JPS Design and Project Management - In The News

Successful Builder, 2005

Why Build a "Green" Home?

By, Jennifer P. Striepling, WRID, ASID of Organize By Design, LLC

After attending this year NeoCon worlds Trade fair in Chicago I noticed there was a lot of talk in the about Green Building and the main push behind it according to scientists, is Global Warming. Basically the scientist are telling us to reduce the amount of energy we use therefore reducing the amount of toxins we release into the air.

When building a home, there are many ways to make your new home a Green home. The recommendations for what you can do are generated by the United States Green Building Council. Leed is the name of their rating system. A few of their basic recommendations for building a new home are: Appropriate Site Selection; avoid environmentally sensitive sites and farmland. Indoor Air quality must meet the Energy Star rating. Windows, HVAC equipment and lighting fixtures must also meet the Energy Star rating .Lastly, the Material and resources used are efficient and or locally produced.

There are a variety of materials you can use for a new home as well as in an existing home. That will assist you to meet the LEED guidelines are:

A few of the aesthetic components that are available are the, Wilsonart laminate wood flooring that has been certified by Greenguard (they certify low emitting interior products) and helps contribute to improved indoor air quality. Benjamin Moore has a line of paint called Eco Spec. This product has a low odor compared to conventional paint therefore also contributing to improved indoor air quality. A majority of the fabric mills produce a line of fabrics with a variety of colors and styles that are approved by LEED. Kenmore and Maytag are just two of the appliance manufacturers that offer energy efficient appliances that meet the Energy Star rating. Contempo Floor Coverings sells a variety of low-toxicity natural carpets made from woven wool and natural sisals, jutes, and sea grass. Innovative Global Solutions provides cables that are free of poisonous metals that are typically used in cables for your television or cable box. These Eco-Green cables will decompose cleanly, without polluting the land and water with a heavy metal residue. There are an endless amount of products available to help the inside of your home be a Green home without looking like a cardboard box.

A few of the equipment options that will help your home function and be a Green home. Are a domestic hot water recirculation system which provides a recirculation system on domestic hot water piping this maintains a minimum temperature in the piping, thus making tempered water immediately available to the user and preventing growth of bacteria such as Legionella (A genus of bacteria, It has the ability to colonize water in distribution systems). Water in the piping is not allowed to cool in periods where there is no demand, therefore reducing the risk of bacteria from developing in the system. Carrier has developed a Generation Infinity system that provides longer heating and cooling cycles at lower fan speeds for energy savings and more consistent temperatures. A component of this system is an Ultraviolet Germicidal Lamp reduces the amount of pollutants, such as mold, bacteria, fungi and viruses, leaving your home with cleaner, with fresh indoor air. Another product is Plygood-Ultra this is a rigid foam board sheathing that provides increased thermal and moisture performance when used in a non-structural wall application. This product provides four times the R-value of standard sheathing products, increasing the energy efficiency of the home. Wheat board is made of recycled wheat chaff, with an alternative isocyanate binder that uses no formaldehyde, creating an emission-free board helping to raise the industry standards for the highest grade of particle board. Here are some of the advantages for using the wheat-based product: Formaldehyde and emission free, moisture resistant, superior screw and nail retention, Ideal surface for paints and laminates, excellent strength and stiffness, 10% lighter than other particle board brands. Again these are just a few materials to help you home function as a Green home.

The payback for using Green materials is a 30-70% average in energy savings. Enhanced air quality therefore, reducing the amount of colds or sicknesses within a household. Learn more about Green Building and the products that are recommended at www.usgbc.com.

Written By,
Jennifer P. Striepling of Organize By Design
262-613-5167