite roofing shingles with minimum 25% recycled content on at least 90% of roof area. Cabinet faces are reused, MDF, local species, or FSC certified wood Facing on all cabinets are made either from wood reclaimed, Medium Density Fiberboard, wood from a local, native source, or wood certified by the Forest Stewardship Council as having been grown and harvested by their standards. The builder shall supply EarthCraft either with a copy of the certificate or a receipt of purchase from one of the FSC s chain-of-custody forest product vendors if these points are claimed on the basis that FSC certified wood was used. Natural linoleum in kitchens and bathrooms Flooring in kitchens and bathrooms shall be natural materials such as linseed oil, cork, limestone, tree rosin, and natural minerals. Advanced Products Engineered floor framing A minimum of 80% of floor joist framing shall be non-dimensional (engineered) structural wood, such as trusses or I-beams, or non-wood material. Use of open web trusses to run ductwork Design and install framed floors using open web trusses, pre-cut I-joists, or alternative engineered floor framing to run ductwork. Engineered roof framing A minimum of 80% of roof framing shall be non-dimensional (engineered) structural wood, such as trusses or I-beams. All beams are steel, engineered wood, or trusses 60

61 A minimum of 80% of the total beams shall be manufactured from no-solid sawn wood, such as laminated wood or steel. All structural headers are steel or engineered wood A minimum of 80% of the total headers shall be manufactured from non-solid sawn wood, such as laminated wood, or steel beams. Engineered wall framing A minimum of 80%, 50%, or 25% of the total wall framing shall be manufactured from non-solid sawn wood, such as laminated or finger-jointed studs. Exterior steel studs are not eligible for these credits unless the entire exterior surface of the studs is covered with a minimum of R-5 insulated sheathing. Interior trim finger jointed, MDF, or HDF A minimum of 80% of interior wood trim shall be non-solid sawn wood, such as finger-jointed, or non-wood material. Engineered exterior trim including soffit, and fascia A minimum of 80% of exterior trim, including soffit and fascia shall be non-solid sawn wood or non-wood material. Steel interior wall framing While exterior steel walls suffer thermal bridging, interior walls can be framed using steel studs. Steel studs shall be of 30% recycled content. A minimum of 80% of interior walls is required. Panelized wall construction delivered to the job site pre-framed Pre-fabricated wall panels shall be used in construction, delivered to the jobsite pre-framed. A minimum of 80% of all walls shall be panelized to qualify for these points. Modular construction for the entire house The house/project is constructed off site and delivered in modules. The builder provides a graded and prepped site and slab, and finishes the house combining the modules and attaching plumbing and electrical lines. Precast Autoclaved Aerated Concrete A minimum of 80% of above grade exterior area shall be precast autoclaved aerated concrete. Walls must be installed according to manufacturer s specifications. Structural Insulated Panels for exterior walls A minimum of 80% of all exterior walls shall be structural insulated panels to a minimum of R-15. Structural insulated panels must be installed according to manufacturer s specifications. 61

62 Structural Insulated Panels for roof A minimum of 80% of all roof area shall be structural insulated panels with a minimum of R-30. Structural insulated panels must be installed according to manufacturer s specifications. Insulated Concrete Forms for foundation walls/exterior walls A minimum of 80% of foundation or exterior walls shall be insulated concrete forms with a minimum of R-14. Walls shall be insulated according to manufacturer s specifications and meet state termite protection guidelines for ground contact insulation. Durability Required: flashing at wall/roof intersection integrated with wall and roof drainage planes Flashing is installed over the roof drainage plane and either behind the vertical drainage plane or sealed to it with an appropriate sealant. 62

63 Required: flashing at deck/wall or porch/wall intersection integrated with drainage planes Flashing is installed over the porch/deck band and either behind the vertical drainage planes or sealed to them with appropriate sealant. Saddle flashing is used around railings and other penetrations through the vertical drainage plane. Required: maintain 2 clearance between wall siding and roof surface. A minimum of a 2 inch clearance between wall siding and roof surface shall be maintained throughout the whole assembly unless otherwise directed by product manufacturer installation specifications. Required: for roofs that slope along an adjoining wall surface, kick-out flashing is installed. Kick-out flashing shall be installed at the bottom edge of any sloped-roof-towall intersection. Required: all roof valleys direct water away from walls, dormers, chimneys, etc. No roof valley shall be designed or installed in a way that directs water flow towards walls, dormers, chimneys, or vertical faces of any kind that would force moisture toward the building assembly. Required: double layer of builder paper or house-wrap behind cementitious stucco or stone veneer or synthetic stone veneer on framed walls A double layer of building paper or house-wrap shall be used behind cladding tending to absorb and retain moisture such as cement stucco or stone veneer. Required: framed walls covered with drainage plane All framed walls shall be covered with a drainage plane such as builder paper, house wrap, or other approved materials. M Required: Climate appropriate drainage plane Drainage plane installed in multi-family projects shall match the demands of the climate zone and anticipated moisture amount and condition (snow, mist, or wind-driven rain, for example) for the locality. 63

64 Enclosed unvented crawlspace Unless house is in a 100 year flood plain, all crawlspaces shall be enclosed and unvented. Roofing Shingle or other exterior roofing material shall have a minimum 30, 40, or 50 year manufacturer s warranty. Warranty documentation shall be provided to the home buyer. Roof drip edge The outer edge of all roof decking shall be protected with a metal or plastic drip edge. Exterior cladding with 40 year warranty or durable natural material A minimum of three sides of exterior wall cladding shall have a 40 year manufacturer s warranty or be a durable natural material such as masonry, stucco, stone, or brick. Warranty documentation shall be provided to the home buyer. Drainage plane installed with all seams and edges sealed per manufacturer s recommendation A drainage plane shall be installed and sealed as instructed by the manufacturer on the entire building assembly exposed to the exterior. 64

65 Back-primed siding and trim All six sides of painted or stained exterior siding and trim shall be primed prior to installation. A vented rain screen may be installed behind siding in place of backpriming. Siding with vented rain screen Exterior wall area shall have building paper, house-wrap, or similar material designed to protect the wall from water moving past the exterior cladding, and have a minimum 1/4 air space between the exterior cladding and wall sheathing. The system shall be integrated with flashing and be designed and installed to minimize moisture migration between the exterior cladding and the wall sheathing. 25-year warranty on all insulated glazing Insulated glazing units for exterior windows and doors shall have a minimum 25-year manufacturer s warranty against sealed glass failure. Warranty documentation shall be provided to the home buyer. Window and door pan & sill flashing integrated with drainage plane All windows and exterior doors shall have a water resistant flashing installed on the side and base of window and door rough openings to direct water leaks out of the framing. 65

66 Window and door head flashing integrated with drainage plane All windows and exterior doors shall have a metal, plastic, or approved peel and stick flashing installed in a manner that continues the shingled fashion of the drainage plane. Flashing must be a minimum of six inches above the top of the window or door. Continuous foundation termite flashing A continuous termite shield shall cover 100% of the foundation stem wall, piers, and other potential entry points. The termite shield can be fabricated from metal, rubberized membrane, or similar material that forms a physical barrier to termites. All seams and penetrations in the termite shield shall be sealed to prevent termite entry. Roof gutters that discharge water 5 feet away from foundation or other drainage system meeting same intent All rain from the roof shall be collected in a roof gutter system and directed via downspouts such that water is discharged away from the foundation. Gutters and downspouts that drain water to the base of the foundation are not eligible for these credits. 66

67 Covered entryways Home shall be equipped with covered entry ways that extend three feet out from every exterior door. Insulate cold water pipes inside conditioned space and in inaccessible interstitial locations for condensation prevention All cold water pipes inside conditioned and semi-conditioned space shall be insulated. Paperless drywall in kitchens, baths, and foundation walls Paperless drywall shall be used in kitchens and bathrooms, and on any foundation walls. In kitchens, behind sinks, black splashes, and range areas. In bathrooms behind toilets, sinks and tub and shower areas. Non-toxic pest treatment of all lumber in contact with foundation Pre-treat all lumber in contact with the foundation with a low-toxicity pest treatment such as borate. Lumber shall be treated to a minimum height of 2 feet above the foundation. Non-toxic mold inhibitor with warranty applied to lumber A non-toxic mold inhibitor shall be applied to all lumber used in the building frame. Copy of the warranty shall be supplied to the EarthCraft Technical Advisor. Plants installed to maintain minimum 2 foot distance from home at maturity All bushes, shrubs, trees, vines, and other vegetation shall be planted so that once they reach maturity or their intended full size they are not within 2 feet of the building exterior. Outdoor deck material 67

68 All outdoor decking and deck material shall have a minimum of a 25-year warranty. Warranty documentation shall be supplied to the EarthCraft Technical Advisor. M Freeze prevention for all water pipes Insulate all water pipes in building areas susceptible to freezing temperatures and conditions. Avoid locating plumbing in exterior walls. 68

69 Waste Management Required: No construction materials shall be burned or buried on job site or anywhere but in a state-approved landfill Central cut area Framing contractor shall use a central cutting area and store wood end cuts for re-use. Donation of excess materials or re-use Builder shall avoid disposal of excess construction materials by donating excess to a non-profit 501(c)3 organization or by re-using the construction materials for another job. The value of donated or re-used materials must be $500 or greater. Builder must provide receipt of donation with EarthCraft House tm final worksheet. In-fill building deconstruction with minimum 25% material re-use At least 25% of the material from a home or building that has been deconstructed (resulting in an in-fill lot) is used in the current construction project seeking EarthCraft certification. Posted and Enforced job site waste management plan recycle 75% of 3 materials A minimum of 75% of 3 of the following materials must be recycled. Points for a waste management plan are in addition to points for each recycled material if 3 are recycled. Job site shall have a construction waste management plan posted and each subcontractor shall be educated on the aspects of the plan that pertains to their work and these measures shall be enforced by the general contractor. Waste management plan must either provide for on-site separation of materials to be recycled or provide for separation of recyclable materials by clean-up or waste hauling firms. Divert 75% of wood Builder shall avoid disposal of a minimum of 75% of solid sawn wood by recycling at a state or county approved program or by on-site grinding and application of wood chips as mulch. Pressure treated wood shall be exempt from this requirement and may not be milled or applied as mulch. Divert 75% of cardboard Builder shall recycle a minimum of 75% of cardboard. Divert 75% of metal Builder shall recycle a minimum of 75% metal generated from construction waste and beverage cans by recycling at a state or county approved recycling program. 69

70 Divert 75% of drywall (recycle or grind and spread on site) Builder shall avoid disposal of a minimum of 75% of drywall through an approved recycling program, or by on-site grinding and application of drywall as soil amendment. Figure: Onsite grinding helps reduce the amount of construction waste that goes to the landfill. Consult your local jurisdiction for allowable materials and appropriate practices. Divert 75% of plastics Builder shall recycle a minimum of 75% of construction plastic and beverage containers. Divert 75% of shingles Builder shall recycle a minimum of 75% of shingle waste. 70

71 Indoor Air Quality Combustion Safety Required: No unvented combustion fireplaces or space heaters All fuel-burning fireplaces shall be sealed combustion, direct vent units, as rated by the American Gas Association (AGA), that draw in combustion air from outdoors and vent combustion by-products directly outdoors. This is to apply to all units. AGA is on the web at Required: No duct runs from house system serving garage Required: Attached garage seal bottom plate, penetrations, and band area The bottom plate and all penetrations (such as plumbing or electrical lines) in the connecting wall between an attached garage and house shall be sealed with caulk, spray foam, gasket, or construction adhesive to prevent air movement. Required: No air handler equipment in garage or conditioned air supplied to garage No HVAC mechanical component shall be installed in the garage. Required: Sealed combustion furnace or furnace isolated from conditioned space (all units) All furnaces shall be sealed combustion, installed in isolated contained closets, or outside the building envelope. Closets shall be sealed between the bottom plate and subfloor, contain sealed sheathing covering the interior walls and insulation, and ceilings separating the combustion closet from conditioned space, and have a solid (non-louvered) access door that has weather stripping and a threshold. Combustion air for closets and sealed combustion furnaces shall be provided from outside the house in compliance with the mechanical code. 71

72 Required: water heater in conditioned space is sealed combustion, power vent, direct vent, or electric If an atmospheric combustion water heater is located within conditioned space, the water heater shall have power venting, direct venting, or be installed in an isolated, contained closet no atmospherically vented water heaters in conditioned space. Closets shall be sealed between the bottom plate and subfloor, contain sealed sheathing covering the interior walls and insulation, and ceilings separating the combustion closet from conditioned space, and have a solid (non-louvered) access door that has weather stripping and a threshold. Combustion air for closets and sealed combustion water heaters shall be provided from outside the house in compliance with the mechanical code. Water heaters in unconditioned spaces such as garages meet this requirement. Detached garage or no garage The garage shall be completely isolated by a minimum of 6 inches from the exterior walls or floor of any conditioned area of the house. Any connecting breezeway shall be sealed at both ends to prevent fire-spread. An open-carport or no garage is eligible for these points. Attached garage exhaust fan controlled by motion sensor or timer An attached garage shall have an exhaust fan rated at a minimum of 100 cubic feet per minute of air flow and be controlled by a timer or motion detector if 72