Green Building Technologywww.usgbc.org

(US Green Building Council)www.buildinggreen.com

Green on TVwww.buildinggreentv.com

www.dbiynetwork.com

Green Building Gulf Coastwww.louisianahouse.org

(LSU Ag Center)www.southface.org

(Resource center)www.greenbuildingcompanies.com

(AL and MS)www.home-builders.org

(HBA Greenbuilders)www.helpholycross.org

(Zero carbon footprint community)www.lagreencorps(Green job training)

Local Help with Energy Solutionswww.all4energy.org

(Alliance for Affordable Energy)www.greenlightneworleans.org

(Low cost bulbs)www.ases.org

(American Solar Society)www.globalgreen.org

(Model home)

Global Warming and Conserving Energywww.sierraclub.org/energy

www.carbonfootprint.com/calculator.aspx

Energy Star Productswww.energystar.gov

Recycled and Sustainable Productswww.thegreenproject.org(New Orleans Salvage Store)

www.habitat.org(Habitat Restores)

www.recycleminnesota.org (Guide to products made from recycled materials)

www.freecycle.com(Way for people to donate and get stuff for free)

Building Green,Clean and Safe

A SIERRA CLUB GUIDE TOGREEN BUILDING PRINCIPLES

Due to the catastrophic losses of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, the Sierra Club Gulf Coast Environmental Taskforce was formed with the goals of protecting communities, encouraging green rebuilding and restoring our natural storm barriers. More structures were destroyed than in any other natural disaster in history. Hundreds of thousands of homes, small businesses and offices in New Orleans and along the Gulf Coast suffered unprecedented storm and flood damage. The Taskforce was confident that the Gulf region would recover and in the process would have the opportunity to build back greener, cleaner and safer.

This brochure was developed within months after the storm and is now being updated to provide residents with new tools to get information about green building. Our goal is to encourage homeowners to construct new buildings and renovate damaged ones using sustainable materials, to recycle existing materials, and most importantly to make energy and water efficiency a priority. Taking these steps will result in safer and healthier environments for all.

Using Green Building principals is within the average homeowner’s ability and budget. These choices can be a benefit to your family by saving on utility bills, providing healthier indoor air quality and ultimately decreasing your personal contribution to global warming.

Building Back GreenExplore, enjoy and protect the plant

The Sierra Club does not endorse any of the websites nor the products mentioned in this guide. We do hope that you will find them helpful. Please consult a professional before starting any major construction project.

FOR MORE INFORMATION: The Sierra Club’s New Orleans Office

(504) 861-4835www.sierraclub.org

2009 All rights reserved

Get More Information

RE

BU

ILD

ING

GR

EE

N, C

LE

AN

AN

D S

AF

E

P

lan

how

to h

andl

e yo

ur

co

nstr

ucti

on d

ebri

s.

Min

imiz

e th

e am

ount

of

mat

eria

l th

at g

oes

into

the

lan

dfill.

M

ost

woo

d an

d co

ncre

te d

ebri

s ca

n be

rec

ycle

d or

reu

sed

in

your

pro

ject

. If

asb

esto

s or

lead

pai

nt is

pre

sent

, fo

llow

EPA

m

anda

ted

safe

ty p

roce

dure

s. M

ake

sure

tha

t you

r co

ntra

ctor

di

spos

es o

f th

e m

ater

ial l

egal

ly.

Don

ate

light

fixt

ures

, pl

umbi

ng,

win

dow

s, w

ood

and

othe

r bu

ildin

g m

ater

ials

to

a lo

cal

salv

age

yard

or

adve

rtis

e on

Fr

eecy

cle

(ww

w.f

reec

ycle

.com

). T

ree

debr

is a

nd y

ard

was

te

can

be g

roun

d up

for

mul

ch.

Left

over

pai

nt c

an b

e do

nate

d to

com

mun

ity

orga

niza

tion

s th

at r

ecyc

le p

aint

. C

onsu

lt y

our

loca

l go

vern

men

t ab

out

how

to

di

spos

e of

an

y ot

her

haza

rdou

s m

ater

ials

saf

ely.

How

can

my

build

ing

proj

ect

mak

e m

y co

mm

unit

y m

ore

sust

aina

ble?

If y

ou b

uild

mor

e en

ergy

effi

cien

tly,

you

will

use

less

en

ergy

. If y

ou u

se rec

ycle

d an

d re

new

able

res

ourc

es

to r

ebui

ld,

you

are

savi

ng t

he e

nerg

y to

pro

duce

th

ese

good

s an

d re

duci

ng yo

ur pe

rson

al ca

rbon

fo

otpr

int.

If y

ou li

ve in

a h

ealthy

env

iron

men

t, y

our

fam

ily w

ill

be h

ealthi

er. If

you

bui

ld a

wal

king

pat

h at

the

fro

nt

of y

our

hous

e or

kee

p yo

ur e

xist

ing

side

wal

ks c

lear

, yo

u ar

e m

akin

g yo

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eigh

borh

ood

mor

e w

alka

ble.

Fr

ont

porc

hes

enco

urag

e co

mm

unity

inte

ract

ion.

If

you

dona

te

to

or

buy

from

yo

ur

loca

l re

cycl

ed

build

ing

mat

eria

ls s

tore

, yo

u he

lp p

ut les

s w

aste

in

land

fills

. Yo

u ca

n m

ake

your

ne

ighb

orho

od

sust

aina

ble,

one

bui

ldin

g pr

ojec

t at

a t

ime.

How

will

my

build

ing

gree

n ef

fect

my

wal

let?

Bui

ldin

g gr

een

will

sav

e yo

ur h

ouse

hold

mon

ey o

ver

the

shor

t an

d lo

ng t

erm

. Th

e m

ater

ials

and

bui

ldin

g m

etho

ds m

ay b

e m

ore

expe

nsiv

e th

an c

onve

ntio

nal

met

hods

but

the

y w

ill p

ay

off.

For

exam

ple,

pur

chas

ing

Ener

gy S

tar

appl

ianc

es c

an s

ave

from

10

%-9

0% o

n yo

ur u

tilit

y bi

lls o

ver

stan

dard

mod

els.

Ins

ulat

ed

win

dow

s an

d m

ore

effic

ient

he

atin

g an

d co

olin

g un

its

are

elig

ible

for

fed

eral

tax

cre

dits

and

will

low

er y

our

utili

ty c

osts

. Che

ck f

or s

tate

tax

cre

dits

too

. Fi

ber

cem

ent

sidi

ng l

asts

30

year

s m

ore

than

reg

ular

sid

ing

and

requ

ires

less

mai

nten

ance

.

Nat

ural

floo

ring

and

cou

nter

top

s ar

e du

rabl

e an

d lo

ng las

ting

as

wel

l as

cont

empo

rary

and

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gant

alter

native

s. A

hom

e bu

ilt

with

low

VO

C p

aint

s, n

onto

xic

build

ing

mat

eria

ls a

nd g

ood

air

barr

iers

has

bee

n sh

own

to r

educ

e al

lerg

ens

whi

ch low

ers

the

likel

ihoo

d of

res

pira

tory

pro

blem

s an

d sh

ould

res

ult

in f

ewer

do

ctor

vis

its.

Eac

h ho

use

is u

niqu

e bu

t th

ere

is s

tron

g ev

iden

ce

that

bui

ldin

g gr

een

will

sav

e yo

u m

oney

.

Wha

t els

e ca

n I

do?

Let

elec

ted

offic

ials

kno

w t

hat

you

are

build

ing

gree

n. E

ncou

rage

the

m to

prom

ote

and

rew

ard

gree

n bu

ildin

g pr

actice

s fo

r re

side

ntia

l an

d co

mm

erci

al b

uild

ings

. Pr

omot

e co

nser

vation

at

the

city

and

sta

te l

evel

, af

ter

all

it i

s ou

r ta

x m

oney

tha

t co

uld

be s

aved

on

utili

ty b

ills

and

used

to

impr

ove

our

com

mun

ity

in o

ther

way

s.

Is

your

hou

se h

urri

cane

rea

dy?

Here

are

so

me b

asi

c ti

ps.

Fo

r m

ore

det

aile

d c

on

stru

ctio

n in

form

atio

n,

con

tact

you

r lo

cal H

om

e B

uild

er’s

Ass

oci

atio

n.

En

try

Do

ors

: E

ach

outs

ide

door

sho

uld

have

at

leas

t th

ree

hing

es a

nd a

dea

d bo

lt s

ecur

ity

lock

with

a on

e-in

ch b

olt.

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rs s

houl

d op

en o

ut t

o pr

even

t th

em f

rom

bl

owin

g in

and

lett

ing

in s

torm

deb

ris.

Pati

o D

oo

rs:

Rep

lace

you

r sl

idin

g gl

ass

door

s w

ith

impa

ct-r

esis

tant

doo

r sy

stem

s m

ade

of la

min

ated

gla

ss

or p

last

ic g

lazi

ng.

Gara

ge

Do

ors

: Rep

lace

yo

ur

gara

ge

door

w

ith

a st

rong

er w

ind

and

debr

is r

esis

tant

pro

duct

.

Ro

ofs

: H

ave

your

roo

fing

cont

ract

or in

stal

l met

al s

trap

s to

anc

hor

the

wal

ls t

o th

e ro

of.

Win

dow

s: R

epla

ce y

ours

with

impa

ct r

esis

tant

, pl

astic

coat

ed in

sula

ted

win

dow

s.

Inte

rior

Cho

ices

Doorm

at

One

re

cycl

ed

door

mat

sa

ves

60 p

last

ic b

ottles

fr

om t

he la

ndfil

l.

Roof

Phot

ovol

taic

s, o

r so

lar

pane

ls c

an b

e us

ed t

o po

wer

yo

ur

hous

e,

heat

wat

er a

nd in

som

e ar

eas

you

can

sell

pow

er

back

to

yo

ur

loca

l utilit

y.

Attic

Eco-

frie

ndly

in

sula

tion

bl

own

in

and

a ra

dian

t ba

rrie

r in

stal

led

equa

ls lo

wer

coo

ling

cost

s.

HV

AC

Mak

e su

re the

one

yo

u bu

y is

Ene

rgy

Sta

r ra

ted.

Lig

hting

Com

pact

flou

resc

ent

bulb

s ar

e av

aila

ble

in e

very

siz

e an

d w

atta

ge.

Use

th

em

for

all

of y

our

indo

or a

nd

outd

oor

need

s.

Exte

rio

r

Cho

ose

lum

ber

cert

ified

to

be fro

m

sust

aina

ble

fore

sts.

Str

uctu

red

insu

late

d pa

nels

can

com

e to

the

si

te p

re-m

ade.

Cem

ent

fiber

boa

rd

mak

es

last

ing

low

m

aint

enan

ce

sidi

ng.

Insu

late

wal

ls t

o ke

ep o

ut

air

and

inse

cts.

Co

un

ter

top

s: C

oncr

ete,

rec

ycle

d pa

per

and

glas

s ar

e to

day’

s st

ylis

h gr

een

choi

ces.

Ap

plian

ces:

G

o En

ergy

Sta

r ra

ted

on e

very

thin

g in

clud

ing

your

TV.

Som

e st

ates

hav

e ta

x cr

edits

for

refr

iger

ator

s.

Plu

mb

ing

: L

ow fl

ow fau

cets

and

low

flus

h to

ilets

con

serv

e w

ater

. C

onsi

der

a ta

nkle

ss o

r a

sola

r ho

t w

ater

hea

ter.

Flo

ori

ng

: Sus

tain

able

cho

ices

incl

ude

salv

aged

lum

ber, b

ambo

o,

linol

eum

, sof

t ca

rpet

mad

e of

rec

ycle

d m

ater

ials

, rec

ycle

d co

nten

t gl

ass

and

cera

mic

tile

s. M

ost

are

avai

labl

e fr

om lo

cal r

etai

lers

.

Win

dow

s

Low

E a

rgon

fille

d w

indo

ws

are

a go

od

inve

stm

ent.

W

oode

n or

m

etal

shu

tter

s cl

ose

to p

rote

ct

from

win

d da

mag

e an

d cr

eate

sh

ade

from

the

mid

-day

sun

.

Principles of Green Building

The purpose of green building is to shelter people and to protect the earth. There are five ommon principles in green building:

Site Location: Designing a building based on location.Our homes are being rebuilt under a thinner tree canopy so the green or sustainable way to plan is to take the increased solar heat into consideration as we rebuild.We need to create shade yet strive to take advantage of winter daylight.

Energy Efficiency: Reducing energy use will save money, conserve resources and cut pollution while curbing global warming. We are able to achieve this goal by using energy efficient construction materials like double glazed windows and insulation. Just the simple installation of compact flourescent bulbs and Energy Star rated products can reduce a household’s energy usage overnight.

Conserving Water: Reducing water waste conserves the resource and cuts pollution. Recycling the rainwater into our gardens and using low flow faucets, showerheads, washing machines and toilets, lowers the amount of water going into waste treatment plants.

Indoor Air Quality: Building green works to reduce the allergens, pesticides and strong smells from chemicals in our homes. A well sealed house keeps dust and insects out. Using formaldehyde free particle board helps protect against the serious health effects of outgassing.

Recycled and Non-toxic Materials: Using affordable and sustainable construction materials such as bamboo, cement made from fly ash, recycled glass tile and natural linoleum will last for a long time, make your home healthier and reduce the amount of waste in our landfills.

What Can You Do?Deciding to build greenWhether you are rebuilding your home, building a new home or would like to retrofit your existing home, there are many sources available for information about green building that weren’t available just a few years ago. You can find out more about building green on many websites; look for local classes, seek out local architects that specialize in green building and find a wide selection of green products even at the big box websites. Locally, check your local newspaper for green home tours and demonstrations in your area.

Create a sustainable planLook at your house and landscape as a whole system working together. Making changes to one part of your house influences other needs, for example a tree removed from the property may give the house less shelter from the sun. In that case you might need to add insulation to your attic and use insulated curtains in your home to offset the shade loss. By changing your windows to insulated windows, you may be able to operate a smaller, less expensive heating and cooling unit. Take the time to plan and get expert advice so that your house is the most energy efficient it can be.

Create a budgetThe federal government is offering tax incentives and there are often state tax incentives available to help defray the cost. Solar panels, tankless hot water heaters, insulation and Energy Star rated heating and air conditioning systems may all qualify you for a tax credit. Check with a qualified accountant to determine what rebates and tax credits are available in your state. When you consider how much you are going to spend, look at the lifecycle of the products available, which includes their durability and in the case of Energy Star appliances, the future benefits of lowering your utility bills.

Solar Tax Credits

Louisiana has the best in the USA.

Check out your state:www.solarrocks.com.