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MAY | JUNE 2009

YOUR SOURCE FOR GREEN PRODUCTS + TECHNOLOGYhomeeco

Affordably Sustainable in Portland | Getting Past Greenwashing | Decking | Building Science: Vapor Barriers

www.ecohomemagazine.com

PRSTSTDUSPOSTAGE

PAIDPONTIAC,ILPERMIT#312

Best PracticesPartnerships with the DOEs Building America program andIBACOS guide studio26s high-performance mission.

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MAY | JUNE 2009 ecohomemagazine.com 3

contents

Case Studies

orefield, pa.: private residencePartnerships with Building America and IBACOSpush this NAHB-Gold home to the highest levels

of energy efficiency. | PAGE 18

portland, ore.: helensview heightsGoing green is only part of the means to sustainabilityin this vibrant affordable community. | PAGE 24

Feature

keeping them honest

A guide to getting past greenwashing andunderstanding product certifications. | PAGE 30

ReviewdeckingEco-friendly options for wood, composite, andplastic decking. | PAGE 38

Departmentseditors noteThorough product assessment and understandingcan help you move from gray to green. | PAGE 7

ecoupdateIndiana development earns ANSI certification |Southwall expands | K. Hovnanians Concept Home |

Santa Fe enacts green building regulations |PAGE 9

building scienceUnderstanding vapor barriers. | PAGE 13

new + notableShowerheads, paint, pavers, and more. | PAGE 44

greenwatchConceptual design borrows from nature. | PAGE 48

May | June 2009

ecohomemagazine.comGet more green at www.ecohomemagazine.com,including Web-exclusive case studies, greenbuilder profiles, and product category reviews.Youll also find:

Green-product videos from ECOHOME OnlineChief Editor Jean Dimeo.

Breaking news and trends.

Green articles from BUILDER, REMODELING, andother leading publications produced byHanley Wood, publisher of ECOHOME.

Sign up for our weekly e-newsletter.

EcoHome (ISSN 1941-7470), is published fve times per year (February, March, May, July, and November) by Hanley Wood LLC, One Tomas Circle NW, Suite 600, Washington, DC 20005. Volume 2, Number 3. Copyright 2009by Hanley Wood, LLC. Opinions expressed are those of the authors or persons quoted. Reproduction in whole or in part prohibited without written authorization. Subscriptions are free to qualifed recipients. Publisher reservesthe right to determine recipient qualifcation. Annual subscription rates for non-qualifed recipients in the United States and possessions: $29.95; Canada, $39.95 (US funds); all other countries $49.95 (US funds). Single copy price:$8.00. All rights reserved. Canada Publications Mail Agreement #- 40612608. Return undeliverable Canadian addresses to: Bleuchip International, PO Box 25542, London, ON N6C 6B2. Standard Postage Paid at Washington,DC and at additional mailing oces. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to EcoHome, PO Box 3597, Northbrook, IL 60065-3597.

COVER PHOTO: JOHN STERLING RUTH PHOTOGRAPHY

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editors note

Gray to Green

Rick SchwolskyEditor in Chief

[email protected]

W

ithin the gray

areas that exist

between vague,

vacuous

product claims

and provenperformance lies a no-mans-land for

green building professionals seeking

reliable specs. Even with the growing

numbers of labels and certifications

that substantiate to varying degrees

eco-friendly claims, not enough

manufacturers are seeking third-party

certifications; too many are still making

broad, sweeping, and, frankly, meaning-

less statements.Product selection will continue to be

one of the most critical challenges you

will face in meeting your green mis-

sionsand that puts your business and

reputation at risk.

As a former high-performance home

builder, I know what this feels like.

Youre caught between a commitment to

build high-performance homes that willstrengthen your business and your

responsibilities to build homes that

perform their most basic functions

without creating problemsor liabili-

tiesthat could weaken your business.

Youre stuck in another gray area,

between innovation and risk.

Nobody, builders often say, wants

to be the first to try out a new product,

and yet were driven to embrace changeand improve the way we build. This

dilemma puts pressure on every

decision you make, whether its

detailing a wall section, specifying

ventilation equipment, or selecting

finishes.

You have to find a reliable level of

confidence in your decisions and

balance the trade-offs associated withthem. But how can you gain the

confidence you need? One of the

clearest suggestions about sizing-up

green building products that Ive heard

in a while came from attorney Patrick

Perrone during a session at the NAHBs

recent National Green Building

Conference in Dallas: Only after

assessing products as building products

should you evaluate their greenattributes.

Instead of asking, How many green

points can I earn by using a product?

Perrone suggests asking the following

questions: Will it perform its most

important function? How long is its

warranty period? Is it readily avail-

able? How does it compare with the

products I know and use now? Does it

have a performance track record andmeet industry standards and code

requirements? Is its performance tied

to unfamiliar installation practices?

This is solid advice that empowers

you, through your own experience and

expertise, to filter out products that

would put you outside your comfort

zone in terms of unknowns and risks.

Only after evaluating potentialselections for their application as viable

building products can you focus on

their green attributes and performance

benefits and how theyll integrate with

the other elements of your green

projects. Then you should ask, What

makes these products green? How

can I avoid greenwashing? How do I

verify manufacturers performance

claims?As youll see in Aurora Sharrards

feature article Keeping Them Honest

(page 30), navigating your way toward

reliable answers to these questions is

still troublesome and often imperfect.

But solutions are emerging, mostly

because green building professionals

are demanding more substantiated data

from manufacturers and are pressuringthem to back up their claims with

third-party certifications. Follow

Sharrards advice and youll find your

way out of the gray and into the green.PHOTO:RAYNG

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Circle no. 11

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9MAY | JUNE 2009 ecohomemagazine.com

ecoupdate

Southwall Technologies revolutionized windowperformance in 1979 when it introducedHeat Mirror, the clear selective film that launched

the industrys search for higher efficiencies andhas contributed to improvements in windows

ever since. And while Southwall continues to sell

films to leading window and door manufacturers,

the company is now manufacturing its own

branded insulated glass. The new subsidiary,

Southwall Insulating Glass, will produce all types

of Heat Mirror units, says company spokesman

John Miller, including single-, double-, and

triple-film units providing R-6 all the way up toR-20 center of glass. The focus, however, will

be on single-film insulating units, given their two-

times performance over conventional double-

pane glazings. Rick Schwolsky

Standard commercial vehicles often are tooheavy duty for smaller pros, and SUVs,minivans, and cars dont provide the necessary

convenience and durability. Fords solution:

the Transit Connect light-duty commercial van,

coming to the U.S. this summer. The vehiclestores materials more efficiently than consumer

vehicles, but is more compact than a standard

commercial van, which makes it easier to

maneuver on city streets. Its also more fuel

efficient, offering 22 mpg city and 25 mpg

highway, according to Ford. The van offers

a 1,600-pound payload capacity; high-tech

options include an in-dash computer and fleet

management software. Transit Connect has abase price of $21,475. Victoria Markovitz

COMING SOON|FordsFuel-Efficient Van

Just Out|SouthwallTechnologies Expands

CREDIT:COURTESY

COOLMAN

COMMUNITIES

The Village in Burns Harbor offers certified homes, a

walkable town center, and proximity to public transit.

Indiana DevelopmentFirst to Achieve ANSICertification

T

he NAHB announced that

The Village in Burns Harbor,

a development in North-

west Indiana, is the first to

earn a land development

certification under the ANSI

700-2008 National Green Building Standard.When complete, the neo-traditional com-

munity will include a mix of 265 residential

units along with a town center containing

retail and commercial space. Sixty homes

have been built so far; two by Coolman

Communities achieved Silver in the NAHBs

Model Green Home Building Guidelines.

Following the approval of the National

Green Building Standard by ANSI, developerT. Clifford Fleming revised The Villages re-

quirements so that all remaining homes will

have to earn a minimum ANSI-Silver rating.

Land development certification is governed

by Chapter 4 of the National Standard, Site

Design and Development, which awards a

range of points for subsections targeting site

selection, mission and goals, site design, site

development, and innovative practices. The

program emphasizes avoiding impact on

environmentally sensitive areas, protecting

natural features, and minimizing and mitigat-

ing disturbances from construction, especially

as they relate to slope disturbance, stormwater

management, and landscaping. Points also are

available for increasing residential density andmixed-use, pedestrian walkways, minimized

street widths, and access to public transit.

The Villages 60-acre site sits on unused

farmland and abandoned commercial prop-

erties, and is within 5 miles of two train sta-

tions and a bus stop, meeting the Standards

requirement for mass transit access points.

The development is designed around pe-

destrian activity and parks with access to thetown center, says NAHB program verifier

Chris Schwarzkopf of Energy Diagnostics in

Valparaiso, Ind. The roads are narrower to

reduce impermeable materials, a retention

pond collects rain runoff and is already at-

tracting wildlife, and we protected large trees

and landscaped with native species.

For more, visit www.villageinburnsharbor.

com. Rick Schwolsky

Existing Treesto Remain

Prairie Planting

Windbreak Planting

Shade TreesBio-Swales

PermeablePaving

Meadow Planting

The Village in Burns

Harbor landscape and site

development plan.

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ecohomemagazine.com MAY | JUNE 200910

ecoupdate

K. Hovnanian UnveilsEnergy-EfficientConcept Home

From the outside, K. Hovnanians two-

story Building America Concept Home

doesnt look any different than its neigh-

bors in Woodbridge, Va.s Eagles Pointe devel-

opment. But insideand inside the wallsthe

house is swelling with construction details

and products that set a standard for efficiencywhile setting aside home buyers preconceived

notions about what going green means.

The house starts with the features of the

High Performance Home (HPH), the builders

standard in Mid-Atlantic markets. Implement-

ed over the past year without raising prices,

the HPH standard includes improvements

such as a 90% AFUE furnace, a 14-SEER heat

pump for the second zone, sealed ductwork,supplemental spray-foam insulation at critical

areas, optimized framing, and advanced drain-

age planes. The dwelling is 32% more efficient

than the DOE benchmark for new homes, and

Hovnanian estimates it saves $1,659 per year

in energy costs.

The Concept Home builds on those

system-wide improvements with technologies

including tankless water heating, a 96% AFUE

furnace, energy recovery ventilation, and

photovoltaics, for a dwelling that scored a 50

on the Department of Energys E-scale.

Its not only a demonstration of the energyefficiency and high performance that we build

into every home, but also features methods

that were testing and will be able to imple-

ment going forward, Tom Pellerito, Landover

Group president for K. Hovnanian, said during

the grand opening.

K. Hovnanians efforts are one result of its

nine-year partnership in the Department of

Energys Building America research initia-tive; the builder also has taken the DOEs

Builders Challenge, a voluntary outreach

program that aims to build the most energy-

efficient, high-performance homes on the

market with the eventual goal of net-zero

energy for all homes by 2030. Participation

as a member of Building Americas IBACOS

research team has allowed the builder to test

out new technologies to determine which are

appropriate and cost-efficient to mainstream

into its standard offerings.

In addition to serving as testing ground for

Hovnanian, the Concept Home provides an

interactive showcase for buyers. A mockup

of the framing structure demonstrates details

consumers typically do not see nor know they

need to care about, while a section of the base-ment is a living laboratory demonstrating the

tankless water heater, photovoltaics, energy

recovery, and other products. Feedback follow-

ing the tours helps the builder gauge buyer

interest in the technologies its testing.

There are going to be thousands of

people who are going to come through this

home and learn what its all about, said Nate

Kredich, vice president of residential marketdevelopment for the USGBC, who was on

hand to award the home LEED certification.

The project also was recognized for achiev-

ing Energy Star and a Gold level rating under

the ANSI National Green Building Standard.

Katy Tomasulo

Tankless water heating, efficient HVAC add tobuilders existing high-performance standard.

The California Building Industry Association has endorsed two voluntary green building programs: California Green Builder,

developed by the Building Industry Institute, and GreenPoint Rated, developed by Build It Green in the Bay Area. The USGBC

reports that, through April, 2,143 new homes have achieved LEED for Homes certification. The NAHB reports that more than 1,500

new homes and remodeling projects are currently being scored to the National Green Building Standard using the online scoring

tool at www.nahbgreen.com. The NAHB Research Center launched its Green Approved product rating system, which certifies

that a product can earn homes points under the National Green Building Standard. On May 12, the Colorado General Assembly

passed a bill to provide the same financial incentives for solar thermal installations in residential and commercial buildings as those

currently provided for solar photovoltaic systems in the state. The planned 17,000-acre Babcock Ranch development in Florida,targeted to get underway later this year, will be powered entirely by the sun via on-site solar facilities. The community will include

19,500 homes, a smart grid, greenways and open space, electric car chargers, green roofs, and sustainable water management

and conservation. Excerpted from online reports. To view full versions of these news items, plus additional daily green building

coverage, visit www.ecohomemagazine.com.

EcoBriefs

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ecoupdate

Santa Fe Enacts Green Home Building Regulations

Effective July 1, Santa Fe, N.M., will

mandate green building codes for all

new single-family homes. The new code

comprises six categories relating to green

building: project implementation plan and

lot development; resource efficiency; energy

efficiency; water efficiency; indoor environ-

mental quality; and operation, maintenance,

and sustainable practices.

Builders can achieve one of the eight

rating levels based on a point system that sets

a minimum point total for each category. In

addition, the code requires all new single-

family residential units to be tested and certi-

fied according to the enhancements to the na-

tional Home Energy Rating Standards (HERS)

as adopted by the Residential Energy ServicesNetwork (RESNET).

New homes must meet one of eight levels of

certification based on their heated gross floor

area and lot size as follows:

Silver (minimum requirement for homes

up to 3,000 square feet): HERS index of 70;

must earn at least 359 total points for sites

under acre or 363 total points for sites

acre or larger.

Silver Plus: bonus for a lower HERS rating

of 60.

Gold (minimum requirement for homes

up to 5,000 square feet): HERS index of 50;

must earn at least 448 total points for sites


acre or larger.

Gold Plus: bonus for lower HERS rating

of 40.

Platinum (minimum requirement forhomes up to 8,000 square feet): HERS index of

25; must earn at least 542 total points for sites


acre or larger.

Platinum Plus: bonus for a HERS rating

of 15.

Emerald (minimum requirement for

homes 8,001 square feet and greater): HERS

index of 0; must therefore perform in a man-

ner that produces no greenhouse gases to meet

its operational energy needs. It shall also earn

at least 623 total points for sites under acre

and 629 total points for sites acre or larger.

Emerald Plus: bonus for a HERS rating

of -10.

The city will rely on HERS raters, city inspec-

tors, specialty third-party verifiers, and the

projects builder and systems installers for field

verification of required materials, components,features, and performance. For more informa-

tion, visit www.santafenm.gov. Peter Merrill

New single-family homes must meet code requirements covering six categories.

Circle no. 55

CONGRATULATIONSto Hanley Woods Jesse H. NealAward Winners

Hanley Wood is committed

to publishing quality content

that serves the information

needs of the construction

industry professionals.

Our editors have once

again been honored by the

most prestigious editorial

awards program.Join us

in congratulating them.

BUILDER

REMODELING

CUSTOM HOMEARCHITECTECOHOME

PUBLIC WORKSAQUATICS INTERNATIONAL

POOL & SPA NEWS

DEVELOPERresidential architect

MULTIFAMILY EXECUTIVE

TOOLSOFTHE TRADEBIG BUILDERAFFORDABLE HOUSING FINANCE

DIGITAL HOME

REPLACEMENT CONTRACTOR

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VAPOR BARRIERS | building science

PHOTO:RAYNG

Mark LaLiberte

The residential building industry

has enough controversial construc-

tion techniques, incorrect product

applications, antiquated codes, and

old wives tales to confuse anybody

seeking the right way to build. And

vapor barriers rank high on that list. Few builders

truly understand how they work and why to use

them. Adding to the confusion is the fact that

determining whether or not you should be install-

ing a vapor barrier depends on the homes loca-

tion. Unfortunately, this misunderstanding can

lead to catastrophic envelope failures and moldissues.

AIR AND VAPOR BARRIERS DEFINED

First I want to clear up the common confusion

between vapor barriers and air barriers. This

misunderstanding arises because air typically holds

a great deal of moisture in the form of vapor. When

vapor-laden air moves from one location to an-

other, the vapor moves with it. A well-installed air

barrier controls both the flow of air and the flow of

moisture. If you were looking for another reason to

be paying close attention to the proper installation

of air barriers, this is it.

Controlling air movement should be your first

priority in the energy-efficiency game, and it also

provides excellent moisture control. Pay close

attention to every location that air will flow, using

blocking, gaskets, and foam. For more informa-

tion on the correct use of air barriers, visit theWeb sites of Building Science Corp. at

www.buildingscience.com, Building America at

www.buildingamerica.gov, or the Air Barrier

Association at www.airbarrier.org.

Properly defined, a vapor barrier alone does not

control air movement; it controls the movement

of moisture. In fact, a vapor barrier is not actually

a barrier; its a vapor diffusion retarder (VDR). A

VDR regulates moisture flow from inside out or

from outside in at the molecular level. This mois-

ture control function happens wherever the VDR

is used in the structure. Therefore, unlike an air

infiltration barrier, the VDR does not have to be

continuous, sealed, or free of holes; a perforation

in a VDR simply allows more vapor diffusion

in that area compared with other areas where

vapor diffusion is less restrictive.

VDRs are rated by the level of vapor diffusion

control they provide.

A materials ability to retard the diffusion of

water vapor is defined in terms of its permeability

in units known as perms. This is a measure of the

number of grains of water vapor passing through

a square foot of material per hour at a known

differential vapor pressure. Any material with a

perm rating of less than 0.10 is considered a Class 1vapor retarder.

THE PROBLEM WITH VAPOR BARRIERS

The original reason for using vapor barriers was

a good one: to prevent wall and ceiling assemblies

from getting wet. In practice, we now understand

that when VDRs are installed on the interior of an

assembly, they also prevent inward drying. This

can lead to significant moisture problems and

mold; problems occur when walls get wet during

construction or more often throughout the homes

life. These wetting cycles can be from air flow,

window leaks, pressure imbalances, and a host of

lifestyle issues. Below-grade spaces are particu-

larly vulnerable. The increasing complexity of wall

systems also fuels the issue.

Then theres the climate variable. Much of the

confusion about the correct use of VDRs is the

result of research reports and anecdotal informa-tion. Almost all of this research was conducted

in cold climates and focused on the flow of vapor

from inside to outside in winter months; it did not

consider vapor movement in other climates, nor

how moisture flow occurs from outside to inside

when using air conditioning in humid summer

months. When moisture flows from a more humid

exterior environment into the wall system in air-

conditioned climates, condensation could occur on

the cooled interior VDR. You can see that if low-

perm poly were used, condensation on this surface

is possible.

Cladding choices can further complicate thePHOTO:RAYNG

President of LaLiberteOnline Inc.and a principal of Building

Knowledge Inc., Mark LaLiberte

is a highly regarded green build-

ing consultant who helps builders

nationwide understand and apply

proper building science construction

principles to improve their homes.

www.buildingknowledge.com;

www.laliberteonline.com.

Interpreting the codes and the science behind one of home

buildings most misunderstood materials.

Understanding Vapor Barriers

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14 ecohomemagazine.com MAY | JUNE 2009

building science | VAPOR BARRIERS

exterior-to-interior vapor flow. When some

claddings, such as brick and traditional stucco, get

wet, they can retain significant amounts of water

and require longer drying times. In hot andhumid weather, moisture is drawn inward as the

sun heats these surfaces, increasing the vapor

pressure on the assembly. This could add unwant-

ed moisture as well. The best strategy for this one

is venting the masonry claddings and replacing

the poly VDR with a higher-perm product like

paint that will let the wall system cycle over

the seasons.

BEST PRACTICES

Its not just builders who are confused. Many build-

ing code officials misunderstand or misinterpret

the requirements. Just because it was done that

way 20 years ago, doesnt mean it will work the

same way in todays modern wall systems. Some

jurisdictions are becoming more flexible, and that

is a welcome change.

Current IBC/IRC specifications (see The Num-

bers, left) for VDRs factor the classification of thematerials perm rate with the locations climatic

conditions (see Figure 2, page 16). Future code

directions will most likely specify the use of more

permeable products in building assemblies: the

use of paint, rather than poly, for instance. Until all

codes reflect current building science knowledge,

and provide climate-specific material specifica-

tions, you need to be wary of selecting a VDR with

a perm rating thats too low or placing it in the

wrong location.

If in doubt, I recommend using Class I and

Class II VDRs only in the coldest Zones, 7 and 8.

In these zones, use a product like MemBrain from

CertainTeed. This innovative product looks and

installs like poly, but it behaves like a vapor diode,

allowing the perm rate to increase as the vapor

pressure increases. This means that if installed onthe interior side of the wall system, it will meet the

Class II requirements by reducing the amount of

vapor entering the wall in the winter months. But

should the wall system be subjected to a larger flow

of moisture from outside or from wet materials

inside the wall system, the product becomes more

vapor open. The perm rate rises, based on the

increased vapor pressure. This sounds like magic,

but in the world of materials science its actually

quite simple.

For other zones, I recommend applying a good

quality wall primer to all unprimed drywall, in

lieu of traditional VDRs. Prior to priming, drywall

has a perm rate of about 50. After a couple coats

of latex paint, that perm rate is reduced to 2 or 3.

In most climates, this degree of vapor control will

be quite adequate and meets the Class III require-

ments shown in The Numbers.

For more information, visit the IRC Web siteat www.iccsafe.org, where you can purchase and

read the latest code book. Otherwise, get a copy

of the Builders Guide Series for your climate from

Building Science Press (www.buildingscience

press.com).

A FINAL NOTE

Though I advocate a more liberal approach to

VDRs, this doesnt mean I am unconcerned about

moisture control. On the contrary, I believe it is

absolutely critical that we control and manage the

movement of moisture in structures. Used cor-

rectly and in the right climate, vapor ILLUSTRATION:HA

RRYWHITVER

Moisture movement is affected by

seasonal changes as well as climate

characteristics, which will define your

best strategies and options. Even in

cold climates, moisture will move from

hot exteriors to cooler interiors in the

summer, which places new emphasis

on proper selection and placement of

vapor retarders.

Wind

Coldexterior

Warm interior

SheathingSheathing

Drywall Drywall

Air conditionedinterior

Hot exterior

Solarradiation

Interiormoisture

Exteriormoisture

InsulationInsulation

FIGURE 1: MOISTURE MOVEMENT

THE NUMBERSThe current code has thefollowing definitions:

Class I Vapor Retarder: 0.1 permor less

Class II Vapor Retarder: 1.0 permor less and greater than 0.1 perm

Class III Vapor Retarder: 10 permor less and greater t han 1.0 perm

The current proposals are todefine them this way:

Vapor impermeable: 0.1 permor less

Vapor semi-impermeable: 1.0 perm or less and greater t han

0.1 perm

Vapor semi-permeable: 10 permsor less and greater than 1.0 perm

Vapor permeable: greater than10 perms

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building science | VAPOR BARRIERS

Match your moisture-management strategies and details to regional conditions in your climate zone.

(Go to www.buildingscience.com and click on Vapor Barrier Code Changes.)

FIGURE 2: CLIMATE ZONES & VAPOR RETARDERS

diffusion retarders can be an important

part of a comprehensive solution to effec-tive moisture management.

To manage moisture effectively, we need

to control both air movement and mois-

ture flow. The two are always intertwined.

Sometimes one product, such as spray foam,

addresses both issues. In other cases, we can

achieve success with a well installed and

properly sealed weather resistive barrier

like housewrap or an alternate system of

spray-on coatings, or even SIPs. Remember:

Always give careful consideration to the

location and quality of the air barriers and

water management details you use, and train

the people on your crews to properly install

them.

Joseph Lstiburek, Ph.D., principal of Build-

ing Science Corp., contributed to this article.

For more building science articles,

visit ecohomemagazine.com.

Circle no. 59

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HOW TO ENTER

Enter online at GreenProductAwards.com

See Web site or entry requirements,eligibility and judging details.

DEADLINES & FEESEntry orm and ee deadline:June 19, 2009

Entry materials due via email:July 3, 2009

The fee for each entry is $150

ELIGIBILITYThe Green Product Awards are open to allcategories o residential building products.

Products will be judged on their green/sustainable attributes (such as energyefciency, resource efciency, health andcomort, etc.), their innovation and theiroverall value to residential contractorsemploying green building practices.

Building products, materials and technolo-gies introduced between January 2008and April 2009. Nominations acceptedrom manuacturers or rom public relationsand advertising representatives.

QUESTIONSCall 202.736.3308 ore-mail [email protected]

2nd annual Green Product Awards.

ebuild

ebuild

PAST GREEN PRODUCT AWARD WINNERS INCLUDE

Kohler

Bosch

Soil Retention

Carlisle

ICI Paints

CALL FOR ENTRIES

GreenProductAwards.com

Enter

ebuild.

8/14/2019 Ecohome - 05 JUN 2009

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PROJECT DETAILS

Project: Private Residence, Orefield, Pa.

Size: 4,768 square feet; 7,365 with basement

Cost: Undisclosed

Completed: July 2008

Certifications: NAHB-Gold

HERS rating: 54

Architect: Alan Mascord Design Assoc.,

Portland, Ore., and studio26 homes

General Contractor/Interior Designer:

studio26 homes

Kitchen: Kitchens by WIPCO, Allentown, Pa.

CASE STUDY BY CHERYL WEBER

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When the Bakersfather James and sons Scott

and Brianlaunched studio26 homes five

years ago, green was still just a buzzword in

Eastern Pennsylvanias Lehigh Valley. But the

trio saw the deepening shift in consumer awareness and

decided to make super-energy-efficient houses their calling

card. For starters, their goal was to reduce energy use by at

least 40% compared to other homes built to code.The Bakers tapped the brain trust at Building America, a

research program sponsored by the U.S. Department of

Energy. And to make sure their best practices keep hitting the

benchmarks, every studio26 project is analyzed by Integrated

Building and Construction Solutions (IBACOS), a Building

America partner consortium that offers energy modeling.

They do takeoffs of our plans and specs and also work

through a general HVAC design, says Brian, studio26 homes

vice president of marketing and design.

The latest result of that collaboration is a house in Orefield

that earned a Gold rating under NAHBs Model Green Home

Building Guidelines. Its 542 points, earned primarily through

indoor air quality and an airtight building envelope that

Striking

GoldPENNSYLVANIA-BASED STUDIO26HOMES JOINS IBACOS AND

THE DOES BUILDING AMERICA

PROGRAM TO TACKLE COLD-CLIMATE

PERFORMANCE.

CASE STUDYBY CHERYL WEBER

PHOTO: JOHN STERLING RUTH PHOTOGRAPHY

CASE STUDY ERV AND AIR CLEANER

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CASE STUDY

PENNSYLVANIA RESIDENCE

minimizes thermal bridging, far

exceeded the Gold minimum of 395

points.

In this case, the design team beganwith a significant asset on its side: The

1.2-acre parcels gentle, south-facing

down slope provided the ideal condi-

tions for passive solar heating and

daylighting. To ensure sufficient sun

exposure throughout the day, not only

for passive solar gain but for a future PV

installation, the Bakers rotated the house

to within 20 degrees of due south. With

the long axis running east-west and the

rear facing south, all three levels are

open to solar gain and are filled with

natural light. The contemporary

Craftsman style also plays into passive

cooling with deep overhangs, porches,

and a long Trex deck across the back

that shades the walk-out basement.Given Pennsylvanias cold winters,

super-insulating the walls was a top

priority. The builders installed an Xi

concrete-and-Styrofoam foundation

system from Superior Walls made of

10-inch-thick, 10-foot-high sections

pre-insulated to R-12.5.

And to increase the energy perfor-

mance of the foundation walls, the crew

installed R-21 formaldehyde-free Johns

Manville fiberglass batts into the stud

cavities, which raised the basement

walls overall R-value to 33.5.

WINDOWS

The houses 120 aluminum-clad-wood triple-pane windows and patio doors are Energy

Starrated Pella Designer Series with between-the-glass blinds, providing a U-value of

0.23 and an SHGC of 0.26. 800.374.4758. www.pella.com. Circle 312.

ERV AND AIR CLEANER

Due to its ultra-tight construc-

tion, this home breathes

through its Trane FreshEffects

energy recovery ventilator,

which continuously exchanges

stale air with fresh air and

transfers heat and moisture

between incoming and

outgoing air via a dual-cham-

ber pipe. Before the incoming

air is distributed through the

home, a Trane CleanEffects air

cleaner removes up to 99.98%

of airborne allergens,

according to the company.

903.581.3660. www.trane.com.

Circle 311.

SEPARATED FROM SMOKE

A sunroom/smoking room with a ceramic

tile floor on the houses southwest side

soaks up solar rays. Its sealed off from the

rest of the house with gasketed exteriorwood doors, insulation, and polyethylene

sheeting, and is served by a separate

Mitsubishi MUZ-A12NA variable-speed

ductless mini-split system with R410A

refrigerant and a Panasonic WhisperCeiling

exhaust fan for adequate room ventilation.

Mitsubishi: 800.433.4822. www.mrslim.com.

Circle 313. Panasonic: 800.405.0652. www.

panasonic.com. Circle 314.

PROFILE:

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The builders tightened the 2x6

wood-framed envelope by adding

1-inch extruded polystyrene to the

exterior. All the wood-framed wallswere tightly insulated with blown-in,

R-23 Johns Manville Spider Custom

Insulation, installed at 1.8 pounds per

square foot to fill gaps. Using these

measures, studio26 was able to beat

Building America targets for air leakage.

A blower-door test showed 0.101 NACH

(natural air exchanges per house),

compared to the benchmark 0.131

NACH. A duct-blaster test resulted in

0.5% air leakage, an improvement over

Building Americas 1% target.

No humidifier or dehumidifier is

needed in the house, Baker says, thanks in

part to the use of CertainTeeds

MemBrain, a smart vapor retarder

stapled to the studs between the insulationand drywall. When theres a certain level

of humidity in the wall, the pores of the

vapor retarder will begin to open and

allow vapor to emit into the house, where

it can be flushed out and absorbed by the

ventilation system, he says.

Indoor air quality was clearly at the

center of the mechanical equipment

choices and techniques. The project

earned indoor environmental quality

points with the use of a Trane energy

recovery ventilator that exchanges heat

between stale air being exhausted and

PROFILE:

James C. BakerBrian M. BakerScott A. BakerSTUDIO 26 HOMES

One benefit of a green startup is thatthere are no old standards to purge.When James Baker, president, and sonsBrian, vice president of marketing anddesign, and Scott, vice president ofoperations, set up their design/build/develop company in 2004, they spentmonths assembling a core subcontractorteam. We said our houses will bedifferent than any youve built before,says Brian. We turned away some [subs]

who were talented but not open-mindedenough for what we were trying to do.

The builders test runa team effortwith IBACOSwas a Building AmericaDemonstration Home that Brian built forhis family. Pennsylvanias first LEED-Silverhome, it served not only as field trainingfor the subcontractor team, but is also amodel for prospective clients. Eighteenmonths of energy monitoring showed it tobe 49% more efficient than a standard

code-compliant house. With just the threepartners on staff and a subcontractor teamnumbering about 50, studio26 is currentlyworking on a 44-acre conservationcommunity with a dozen dwellings.

In addition to applying the latestbuilding-science practices, the companyincludes solar-ready wiring standard.Our goal is to be the leader in Eastern

Pennsylvania for green building anddesign, and eventually to get to

net-zero energy, Baker says. In 2007,the Pennsylvania Builders Associationrecognized their progress with aBuilding Innovation Award.C.W.

ROOFING AND SIDING

CertainTeed

Independence lifetimeasphalt shingles earned

green points for the

homes proximity to the

manufacturing plant.

James Hardie integrally

colored fiber-cement

siding offers durability

while saving the need

for on-site painting.

CertainTeed: 800.233.8990.

www.certainteed.com.Circle 315. James Hardie:

888.542.7343. www.

jameshardie.com.

Circle 316.

INSULATION

First- and second-floor

walls are blanketed informaldehyde-free Johns

Manville Spider blown-in

insulation, which provides

an R-value of 23 in the 2x6

walls. Closed-cell

spray-foam insulation by

Tiger Foam seals up

hard-to-reach corners,

headers, sill plates, and

band joists. Johns

Manville: 800.654.3103.www.specjm.com. Circle

318. Tiger Foam: 800.

664.0063. www.tigerfoam.

com. Circle 319.

MOISTURE

MANAGEMENT

Given its location in aclimate where moisture

levels are significant for

most of the year, the

house has a CertainTeed

MemBrain vapor barrier

between the insulation

and drywall. Its

engineered to let walls

breathe by allowing

water vapor to pass

through when humiditylevels reach 30% or

more. 800.233.8990.

www.certainteed.com.

Circle 317.

FARLEFTPHOTO

S:JOHNS

TERLINGR

UTHPHOTOGRAPHY;TO

PAND

RIGHTPHOTOS:BARRYHALKIN

CASE STUDY

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C S S U

PENNSYLVANIA RESIDENCE

cooler fresh air being introduced to the

system, a Trane CleanEffects whole-

house air cleaner, and a separate HVAC

system in the sun room on the housessouthwest corner, where one of the

owners enjoys the occasional cigar.

The interior materials marry

craftsmanship, cleanliness, and sustain-

ability. MAB Enviro-Pure paints emit no

VOCs, oak floors and birch cabinetry

were sourced in Pennsylvania, and the

appliances are Energy Star certified.

Finally, like each of studio26s

projects, the house is pre-wired forfuture addition of solar panels. Its one

more component of a smart, sophisti-

cated home designed to reduce energy

costs and provide a healthy, comfortable

atmosphere.

Cheryl Weber is a freelance writer in

Lancaster, Pa.

For more case studies,


PLUMBING

A PEX manifold system from Watts delivers heated water directly from tank to tap rather than

filling the entire piping system with water, and PEX tubing resists corrosion and retains heat

better than copper. The plumbing manifold, located in a central utility room, is a control

center for hot and cold water that feeds flexible supply lines (red for hot, blue for cold) directly

to individual fixtures. The cold-water manifold is fed from the main water supply line and the

hot-water manifold is fed from the water heater. Two propane-fueled 0751 Series Noritztankless water heaters work in tandem to supply hot water. Watts: 978.688.1811. www.watts.

com. Circle 320. Noritz: 866.766.7489. www.noritz.com. Circle 321. PHOTO:B

ARRYHALKIN

Circle no. 18

ebuild is the destination for

construction pros searching

for information about buildingproducts. ebuild is a source of

new product coverage, trends

and news. Pros visit ebuild to

learn how to do their jobs faster,

safer and easier. ebuild connects

pros to product manufacturers,

experts and peers.

search.

source.learn.connect.

ebuild.

a 360 degree view of

product informationebuild.com

8/14/2019 Ecohome - 05 JUN 2009

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Circle no. 60

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PROJECT DETAILS

Project: Helensview Heights, Portland, Ore.

Size: 3.96 acres; 52 units (40 detached, 12 condos) from925 to 1,600 square feet (detached only)

Price range: $186,000$244,000

Certifications: LEED-ND; LEED-H Silver (anticipated)

Developer: HOST Development, Portland

Architect: Peck Smiley Ettlin, Portland

Builder: R&R Energy Resources, Portland

Consultants: Green Building Services, Portland(LEED-ND AP); Earth Advantage (LEED-H AP); BrianClopton Excavating, Sherwood, Ore. (site development);AKS Engineering & Forestry, Sherwood (civil engineer)

CASE STUDYBY RICH BINSACCA

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PHOTO:DAVID

PAPAZIAN

Helensview Heights is all about sustainabil-

ity, but far more than just the stuff you can

feel, touch, or tack onto a house. Built on a

4-acre infill site in a low-income section

of Portland, Ore., the 52-home enclave is designed

to inspire and anchor an investment among its

existing residents and business owners that willtransition the neighborhood into a vitaland thus

sustainablecommunity.

The development meets the highest standards of

LEED-Neighborhood Design (achieving a Gold

rating in the pilot phase of the program), and the

homes are expected to achieve Silver under LEED

for Homes. But these designations are secondary

attractions to the residents, who will enjoy lower

monthly utility rates; reduced maintenance, repair,and replacement costs; improved indoor air; and

probably higher resale value. Perhaps even more so

is the long-term value of building on a greyfield

parcel within the citys urban growth boundary to

create a perpetually owner-occupied housing option

to buyers otherwise priced out to the suburbs.

That scenario, sans the LEED accolades, is

nothing new for the locally culled project team

headed by HOST Development. The Portland-

based not-for-profit entity counts (and keeps tabson) 375 affordable homes in the metro area,

leveraging low-interest financing and other funding

from several sources to satisfy its mission.

Throughout its 20-year history, HOST has

championed energy efficiency as a tenet of low-

income housing. Theres a better chance that

low-income owners will stay in their homes if it

doesnt cost as much to operate, says executive

director John Miller, who leveraged a local utilitys

energy-saving program more than a decade ago tohelp reduce operating costs for HOSTs homeowners.

For Helensview Heights, the project team

followed the USGBCs LEED for Homes rating

system thanks to grants from the Enterprise

Community Foundations Green Communities

program and The Home Depot Foundation.

A series of design charrettes paid for by the

Enterprise grant revealed how close HOSTs

standard specs were to achieving LEED certifica-tion, and how a few tweaksincluding the use of

heat recovery ventilators and heating fireplaces

would further reduce monthly operating costs and

aid the companys marketing effort. The grant also

helped pay for a few of those upgrades, which the

project team has since integrated into the pro forma

to ensure the efficiencies continue through

build-out without adding costs.

The cost to add heat recovery ventilators, for

instance, was tied up mostly in their installation; oncethe builder found the ideal spot for the units and

streamlined the process, the premium went away.

In fact, a coordinated effort among members of

ReachingNew Heights

AT HELENSVIEW HEIGHTS IN PORTLAND, ORE., GOING GREEN IS

ONLY PART OF THE MEANS TO MAINTAIN AFFORDABILITY ANDSUSTAIN A VIBRANT NEIGHBORHOOD.

CASE STUDY

HELENSVIEW HEIGHTS

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HELENSVIEW HEIGHTS

the design/build team prior to ground-

breaking and during the build affordedcost efficiencies that enabled the project

to remain within budget and its target

price point. Everyone was looking at it,

asking what we could do to keep costs

down, says Brianna Conrow, construc-

tion project manager at HOST.

She also credits the builder, Bill Lenz

at R&R Energy Resources in Portland,

for his use of in-house crews (instead ofsubcontractors), a long track record of

building high-performance housing, and

the ability to negotiate volume discounts

with its suppliers. Hes able to control

costs and the schedule, says Conrow,

which effectively translates to maintain-

ing HOSTs affordability mission.

The Home Depot money, meanwhile, is

underwriting the $1,500 cost to gain

LEED certification once each home iscompleted. Without that [grant], wed

have to look at whether certification was

worth the cost, says Miller, who admits

that home prices trump anything else

among Helensviews potential buyers,though they do (and would still, without

the certificate) appreciate the longer-term

benefits of HOSTs efforts, specifically

lower utility bills and healthier indoor air.

In fact, to maintain a price point that

would enable buyers within 70% to

100% of the areas median family income

to purchase homes in Helensview, per

the developers mission, the project teamdiligently whittled down a wish list of

green building options to settle on those

that benefited buyers and the commu-

nity the most, remained within budget,

and, lastly, qualified under LEED for

Homes standards.

The result are homes priced $186,000

to $244,00025% to 42% less than

comparably sized detached units within

the urban growth boundary. And theseare far from shacks; HOSTs commit-

ment to high-performance housing

ensures the homes are durable and will

MAJOR APPLIANCESEnergy Starqualified refrigerators, dishwashers, and laundry

equipment from Kenmore reduce energy and water use to keep

monthly utility bills affordable. The top-mount, 18.2-cubic foot

refrigerator is EnergyGuide rated to cost just $41 per year to

operate, while the built-in, 24-inch dishwasher offers a precision,

five-level wash system and heated or no-heat drying cycles to

reduce resource use. 888.536.6673. www.kenmore.com. Circle 323.

PAINT

Evermore low-VOC (38 g/l) interior and exterior latex paint from

Glidden has been reformulated for better scrubability, low odor,

and improved coverage and durability of even dramatic and darkcolors. The mildew-resistant exterior flat coatings are 100% acrylic

latex to protect against UV rays, color fading, and extreme

weather conditions. Interior semi-gloss also is formulated for

improved mildew resistance to reduce maintenance chores.

800.454.3336. www.glidden.com. Circle 322.

LAMINATE FLOORING

Prevail wood-look laminate flooring from

Shaw features the VersaLock application

system that requires no adhesives, thus

reducing indoor air pollutants; the productalso is prefinished to eliminate off-gassing

from stains and/or sealant coatings. The

8-inch-wide planks provide a warm, solid

flooring alternative at an affordable price,

while its laminate construction and prefin-

ished surface lessen maintenance. 800.441.

7429. www.shawfloors.com. Circle 325.

FIREPLACES

The builder utilizes natural gas fireplaces

from Martin, a Custom Fireside brand, as

each homes primary heating source. The

zero-clearance, 36-inch units are capableof heating up to 1,200 square feet,

burning at 24,000 BTUs and an 80%

efficiency. The units feature glowing

ceramic fiber logs and embers; optional

accessories include firebrick and a

135-CFM blower. 916.331.2423. www.

customfireside.com. Circle 324.

CARPETING

Carpeting from Mohawk employs the

companys everSTRAND fiber, which uses

recycled plastic (PET) bottles to completely

offset virgin fiber resources with post-

consumer waste material. The use of PET

resins delivers a superior grade of synthetic

fiber for the carpet to provide inherent stain

resistance and color clarity, the firm says,while the cap and label of each bottle are

recycled as reusable core material around

which the carpet is wrapped. 800.266.4295.

www.mohawkflooring.com. Circle 326.

PROFILE:

John Miller

SIDING

HardiePlank fiber-cement lap siding from

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PHOTOS:DAVID

PAPAZIAN

remain efficient, but providing eight

different floor plans, a thoughtful mix ofcontemporary and more traditional

housing to integrate with existing

buildings on different street frontages,

and a high level of finishes inside and

outincluding fiber-cement lap siding

and solid-wood cabinet frontsgoes far

beyond the call of most affordable

housing. The credit, says Conrow, goes to

the upfront and ongoing effort tovalue-engineer the project.

Its a comprehensive formula that has

enabled HOST to sell 13 of the first

phase of 20 detached units at

Helensview Heights since opening in

early 2008 (and four within a six-week

span earlier this year) and, more

important, establish the foundation of a

sustainable, stable neighborhood.

While the homes (and specificallytheir prices) account for the bulk of

that sales success, the stability of

Helensview Heights also is rooted in its

neighborhood. Not much had to be

done to achieve a LEED-ND rating forthe urban infill site, thanks to existing

and nearby public transportation

options (which allowed the project team

to eliminate garages in favor of street

parking), schools, and other public

services. Park space within the plat and

the high density and small footprints of

the housing also scored points.

If you have the right location, whichwe did, theres not much effort to gain

certification, says Terry Miller, senior

consultant for Green Building Resources

in Portland, which served as the

LEED-AP for the neighborhood

development effort. We made no

significant changes to comply, and the

synergy with building to LEED for

Homes standards also helped.

In addition to income thresholds,HOST targets families (particularly

minority and single-parent households)

and works to convert renters within the

John MillerEXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

HOST DEVELOPMENTA Portland native, John Miller haswitnessed the migration of the Rose Citys

workforce residents from the urban coreto the suburbs and beyond, the flipside ofa growth boundary established in the late1970s to stem sprawl and encouragehigh-density housing that instead resultedin higher land costs and housing prices.

Ironically, his not-for-profit developmentcompany, Home Ownership a Street at aTime (HOST), is using the growthboundary legislation to finance and buildhousing that keeps low-income workers

close to their jobs while maintaining urbanvitality. We work in neighborhoods thatare in transition, he says, and under a

mission that encourages existing residentsto remain (and thrive) as homeownersrather than be displaced by gentrification.

In addition to developing infillparcels near existing public transit,building communities with interestingstreetscapes, and targeting existingfamilies, HOST is able to secure

low-interest, long-term financing fromcommunity reinvestment tax credits.

He and his team also seek out in-kindand pro bono services and corporatefoundation support to supplement loans;though HOST avoids direct governmentfinancing, it does help buyers navigate thepublic funding matrix for mortgage loans.

The result of HOSTs 20-year historyis a portfolio of nearly 400 homespurchased by folks with incomes as low

as 70% of the markets median. Wereseen as a welcome addition to an activeneighborhoods existing revitalizationefforts, says Miller. We enjoy strongsupport because of our mission.R.B.

WINDOWS

Energy Starqualified, Marquee-brand 800 Series vinyl high-

performance windows from Philips Products anchor a thermally

efficient and energy-saving envelope. Heat-fusion-welded frame

and sash corners, interlocking meeting rails, -inch insulatingglass, and narrow profiles combine to optimize daylight while

reducing thermal transfer with a U-value of 0.32 and solar heat

gain with an SHGC of 0.33. A strong and durable chambered

frame delivers a low-maintenance option while a continuous

pre-punched mounting fin ensures proper fastening and sealing

between the window and the wall. 574.296.0000. www.marquee

windows.com. Circle 328.

James Hardie provides a low-mainte-

nance cladding while withstanding a rainy

climate. In addition to natural base

materials with low toxicity, a proprietary,

factory-applied sealer and primer

enhance the sidings performance

qualities and provide a surface withsuperior paint adhesion. 888.542.7343.

www.jameshardie.com. Circle 327.

HEAT RECOVERY VENTILATOR

The Constructo 1.5 HRV from Venmar

helps improve indoor air quality and

reduce excess humidity by delivering a

steady flow of fresh outdoor air into thehome. The product line is certified by the

Home Ventilating Institute to achieve a

heat recovery rate of up to 81%. The line

is designed specifically for midsize,

affordable new homes, with a small

housing and easy installation. 819.477.

6226. www.venmar.ca. Circle 329.

CASE STUDY

HELENSVIEW HEIGHTS

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HELENSVIEW HEIGHTS

PHOTO:D

AVID

PAPAZIAN

existing neighborhood into buyers so

that they arent victims of gentrification.

The developer also makes sure that its

homes are always owner-occupied, aperpetual deed requirement that also

maintains stability and housing values.

Its an effort that HOST homeowners

help watchdog and that the community

around Helensview embraced by

allowing the project to sail through the

approvals process.

Our mission is based on the belief

that strong, healthy communities are

created and stabilized when homeown-ers have a stake in their neighborhoods,

says Miller, quoting HOST gospel. We

look for opportunities in which the

community is interested in improving

and sustaining itself.

Rich Binsacca is a freelance writer in

Boise, Idaho.

For more case studies,


ROOFING

Cambridge 30 premium architectural

shingles from IKO Industries contain at

least 40% pre-consumer waste-rock

recycled content, as independently verified

by Scientific Certification Systems. The

heavyweight laminated shingles are

composed of a dimensionally stable

non-woven glass fiber mat impregnated

with stabilized waterproofing bitumen to

weather high winds, improve durability,and reduce maintenance and repair.

800.433.2811. www.iko.com. Circle 330.

INSULATION

The formaldehyde-free line of fiberglass

insulation from Johns Manville provides

thermal resistance to keep energy costs low

while reducing the potential for indoor air

pollutants. The material also is SCS certified

for recycled content (25%) and provides

acoustical performance to enhance indoor

comfort and value. The product line is

offered as faced and unfaced batts,

blown-in loose-fill, poly-encapsulated, andrigid panels to suit any application.

800.654.3103. www.specjm.com. Circle 331.

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ecohomemagazine.com 31

If youre confused about green building products and the

claims their manufacturers are making, youre not

alone. I feel that way myself sometimes, and its my job

at the Green Building Alliance to navigate the complex

world of green product claimsand help others do the

same.

While we still have a lot of work to do to establish reliable

standards for the multiple attributes that define green products,

the good news is that there are a lot of dedicated people workingon this problem, and there are a good number of resources

already available to help you find your own comfort level with

third-party verification of green claims. This article will guide you

through the complexities of green product selection, help you

understand how products are labeled and certified, and lead you to the

most useful navigational resources.

Ultimately, whether youre getting product information from your local

supplier, direct from a manufacturer, from Web surfing, or via networking

with colleagues, the most critical thing is that you trust your source and

understand the criteria behind their recommendations.Its also important to note that green building is not just about following checklists

and picking products; at its heart, sustainable building is the integration of important

elements of design, site, energy, water, health, resource management, and other

KEEPING

THEM

HONESTSEARCHING FOR THE TRUTH BEHIND

MANUFACTURERS GREEN PRODUCT CLAIMS.

BY AURORA SHARRARD

GREEN PRODUCT CERTIFICATIONS

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Product Labels or CertificationsReferenced by NAHB and LEEDRight now third-party certifications are the most reliable wayto verify green claims when doing your product research. Hereare some of the most widely used labeling and certificationprograms referenced by LEED and the NAHB Model Green HomeBuilding Guidelines.

EFFICIENCY STANDARDSEnergy Star, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

www.energystar.gov/products. Besides being referenced for itscertification of homes in general, both NAHB and LEED reference

Energy Star for a variety of other products, including appliances,roofs, and equipment.

Solar Rating and Certification Corp. www.solar-rating.org

WaterSense, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

www.epa.gov/watersense

MATERIAL CONTENTRecycled Content, Scientific Certification Systems

www.scscertified.com

USDA Certified Biobased Product, U.S. Department ofAgriculture www.biopreferred.gov/Catalog.aspx

INDOOR AIR QUALITYGreenguard, Greenguard Environmental Institute

www.greenguard.org

Green Seal, Green Seal Organization www.greenseal.org

Indoor Advantage Gold, Scientific Certification Systems

http://www.scscertified.com/gbc/indooradvgold.php

FloorScore, Scientific Certification Systems www.scscertified.com/gbc/floorscore.php

MULTIPLE-ATTRIBUTE CERTIFICATIONSGENERAL

Cradle to Cradle (C2C), McDonough Braungart Design

Chemistry www.c2ccertified.com

SMaRT Consensus Sustainable Product Standards, Institute for

Market Transformation to Sustainabil ity http://mts.sustainableproducts.com/SMaRT_product_standard.html

CARPET

California Gold, California Department of General Services

www.green.ca.gov/EPP/standards.htm

Green Label or Green Label Plus, Carpet and Rug Institute

http://www.carpet-rug.org/commercial-customers/green-building-and-the-environment/green-label-plus/index.cfm

RESPONSIBLY MANAGED WOOD AND WOOD PRODUCTS

Forest Stewardship Council (FSC), Forest Stewardship Council

www.fsc.org

Sustainable Forestry Initiative (SFI), Sustainable ForestryInitiative www.sfiprogram.com (NAHB references FSC, SFI, and

three other specific wood certifications.)A.S.

environmental and human considerations.

However, the time does come when you have to

select and specify materials, products, andcomponents for a green home. At that point, your

focus is certainly on productsand whether they

will truly contribute to the green performance

goals for your project.

THE GREENWASH FACTOR

When companies intentionally or unintentionally

make false, misleading, or exaggerated claims

about the environmental benefits of their products,

its called greenwashing.

At the most basic level, we all perpetuate

greenwash if we try to lump all of a homes

sustainable features together by calling it a green

home without substantiating our claims through

some form of documentation and certification

such as through a national or local green building

program. Product salespeople, distributors,

manufacturers, and marketers can fall into the

same greenwashing trap if they exaggerate theirproducts' performance claims or dont mention

environmental negatives that might diminish the

products green attributes.

Consequently, there are a lot of individual

performance, material, or environmental benefit

claims made about building products that require

scrutiny. The general rule about these seemingly

simple descriptions is to be skeptical and curious

enough to look behind the claim for some form ofverification. Ask yourself the following:

Is this claim obviously false? For example,

This product is LEED and NAHB certified.

(Neither USGBCs LEED program or the NAHB

certifies products.)

Is the claim unrelated or irrelevant? For

example, This product stands out from the

competition.

Is the claim too generic to make sense? For

example, This product uses the latest eco-friendlytechnology.

Does the claim only address one feature of the

product when there are other important ones that

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Additional

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are ignored? For example, This product is

maintenance free.

Can I verify the claim online or with informa-tion on the product itself?

Then start your research. If you cant find the

appropriate information to satisfy your questions

in a quick Internet search or phone call, it might

be time to start seriously doubting the claims

being made.

LABELS AND CERTIFICATIONS

Greenwashed marketing claims have increased to

the point where the Federal Trade Commission

(FTC) is updating its published Guides for the Use

of Environmental Marketing Claims that address

environmental claims included in labeling,

advertising, promotional materials, and all other

forms of marketing, whether asserted directly or by

implication, through words, symbols, emblems,

logos, depictions, [and] product brand names.

TheFTC Guides currently require every express

and material-implied claim that the generalassertion conveys to reasonable consumers about

an objective quality, feature, or attribute of a

product or service must be substantiated. Heres

where labels and certifications come in.

In performing your extended research about

certain products, youll find there are different

types of information resources that can aid your

search. Directories are plentiful; these yellow

pages of existing green building products can

serve as a starting point to figure out what your

options are in a certain product category.

If you want some form of substantiation of

product content or performance, then youll be

looking for labels and certifications. Labels are simple

systems, often based on a single performance

attribute like energy or recycled content, in which a

blanket label is applied to all products. Certifications,

on the other hand, are complex assessments that rely

on multiple, science-based criteria for determiningwhether or not a product qualifies.

Though differentiating between labels and

certifications can be tricky, I generally classify

systems that only consider a single performance

attribute as labels, while certifications assess

multiple product attributes. For example, EnergyStar, which is the oldest third-party label in the

U.S., uses energy as the primary attribute for rating

washing machines, but the label is not associated

with water use reduction, which would contribute

to it being a multiple-attribute rating. Sometimes

looking at a single product attribute is helpful, but

if youre looking for a designation that assesses

products more holistically, look for a certifica-

tionor multiple labels.

Depending on the product category, certifica-

tions vary widely in which performance criteria

they include. Some certifications focus very deeply

on chemical components or indoor air quality

(e.g., Greenguard), while others include everything

from raw material extraction to end-of-life issues

(e.g., Cradle to Cradle); a few even include

information about the corporate sustainability

commitments of the product manufacturers

themselves (e.g., SMaRT).Given the many considerations certifications

include, you still need to ensure that a product will

perform its most important function and meet the

priorities youve set for your specific project and

application. Then, you can review the added benefits

of the other attributes to further inform your

decision-making process. Youll find its much easier

to find multiple-attribute certifications for certain

types (e.g., carpet, floor coverings, cabinets, furni-

ture, and wood) than for others. Over time, more

and more product categories will join this group.

LEVELS OF INDEPENDENCE

In addition to considering what a label or certifica-

tion includes, youll also want to know who is

backing up these green product claims. There are

three levels of independence when it comes to

evaluating labels and certifications.

First-party certifications are claims made by thedesigner, manufacturer, or other party directly

associated with the creation and sale of the product

in question. These are also called self certifications.

Resources

In addition to labels and certifications,here are a few third-party resourcesthat provide general guidelines for

green product selection.

BEES:A life cycle assessmentbasedside-by-side product comparisontool created by the National Instituteof Standards and Technology.www.bfrl.nist.gov/oae/software/bees.

BUILDINGGREEN AND THE

GREENSPEC DIRECTORY:Anindependent media source that

thoroughly investigates productclaims. (Subscription required fordetailed information.) www.buildinggreen.com.

GREEN2GREEN:Though still in theinformation-gathering phase,Green2Greens goal is to provideside-by-side comparisons of greenbuilding products based on basiccharacteristics, installation require-

ments and experiences, environ-mental attributes, and performance.www.green2green.org.GREEN BUILDING ALLIANCE:Anaffiliate of the USGBC, GBA worksdirectly with green building productmanufacturers to help themimprove their understanding of thegreen building marketplace. GBAsdownloadable matrix comparescertifications in terms of cost tomanufacturers; number of productscertified; first-, second-, andthird-party designations; etc.

Version 2 will be out this summer.www.gbapgh.org.

RATE IT GREEN:Online communitysharing information about greenbuilding products; includes a

directory of products and services,as well as a rating system driven byusers. Its Green Building 101Resource Guide is an encyclopediaof green building and greenproduct resources. (Free to join.Online Resource Guide access is$19.95.) www.rateitgreen.com.

ECOHOME MAGAZINE:Print andWeb resource featuring a wide

range of green building productcategories and certified productsused in case study projects.www.ecohomemagazine.com.

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Circle no. 61


Future Resources

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All green claims are made directly by the party who

creates or sells the product.

Second-party certifications are assertions orlabels applied by an outside organization or

individual that has financial or other interests in the

manufacturer pursuing product certification, such

as trade associations, investors, or direct consultants.

Third-party certifications are the highest level

of assurance for verifying independent product

claims; they are made by an independent, unbiased

third party. Third parties have no connection to

manufacturers except the fee paid for the certifica-

tion process. Green Seal and Greenguard, among

many others, fall into this category.

Sometimes knowing where a product certifica-

tion comes from and everything it considers is still

not enough to make a concrete decision. Thats

when you should take a look at its compliance with

other larger standard creation bodies like the

American National Standards Institute (ANSI) and

the International Organization for Standardization

(ISO)two bodies that certify the certificationorganizations themselves. Certifications created

according to ANSI or ISO standards must meet

high levels of quality, consistency, public comment

and review, and accessibility in both the creation

and maintenance of their certifications.

If youre looking for multiple-attribute third-party

certifications, a good place to start if youre trying to

figure out what product certifications are out there is

the NAHBs Model Green Home Building

Guidelines (which served as the basis for the

National Green Building Standard) and the

USGBCs LEED rating system. While neither of

these green building rating systems certifies

products, both reference a host of product labels and

certifications (see sidebar, page 32). If you use, trust,

and/or are a big proponent of either (or both)

systems, it might be helpful to at least start exploring

the certifications that these and other green building

rating systems reference, as they mostly point tothird-party labels or certifications that are trusted by

many green building industry stakeholders within

the green building industry.

If youre especially diligent about how and why

you specify green products, you know that

choosing a multiple-attribute third-party certifica-tion is not enough, especially since theyre not all

equal. So it is worth repeating that you need to

trust the source of your information, which means

you need to trust the organization that awards the

product certification.

If you dont understand whats behind the

certifications logo and everything a manufacturer

has to do to get it, how can you justify your product

choices? I encourage you to take the time to go

beyond the certification, visit the certifying bodys

Web site and download the relevant standard.

FINAL ANSWER

So, which ones the best? Unfortunately, there is no

overarching answer to that question. Trying to

select or specify a green product is the same as

selecting a non-green product. Its just that in

addition to all the important criteria you are used

to evaluating, now you have many environmentaland social considerations to include in your

decision-making process. Luckily, you can use

multiple-attribute third-party labels and certifica-

tions to help you navigate the world of green

building product claims. For product categories

where no certification programs exist yet, youll

need to rely on your greenwash radar and filter out

unrealistic or improper claims.

The green product market may not be as easy to

navigate as wed like, but its a lot better than it used to

be and getting better. The system of independently

verified green product claims has not yet sorted itself

out, and it will take some time to mature. One thing

you can do now is to let manufacturers and suppliers

that are making unfounded claims know that you

wont trust or accept them without independent

substantiation. Your reputation and theirs will depend

on making verifiable and realistic product claims.

Aurora Sharrard, Ph.D., LEED AP, is research

manager for the nonprofit Green Building Alliance

(GBA) in Pittsburgh. www.gbapgh.org.

More product selection help is onthe way. Heres what you can expectin the near future.

ENVIRONMENTAL PRODUCT

DECLARATION: A popular methodof disclosing detailed environmen-tal information about products inEurope. The Green Standard hascreated the first system for the

U.S., which it has dubbed theGaia Product Profile.www.thegreenstandard.org.

LIFE CYCLE ASSESSMENT: LCA is

a holistic assessment of theeconomic and environmentalimpacts of a product or processover its entire life cycle (raw-materials extraction, transportation,manufacturing, installation, use, andend of life). LCA is more of acategory of information than an

exact resource. However, the NAHBand Green Globes alreadyreference information obtained

through an LCA; LEED is addingthis component this year. Look formore products to start referencingor providing LCAs to back up theenvironmental information abouttheir products. www.lcacenter.org/LCA/begin.html.

PHAROS: The Pharos lens attemptsto translate complex productinformation into a visual guide

consumers can use to assesswhether or not building productsare truly sustainable, based on 16criteria. www.pharoslens.net;www.pharosproject.net/wiki.

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Circle no. 16

product review | DECKING

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New Jersey deck builder Gustavio del la

Cruz says his Millston Townshipremodeling company is in the direction

of being green, but that its hard to nail down

which decking products are eco-friendly. Every

manufacturer says their product is green, says

de la Cruz, who owns Barrett Contracting. And

he admits, Wed like to use green practices on all

of our projects, but only 20% are.

The reason: Few of his consumers ask for

eco-friendly decksand those who do cant

figure out if wood, wood-plastic composites, or

all-plastic deck boards are greenest. With no

green standards in the deck-building industry,

many remodelers likely dont know, either.

Indeed, decking manufacturers themselves are

still figuring it out. Manufacturers of products

ranging from uncertified but chemical-free exotic

hardwoods to all-virgin, recyclable PVC deck

boards claim their products are as eco-friendly as

plantation-grown, pressure-treated wood or

recycled-content, hard-to-dispose-of composites.

Here is a review of the green claims and

qualities of the most common decking materials.

SOLID WOOD

The oldest and most popular decking material

is also the one that is renewable: wood.

Western cedar and redwood are homeowner

favorites because of their rich color and naturalresistance to rot and insects. Decks made from

FSC- or SFI-certified wood are universally

accepted as green because suppliers can prove

through chain-of-custody that their wood comes

from sustainably managed forests.

Still, theres plenty of redwood and cedar on

the market that comes from poorly managed

forests whose owners indulge in unsustainable

harvesting. Plus, some builders say wood from

young redwood trees does not have the natural

resistance of old growth. Theres an illusion on

the part of the consumer that if they get a

redwood deck, its not going to rot, notes David

Johnston, author ofGreen From the Ground Up

and president of Whats Working, a Boulder,

Colo., consulting firm. Thats not true.

ARCH TREATMENT TECHNOLOGIES. The companys Wolmanized L3 outdoor wood preservative is nonmetallic and carbon-based. The biocides used in the

preservative are known to degrade in soil, so they do not accumulate, the manufacturer says. Applied to wood, the product resists termites and fungal decay,

and comes with a limited lifetime warranty. In addition, Wolmanized L3-treated wood retains its natural color with no green tint. And because the preservative

includes no copper, the wood is easier on saw blades, the company reports. A built-in water repellent helps the wood stay straighter longer than unprotected

wood, the manufacturer says. Wolmanized L3-treated wood is appropriate only for out-of-ground use. 678.627.2000. www.wolmanizedwoodl3.com. Circle 342.

STACK

THEDECK

When selecting green deck

materials, consider content,

resources, and life cycle.

By Sharon OMalley

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Circle no. 52

product review | DECKING

CORRECT BUILDING PRODUCTS. Made with

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Likewise, he says, new cedar trees, while

less afflicted by fungus and insects than the

white sapwood of young redwoods, can be

less stable and more apt to warp and twist

than older trees, so deck boards need

replacing more often.

A growing number of homeowners and

pros have turned to exotic hardwoods,

especially Brazilian-grown ipe. Among the

tallest in the Amazon region, these huge trees

can grow trunks measuring up to 6 feet indiameter. The consumer appeal of this

unusually strong, dense wood and similar

exotic species is a stunning reddish-brown hue

that weathers to a silvery patina, coupled with

a natural resistance to rot, decay, insects, mold,

and even fire without the use of chemicals.

But for builders committed to using

certified lumber, ipe and other South and

Central American hardwoods are hard to

come by, and the price is often inflated by

demand and the high cost of earning

certification in South America. The energy

expended in transport is another detractor.

So the most commonly usedand

least-expensivewood deck boards are

made from fast-growing Southern pine,

grown domestically on plantations where

sustainability isnt an issue.

What becomes an issue is its need fortreatment with a preservative to ward off rot

and termites. Preservative manufacturers

voluntarily bumped chromated copper

arsenate (CCA) from use in the early 2000s;

since then, alternative treatments, like ACQ

(alkaline copper quat), have become

commonplace. The replacements werent

perfect, however, as early formulations of

ACQ leached more copper into the soil than

CCA and corroded steel fasteners. Newer

formulations, including micronized ACQ, are

said to be less likely to leach and corrode.

More recently, a number of manufacturers

have introduced non-metallic preservatives

for deck boards.

Amid the growing number of new wood

treatment products is heat-treated lumber,

which forgoes chemical protection for a

heat-and-steam treatment that changes thewoods makeup so that it is no longer edible to

insects. The lingering question with these

relatively new materials is whether the energy

80% recycled content, CorrectDeckCX is PVC-free

and made from 60% hardwood fiber and 40%

UV-stabilized polypropylene. The manufacturer

claims the deck boards are resistant to rotting,

staining, and fading, largely because of the recentaddition of a top layer of virgin polypropylene

about 1% of the

Documents

Ecohome - 05 JUN 2009