Design For Durability

The Green Roundtable
and

Design for Durability
Paul Marquis – 4-24-08
paul@greenroundtable.org

(copyright © Green Roundtable 2007)

Green Roundtable

Consulting, education, training
and strategic planning

to create healthy environments by
integrating principles of
sustainability into mainstream
planning, design and construction.


Objectives
Answer the following questions:

- Why are durable structures greener?

- How does durable design integrate with other design
strategies

- What are the key design principles in creating
durable structures

- What are some specific strategies we can employ?

- What are the economics of creating durable
structures?


Why build green?
Building green:
• Reduces the ecological footprint of the building
• Creates a safer and healthier indoor environment
• Saves on utility expenses
• May improve property resale value
• May increase affordability
• Typically results in a more durable,
maintenance-free structure
• Provides security/ passive survivability
• Reduces our dependence on foreign oil

The three prime movers (in order):

• Economics- Reducing energy cost/ protecting the
bottom line

• Health- Maintaining a safe and healthy environment
for one’s family & oneself

• Personal impact- Addressing the greater good-
minimizing environmental footprint

5

Defining green building:

The effective and responsible integration
of the built environment into the natural
world to protect natural resources and
ensure healthy and comfortable indoor
environments

6

What makes it green?

• Low embodied energy (entire lifecycle)

• Minimizes impact on wildlife habitat, green space,
waterways, etc

• Minimizes depletion of natural resources

• Poses minimal harm to humans during its
manufacture, transport, installation, end-use or
disposal


Underlying all:

Scale
Scale
Scale


Consider this:

The average size of a U.S. single-family
house has increased by 33% since 1975. At
the same time average family size has
decreased.


What is embodied energy?

The quantity of energy required to manufacture, and
supply to the point of use including:

• Extraction • Assembly
• Transportation • Installation
• Manufacturing • Some definitions also include:
Disassembly & Removal


The LEED Credit Categories

Sustainable Sites

Water Efficiency

Energy & Atmosphere

Materials & Resources

Indoor Environmental Quality

Innovation & Design Process


Cornerstones of green building (structure itself)

Site Site

Site Site

12

How green is it?

• The “no-build” option is always the greenest way

• Smaller is greener

• More efficient material resources use is better

• The more durable (in use) & maintenance free the
better


General strategies:

• Minimize impact on building sites/ area

• Incorporate energy efficient design details

• Create a high-performance building envelope

• Use energy-efficient lighting, equipment & appliances

• Employ water conservation strategies

• Employ natural daylighting techniques

• Create comfortable & healthy indoor environments
14

Keys to success

• Careful design

• Using a systems approach- viewing the
structure and all elements as integrated system

• Early planning

• Using a team approach between owners,
design professionals and code officials, and
bringing everybody together early in the
process


Economic realities

Up front costs or first-costs of green building
are often greater than conventional building

That doesn’t need to be the case!


Justifying increased up-front costs

Making the case for reduced Life-Cycle Cost or Total
Cost of Ownership (TCO):

• Green buildings usually use less energy to operate
than their conventional counterparts

• Green buildings are typically more durable &
maintenance-free due to the application of sound
principles of building science

• There are typically additional benefits that help to
warrant the increased cost


Managing costs- Labor vs. materials

Take advantage of marginal cost of installing higher
quality materials- e.g. adding more durable
materials/ systems


Consequences of ignoring durability

• Early failure of systems

• More intensive maintenance routines

• Reduced indoor environmental quality

• Increased cost of ownership

• Reduced resale value

• Aesthetic issues


Why is durable design greener?

• Fewer replacement cycles

• Simplified maintenance routines

• Healthier indoor environments


Design for Durability- Key principles

• Respect site & local climate

• Direct water away from the structure

• Create a weather-resistant shell

• Manage interior moisture

• Choose durable materials

• Simplify maintenance


Design for Durability- strategies

• Avoid siting structures at bottom of hills, in low-lying or
flood-prone areas, or generally, areas w/ poor drainage
characteristics

• Design for local wind & seismic conditions

• Avoid complicated designs w/ many intersecting planes

• Reduce envelope penetrations, esp. in roof

• Use good flashing details

• Use adequate roof overhangs

• Employ double-shell or rain-screen designs


Design for Durability- strategies, cont.

• Reduce air movement through envelope

• Provide adequate ventilation

• Direct water away from foundation/ structure

• Effectively design/ manage site vegetation

• Familiarize occupants w/ proper maintenance routines


Climate/ topo maps

• http://www.nrel.gov/gis/maps.html- Solar, Wind
resources

•Topographical maps:
http://store.usgs.gov/scripts/wgate/ZWW20/!?~langua
ge=en&~theme=GP&OSTORE=USGSGP&~OKCOD
E=START

• Asst maps: http://maps.massgis.state.ma.us/massgis_
viewer/index.htm


Durability: Low-hanging fruit

• Minimize roof penetrations

• Incorporate overhanging roofs

• Maintain proper grading & ground clearances

• Keep vegetation away from structure

• Use well-designed wall sections


What kills “stuff”

• Moisture and associated problems (e.g. mold, rot)

• Sunlight (UV)

• Temperature extremes

• Friction

• Mechanical damage

• Exceeding something’s mechanical capacity

• Critters


The prime suspect:

Water


Ways that water moves into a building

• Gravity

• Capillary (wicking) action & surface tension

• Air movement (wind driven moisture)

• Condensing water vapor

• Hydrostatic pressure


Preventing water from entering a building

• “Be the drop of water”

• Adequately direct water away from structure(s) in
first place

• Appropriately lap building materials; start at bottom!

• Provide capillary breaks like drip channels & air gaps

• Adequately seal gaps & penetrations


Roof/ site drainage

Good drainage

• Reduces water infiltration

• Reduces conditions favorable to structural pests

• Reduces frost heaves against foundation


Roof/ site drainage

• Provide adequate clearance (6-8” min) between
siding and grade

• Make sure your downspouts discharge a minimum of
4 feet from the foundation (5 – 6 ft ideally)

• Don’t run downspouts (& basement window wells)
into foundation drain system!

• Discharge foundation drain pipes ‘to daylight’ where
possible

• Install gutter screens/ hoods


Creating a weather-resistant shell

• Choose ‘effective’ roof style

• Minimize intersecting planes

• Minimize roof penetrations

• Provide adequate overhangs

• Understand that outermost roof & wall finishes are
typically only first line of defense

• Use good flashing details

• Provide good drainage planes/ ventilation cavities


An important note about process:

Make shell weather tight
ASAP!


Design for Durability- Roof structures

• Hip roofs generally better than simple gable roofs


Design for durability – Roof plane integrity

• Minimal roof penetrations- use side venting, run
along sides of house, etc.

• Use AAVs (air admittance valves) instead of stack
vents (where permitted by code)

• Use direct-venting high-efficiency heating/ hot water

• Use TDDs instead of skylights


Skylights also more likely to contribute to summer
overheating and winter heat loss.

Sky tube (TDD)


Design for durability – Overhangs

Effective overhangs:

• Protect the walls from precipitation

• Protect wall finishes from UV

• Help to direct water away from the structure

• May facilitate attic ventilation

• May help to minimize ice dams

• Provide summer shade to reduce unwanted solar gains


Design for durability – Effective flashing details
• Provide flashing wherever two or more building
planes meet, at margins of roof and around openings
in shell
• Common flashing materials: Aluminum, zinc, copper,
galvanized steel, bituminous tape
• Install water/ ice shields at roof margins (better to
use on entire roof??)
• Install ‘crickets’ or saddles behind chimneys & other
large roof structures
• Use step-flashing where appropriate
• Caulking should not be used as flashing substitute!


Rain-screen wall


Design for durability - Materials

• Use materials and products appropriate to task- e.g.
pressure-treated lumber, corrosion-resistant fasteners,
UV-resistant finishes, etc.
• Always use products in manner intended- e.g. proper
temperature range, humidity; don’t overload, etc.


Characteristics of durable exterior finishes

• Moisture resistant

• Decay resistant

• UV resistant

• Wind & impact resistant

• Fire resistant

• Minimal maintenance requirements

• Easy to replace


Some durable siding options

• Fiber cement
-HardiPlank
-Certainteed WeatherBoard

• Masonry

• Vertical-grain bevel siding

• Eastern white cedar not bad if back-primed

• Stucco


Some durable roofing options

• Clay tile

• Metal

• Slate

• Faux slate, shakes, etc made from recycled plastics
or rubber

• Fiber-cement

• Also, cedar shakes if from sustainable wood source
& installed properly


Some roofing examples
• Ecostar- www.ecostarinc.com

• Authentic Roof- www.authentic-roof.com

• Interlock- www.interlockroofing.com

• Naturals- www.naturalsroofing.com

• Natural slate a fairly sustainable option

• Note: Some of these given high marks based on
durability more so than recycled content


Some decking options

• Composite

• Ipe, if from sustainable source

• Vertical-grain lumber; douglas fir, hemlock, etc.; look
for FSC ceretified

• Pressure treated if maintained properly

• Cedar & redwood not typically sustainable (usually
from old-growth forests)

• Torrefied lumber (see www.purewood.net)


Design for durability – Exterior finishing details
• Always seal or back prime backside of wood siding,
trim, etc. (DON’T back prime fiber-cement siding)
• Seal end grain of all exterior wood, even if pressure
treated (w/ boiled linseed oil or paint)
• Use water-shedding design details, such as slopes,
bevels, overlaps, etc.
• Maintain adequate ventilation in and around
exterior trim where appropriate
• Use drip-channels, drip edges & capillary breaks where
appropriate
• Glue shingle tabs at roof edges


Painting/ caulking tips
• Proper prep is critical- clean, sand, remove loose
material as necessary
• Clean surfaces thoroughly; remove mildew; can
pressure wash, but be judicious!
• Prime all raw wood before painting or caulking
• Never paint if temperature is below 45 deg or
above 85 deg, or there is excess humidity
• Use proper brush- generally synthetics for latex,
natural bristle for oil paint
• Follow manufacturers recommendations for
coverage; latex paints are often applied too thinly
• Use ‘backer-rod’ where appropriate


Design for durability - Vegetation

• Keep overhanging vegetation to a minimum

• Keep plantings immediately adjacent to the foundation
to a minimum; maintain adequate clearance (18 – 24” &
allow for additional growth)

• Vegetation like vines attached to trellis-work rather
than being allowed to grow on structure


Design for durability- Foundations/ Basements
• Avoid basements altogether! Favor pier foundations,
FPSFs, etc.

• Favor monolithic construction

• Insulate & waterproof

• Provide adequate foundation drainage

• Ventilating basements & crawl spaces in summer
may be a bad idea!

• Never install carpeting or wood floor finishes directly
on top of concrete floors


This usually better…


…than this.


Detail basement insulation correctly

Frost-protected Shallow Foundations

• Improves thermal performance

• Reduce excavating expense

• Reduce material expense

• Reduce site impact

• Implied approval in code: MA CMR 5403.1.4.1

Note: Local code officials may be resistant to approving


Design for durability- Structural elements

• Use engineered joists to minimize deflection

• Engineered I-beam joists have pre-perforated
punch-outs for plumbing/ mechanicals

• Use drywall clips to minimize corner cracking

• Use construction adhesive:
- Increases strength
- Minimizes squeaks
- Provides additional air sealing

• Use hurricane ties & anchor straps


Laminated-veneer lumber (LVL) – stiffer & stronger

Rafter (“hurricane”) ties

Good Wall Sections/
Building Envelope


Building envelope, definition

All of the elements of a building that separate and
isolate the unconditioned outdoor environment from
the conditioned indoor environment. This may include
walls and wall finishes, roofs and roof finishes, doors,
windows, skylights and basement floors and walls.


Key Principle- Saving home energy

As a general rule, for the average home/
homeowner, the greatest energy savings will be
achieved through managing the demand side of
the equation, rather than the supply side.

In other words, you’ll get better bang for your buck
through energy conservation measures, like insulating
& minimizing air infiltration, than incorporating
expensive renewable energy systems such as wind
and solar.


Building envelope, functions

• Protect structural elements and interior of structure
from weather, esp. moisture

• Help to maintain proper thermal regime within
structure

• Help to maintain proper humidity regime within
structure

• Prevent infiltration of outside air and contaminants

• Acoustically isolate interior of structure from outside
noise

• In essence, act as ‘membrane’ for the structure


Building envelope failure
• Air leaks leading to:
-Infiltration of unconditioned air/ Drafts
-Direct escape of conditioned air to outside
-Infiltration of outdoor contaminants
• Excessive accumulation of interior moisture in wall
cavities causing structural/ insulation failure & mold
• Excessive heat transfer from inside to outside
• External water leaks leading to:
-Damaged structural elements
-Damaged interior finishes
-Insulation failure
-Damaged interior furnishings and appliances
-Mold problems

Effective wall section design
Good wall sections:

• Reduce air infiltration

• Provide good thermal (& acoustic) insulation

• Are breathable

• Provide drying to the outside, inside, or both

• Reduce passage of potentially moisture-laden
interior air into wall cavities

• Reduce possibility of cavity temperature to drop
below dew point temperature


Building envelope components
• Exterior finish- wood siding, vinyl siding, brick, etc.

• Weather membrane/ air barrier/ drainage plane-
building paper, Tyvek, Typar, etc.

• Exterior sheathing- usually plywood or OSB

• Wall/ ceiling cavities (inc. structural members &
insulation)

• Vapor retarders/ barriers

• Doors & windows

• Interior wall finish


Codes and standards

• Sixth edition of MA building code was officially
superseded by 7th edition as of January 1st, 2008

• New MA energy code based on 2006 International
Energy Conservation Code; more stringent

• Better to follow Energy Star Homes or HERS
guidelines for maximum energy efficiency and code
compliance (see resources slide)


Housewrap to
minimize air
infiltration &
protect from
moisture


Minimizing air infiltration
(sealing building envelope)

• Min .35 Air changes per hour (ACH) for good
ventilation; max .50 for energy efficiency (Energy
Star)
• Seal obvious openings- pipe penetrations, attic
scuttles, electrical receptacles, recessed lights, etc.
• Openings to attic spaces are some of worst offenders
• Any place where two building planes meet is good
candidate for air sealing
• For additions/ new construction, use exterior air
barrier to minimize infiltration


Some important points about insulation
• Effectively used, can reduce condensation in wall
cavities (e.g thick foamboard sheathing)
• Some insulating materials can provide air sealing
• Open-cell foam types (e.g. Icynene) are not as
effective at reducing infiltration, and are not as
moisture-resistant as closed-cell types
• Even open-cell types can help to reduce cavity
condensation by minimizing air leakage through
interior wall finishes
• Moisture in wall cavities can permanently destroy
some insulation’s effectiveness (e.g. fiberglass batts)
• Some closed-cell foams can marginally increase
structural integrity

Blower door
test to
measure air
leakage


Air leakage pathways

Air leakage proportion through various pathways


Attic hatches/ scuttles are a major leakage pathway


A commercial solution for attic openings

See also www.efi.org


Insulate header/ rim joists w/ rigid foam & expanding foam


Seal joints between intersecting planes w/ expanding foam


Air sealing, online product sources

• efi.org

• conservationtechnology.com


Minimizing interior air leakage

Why minimize air leakage through interior wall
finishes?

Remember that as the air flows, so too does the
moisture that it carries


Ventilation & Vapor Barriers

Issues:

• Moisture control as it relates to:
-Mold potential
-Structural failure
-Insulation failure
-Aesthetic issues

• Indoor air quality (IAQ)


Vapor barriers

• Prevent transfer (and accumulation) of internal
moisture into wall/ ceiling cavities
• Required by code; always on winter warm side of
insulation in cold climates like N.E.
• In this part of country, vapor retarders are generally
better than vapor barriers; vapor retarders allow wall
to dry from the inside as well as outside
• Asphalt-impregnated kraft paper (as seen on
fiberglass batts) is excellent vapor retarder
• New ‘smart’ materials like Certainteed’s Membrain
create variable vapor barrier


Vapor barriers, cont.

• Eliminating air leaks in inside wall finishes minimizes
vapor transfer into wall cavities

• For retrofit of vapor barrier (w/ blown-in insulation for
instance), consider a vapor barrier paint


Ventilation
• It’s almost impossible to make an old house too
tight
• Even in a tight house a bathroom fan is generally
enough to provide adequate ventilation; control w/
timer (and/or humidistat)
• Control internal sources of excessive moisture
• Provide dedicated combustion air sources for large
combustion appliances like furnaces & fireplaces
• Proper attic ventilation may extend life of roof and
help to eliminate ice dams
• Extremely tight houses may need heat-recovery or
multi-port supply or exhaust ventilation systems

Ventilation

• Ventilating basements & crawl spaces in summer
may be a bad idea!


Make sure
bathroom
fans vent
to outside


Other ventilation strategies

• Heat recovery ventilators

• Multi-port supply & exhaust ventilation


Ventilation
baffle for rafter
cavity insulation


Ductwork

• Seal ducts; use duct mastic for this if possible,
otherwise make sure duct tape is UL listed

• Otherwise, moisture-laden air passing through
ducts can leak into unconditioned spaces and
condense (affects energy-efficiency too!)

• Insulate ducts in unconditioned spaces; for cooling
(A/C) ductwork, make sure insulation has external
vapor barrier to minimize condensation

• When insulating ducts in unconditioned basement,
you may make basement too cold; insulate
basement walls instead

Bridging heat loss

• Conductive heat loss through structural members

• Eliminate with:
-Double wall construction (very expensive!)
-Foam skin
-Cross-banding attic batt insulation


Bridging heat loss- snow melts over roof rafters

Bridging heat loss caused wall-staining over structural members


Thermograph to check heat loss through walls (insulation effectiveness)


NFRC Label


Considerations for
Choosing Best-in-Class
(a brief sampling)


What makes it green? (in review)
The jumping off point for all product classes:

• Low embodied energy (entire lifecycle)

• Minimizes impact on wildlife habitat, green space,
waterways, etc

• Minimizes depletion of natural resources (rapidly
renewable, recyclable, etc.)

• Poses minimal harm to humans during its
manufacture, transport, installation, end-use or
disposal


Selection criteria: Materials

• Efficiently uses energy & resources

• Derived from rapidly renewable resources

• Contains high recycled material content

• Can be reused/ recycled at the end of it’s useful life

• Can be down-cycled at the end of it’s useful life

• Biodegradable


Recycled Content

Post-Consumer vs. Pre-Consumer
aka Post-Industrial


Lumber
• Naturally decay-resistant

• Resists checking, cracking, warping, etc.

• From sustainably managed forests

• Sourced locally

• Easy to work with (milling, finishing, etc.)

• Locally salvaged or salvaged from demo phase

• Sawdust & natural volatiles non-toxic


Engineered lumber/ composites

• Moisture & mold resistant

• Dimensionally stable, warp resistant

• Accepts finish well

• Good screw-holding characteristics

• Made w/ low-VOC, formaldehyde-free adhesives

• Contain recycled fibers or rapidly renewable fibers
(FSC, GreanSeal, SCS, etc.)


Paints

• Good coverage (minimal coats)

• Durable- scrubbable

• Easy touch-up (e.g. good color matching w/ old vs.
new)

• Do not pose a disposal hazard

• Low or no VOC; low odor

• Pose minimal occupational hazard during
manufacture (meets ISO 14001, OSHA, etc)


Adhesives/ Sealants

• UV resistant

• Flexible (or not, depending upon application!)

• Freeze-tolerant

• Easy clean-up

• Adequate ‘open time’

• Low or no VOC

• Do not pose a disposal hazard


Carpeting and Flooring

• Abrasion, impact & moisture resistant (hard flooring)
• Stain resistant
• Mold resistant (carpeting)
• Simplified installation (e.g. doesn’t require adhesive)
• Requires minimal maintenance (cleaning,
refinishing)
• Easy sectional replacement (e.g. carpet tiles)
• Formaldehyde-free
• Made from rapidly renewable or recycled materials


Exterior Decking

• Requires a minimum of maintenance (sealers, etc.)

• UV & fade resistant

• Stable- resistant to checking & warping

• Naturally decay resistant

• Recyclable (all-plastic vs. composites like Trex)



Insulation
• High thermal insulating characteristics! Good
resistance to air infiltration (these may trump other
factors if it can reduce embodied energy of structure
enough)

• Moisture/ mold resistant

• Low flame-spread/ non-combustible

• Formaldehyde free (e.g. binders in fiberglass batts)

• High recycled content (fiberglass, cellulose, denim)

• HCFC-free blowing agents (foam board)


Kitchen counters

• Abrasion, heat, impact & stain resistant

• Require minimal maintenance

• Easily resurfaced

• Minimal off-gassing from adhesives/ binders


• Mechanically fastened


Exterior Siding

• Weather resistant; UV resistant

• Requires fewer paint/ refinishing/ repointing cycles

• Easy to install/ repair

• Breathable



Roofing

• Wind & UV resistant; fire-resistant; impact resistant

• Easy to repair

• Low or no maintenance requirements


• High-reflectance (improves longevity, minimizes heat
island effect, keeps building cooler in summer)


HVAC & Plumbing Systems

• Use demand pumps in DHW supply system
(gothotwater.com); can extend life of water heaters

• Use instantaneous hot water heaters (tankless)
- Greater longevity than tank-type
- No tank to leak!


Tankless water heaters

• Cost more than standard water heaters but last longer
• Direct-venting; e.g. can exhaust through wall
• More choices as to location/ placement
• Gas-fired typically more responsive and can provide
needed capacity more effectively
• Look for min. flow rates of 0.3 – 0.5 gal./min.
• Save energy by eliminating standing heat loss (vs.
conventional tank-style water heater); estimated savings
24 – 34%
• Examples of brands: Rinnai, Noritz, Takagi


Plumbing/ piping

• Shut-off valves in supply pipes at every plumbing
fixture and in every branch run

• Adequate number and location of clean-outs in
drain-waste-vent system

• Stacked bathrooms to keep plumbing to a minimum

• Use structured plumbing

• Use PEX piping


PEX tubing for water supply piping
• Facilitates structured plumbing; minimizes piping runs;
shallow bends can improve delivery performance

• Easier to install; less expensive w/ competent sub-
contractor

• Fewer notched joists!

• More freeze-tolerant

• Less embodied energy than copper

• Less heat loss


Green Practice:
Effective Maintenance Routines


Why good maintenance routines are green

• Prevents premature failure; extends life, which
means fewer resources used by avoiding
replacement

• Prevents failure of associated systems

• Enhances or maintains operating efficiency

• Reduces possibility of contamination/ toxics release;
maintains IEQ

• Reduces material sent to the waste stream


Additional benefits

• Aesthetics

• Economics


The Maintenance Program
• Get to know your home and its systems- perform a
thorough inspection and get to know where
everything is: shut-off valves, cut-off switches,
breakers, etc. ahead of time
• Clearly label valves, switches, breakers, etc, and
create diagrams detailing their locations if necessary
• Perform regularly scheduled follow-up inspections
• Create a maintenance plan
• Keep and maintain a maintenance log book (3-ring
binder)
• Hire a professional to perform routine inspections/
examinations if your are unsure about anything

Key Maintenance Principles
• Time is often critical; that’s why it’s important to
know the locations of valves, switches, etc.
• Little problems left unattended will often mushroom
into much bigger problems, create secondary
problems, etc
• A little attention often goes a long way; don’t put it
off; often things will fail only because they were
ignored completely
• Use materials and products appropriate to task- e.g.
pressure-treated lumber, corrosion-resistant fasteners,
UV-resistant finishes, etc.
• Always use products in manner intended- e.g. proper
temperature range, humidity; don’t overload, etc.

Design for durability/ Ease of maintenance

• Access panels where appropriate

• Floor drains in strategic locations (like near water
heater)

• Furnaces and basement appliances kept off floor on
concrete pads

• Lights in crawl spaces, attics, etc.

• Permanent ladder tie-off points installed at strategic
locations


Seize opportunities

• Never close off a wall without photographing or
documenting the cavity spaces

• Never close off a wall without adding access panels
if appropriate

• Never close off a wall before installing anticipated
new services (cable runs, etc.)

• Never re-install a door on it’s hinges without first
lubricating the hinges or reassemble anything if there
are additional maintenance opportunities


Seize opportunities, continued

• Employ ‘batch’ maintenance routines- for example,
if you have the oil can out, lubricate everything that
you can think of that may need lubrication

• When performing maintenance/ repairs to a system
or component, inspect all nearby systems/
components


Basic steps in preventive maintenance

• Know it!

• Seal it!

• Protect it!

• Lubricate it!

• Clean it!

• Tighten it!

• (Store it properly)


Good maintenance practices

• Inspect your roof up close and personal at least
once every season; check chimney too! Clear roof of
moss and debris

• Keep your gutters clean!!

• Maintain proper grading around foundation

• Keep a regular routine of spot touch-ups of siding
and trim between major paint jobs; replace missing/
dried-up caulking too


Good maint practices, cont.

• Re-point brickwork as necessary

• Keep shrubs trimmed away from house

• Keep weeds from growing in pavement cracks

• Fill pavement cracks w/ flexible sealer


Defining green: Design resources

• Building America-
http://www.eere.energy.gov/buildings/building_america/
about.html

• Environmental Building News/ Greenspec-
http://www.buildinggreen.com)

•http://www.austinenergy.com/Energy%20Efficiency/Progr
ams/Green%20Building/Sourcebook/index.htm

• Building Sciences Corporation-
http://www.buildingsciences.com


Measuring Green: Rating Systems

• Energy Star Homes- www.energystar.gov

• HERS (http://www.energy.ca.gov/HERS)

• International Energy Conservation Code (IEEC)-
http://www.iccsafe.org/

• LEED - www.usgbc.org


Additional Resources
GRT: www.greenroundtable.org
Building Green: www.buildinggreen.com
Energy Star: www.energystar.gov
Charles River Watershed: www.crwa.org
US Green Building Council: www.usgbc.org
Renewable Energy: www.nrel.gov
US DOE: www.eere.energy.gov/buildings/
EPA: www.epa.gov/ne/greenbuildings

Residential Green Building Guide:
A Web Source Book for New England
www.epa.gov/ne/greenbuildings

NAHB: Model Green Home Building Guidelines:
www.nahb.org


And don’t forget about NEXUS!

• Upcoming workshops
• Reference library
• Samples library
• Cyber Lounge
• Online resources at nexusboston.com (in the
pipeline)
• Local green building community


Local Resources


THANK YOU
www.greenroundtable.org
info@greenroundtable.org
617-374-3740

The Green Roundtable, Inc. (GRT) is an independent non-profit
organization whose mission is to mainstream green building and
sustainable design and become obsolete. We work toward this goal by
promoting and supporting healthy and environmentally integrated building
projects through strategic outreach, education, policy advocacy and
technical assistance.

Located in downtown Boston, NEXUS
welcomes all to come ask questions,
research topics, and attend tours and
www.nexusboston.com events on green building and sustainable
38 Chauncy Street, Boston design innovation.

Design For Durability

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