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PLANNING
. SITE DEVELOPMENT: Does the
site drain properly? Was it used as farm land?
Is there a free flow
of air? Will there be a need for site waste recycling?
- Environmental impact: Does
your project provide for enough drought resistant Green Space? Is the
building site close to community services i.e. water, sewer, utilities,
transportation? “Green Building” guidelines
can help you determine what is right for you and your location.
- Accountability: Look for
trade professionals that understand environmental issues, “Better Building
Practices”, energy efficiency, and indoor air quality. Provide them with
strict “Certifiable” guidelines of your needs and requirements Maintain
records of your progress. Having a “Third Party” verification
system in place can a very valuable tool for keeping everyone on track.
Under Resources, include a disclaimer such as:
The following books and links are being offered only as resource helps.
They are by no means that only
resources, and since building practices change from region to region you will certainly want to
narrow your scope when specific planning has begun.
Resources:
Books:
ü
Thermal Insulation Building Code, by Edwin F. Strother (Editor); William C. Turner
ü
Principles of Home Inspection- Insulation, by Carson Dunlop
ü
Insulating, Sealing & Ventilating Your
House, by William Perkins Spence
ü
Insulate and Weatherize, by Bruce Harley
ü
Builders Guide to Cold Climates, by Joe
Lstiburek
ü
Building Science for Building Enclosures, by
John Straube; Eric Burnett
ü
Building Better Homes, (Educational Program- 3
CD set with Builders Guide), by Building Knowledge Products Group LLC
ü
Green Building Products: The
GreenSpec Guide to Residential Building Materials
ü
Green Building Guidelines: Meeting the Demand for Low-Energy, Resource Efficient Homes
Websites: www.nahbrc.org
www.eeba.org
www.greenspec.com
www.toolbase.org
www.usgbc.org/leed/homes
www.alliancees.org/home.htm
www.builditgreen.org
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FRAMING
Once you have chosen
the products, the proper framing techniques for your region, and all of the
exterior finishes for your project, you need to turn your focus toward keeping
moisture and wetness out.
Proper flashing,
moisture barriers, and “Rain Plains” will help provide protection against
rotting wood, mold, poor indoor air quality and associated health risks.
Using advanced framing techniques together with lumber from certified
forests will conserve energy and will help reduce the negative impact on our
environment through over harvesting of our older forests. Also, consider
certified hardwood for interior trims, cabinets and flooring.
We offer the following links and resources only to help you start becoming
more aware of “Better Building Practices”. They are by no means the only resources,
and since building practices change from region to region you will certainly
want to narrow you focus when planning your project.
Resources:
Books:
ü
Residential Structures and Framing, by Robert
Randall
ü
Advanced Framing Methods, by Scott Simpson
ü
Carpentry and Building Construction and
Residential Framing, by William P. Spence
ü
Graphic Guide to Frame Construction, by Ron
Thallon
ü
House Framing: Plan, Design, Build, by
John D. Wagner
Websites:
www.eere.energy.gov
www.toolbox.org
www.buildingscience.com
www.fscus.org
www.earthsourcewood.com
www.greenbuilder.com
www.nrdc.org
wwwhowstuffworks.com/house
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INTERIOR FINISHES
The importance of indoor coatings and finishes cannot be stressed
enough. It is not just drywall assemblies, paints and finishes can also
pose potential health concerns. The glues, binders and finishes in cabinets,
countertops carpeting are among the many items we need to consider. “Chipboard”
cabinets, laminates, and carpets can contain very high levels of strong VOC’s
(Volatile Organic Compounds) that should be avoided.
The information below is given only as a small sampling of the places
you will find information about VOC’S and their affect on ones physical well
being. Because of the many variables associated with VOC’s, and the many
different ways they affect every person, we are not able to make claims that
support any information from these resources.
We do believe that for every product containing VOC’s that you are able to
eliminate from your indoor environment you will breathe a little
easier.
Websites:
www.eartheasy.com
www.greenexhibits.org
www.aiacolorado.org
www.build-green.org
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INSULATION
With 15 years in the industry, we have installed virtually every type of
insulation. We believe a case can be made for the value of each different
type of insulation, depending on the application. However, we believe
“spray in place” foam insulation products are the most effective at air sealing
the building envelope. Couple that with an effective “caulk and seal”
package, and you will be able to achieve air tightness levels of <.05
natural air exchanges per hour (or <1. air exchange per hour at 50 Pascal
using a blower door test).
Below is just a sampling of the many resources available for insulation.
While we make no claims as to the value of any of the products or services
offered by any of the resources listed below, we do believe that in order to
know what products or services best fit you requirements you must know your
options.
WEBSITES:
www.energywisestructures.com
www.sprayfoam.com
www.sprayfoam.org
www.polythane.com
www.globalspec.com
polyurethane manufacturers
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VENTILATION
Americans spend more time indoors now, than every before in our
history. This makes indoor air quality more important than ever. With
everything from framing materials, doors, windows, and insulation becoming more
efficiently produced and installed, we must provide proper methods to
ventilating our spaces. So “Build Tight-Ventilate Right” should be your key
words or a healthier and more comfortable indoor environment. You will be rewarded.
The following resources are intended to get you on your way to a better
understanding of ventilation and the role it plays in regards to Indoor Air
Quality. Since we cannot control the content of these resources, or how they
are interpreted, we can make no claims of there value. We only believe that
when you are properly informed you should be able to make better choices for
your ventilation needs.
Books:
Websites:
www.iaqcouncil.org
www.4cleanair.org
www.epa.gov/iaq
www.energystar.gov
http://enduse.lbl.gov
www.engext.ksu.edu
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THE HEALTHY HOME
If you have planned and built the most environmentally
conscious, energy efficient home or commercial building that is appropriate for
you situation, then the next step is maintaining it in a clean and healthy
manner. Thankfully this doesn’t mean you necessarily have to spend every waking
hour cleaning. It will however require a “new way” of thinking about it. There
is a wide variety of products in the market place that offer a more
environmentally approach to furnishing and cleaning your “Healthy Home”.
Below is just a sampling of the resources available for your
consideration. And while we can make no claim to the value of any of the
products or information you might find at any of these resources, we do believe
the final and perhaps the most important step to “Living Well”, in the spaces
we occupy, is to be very aware of the things we bring into those spaces.
o www.healthyhome.com
o www.healthyhomeservices.ca
o www.ces.ncsu.edu
o www.lungusa.org
http://bookstore.mayoclinic.com
Books;
The healthy home work book:
Easy steps for ECO Friendly Living
By; Kimberly
Rider + Thayer Allyson
Creating a safe + healthy Home
By;
Linda Mason Hunter
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