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Green Building Efficiency, Quality, & Durability

The following information comes from Environments for Living®. For more information on Environments for Living® please visit their official website at: Environments for Living


ENERGY EFFICIENCY

TIGHT CONSTRUCTION
All levels of the Environments for Living® program require special framing techniques, such as continuous air barrier, to help reduce leaks and drafts. Framing sets the stage for meeting many of the program’s requirements.

IMPROVED THERMAL SYSTEMS
All levels of the Environments for Living® program require enhanced insulation techniques with special attention paid to gaps, voids and compression so as not to reduce the effectiveness or insulating power of the insulation. In addition, the program requires insulation to be physical contact with the air barrier, as a primary means of preventing air movement between conditioned and unconditioned space, which can diminish the insulating power. In addition, the Environments for Living Certified Green® program requires that insulation products be GREENGUARD Indoor Air Quality Certified® or manufactured from at least 75 percent recycled content.

RIGHT-SIZED HVAC
“Right-sizing” a home’s heating and cooling system is important because it contributes to the performance and efficiency of the equipment – and to the comfort of the occupants. When it comes to a tightly constructed, energy efficient home, bigger equipment is not necessarily better. Oversized HVAC equipment operates less efficiently and can cause humidity problems – in addition to being more costly.

FRAMING AND SHEATHING
All levels of the Environments for Living® program require a continuous air barrier enclosing the conditioned space. This means air barrier continuity must be maintained throughout the entire structure – including knee walls, soffits, garage interfaces and other areas of the home that may need special attention. In addition, rigid exterior sheathings capable of stopping airflow are required at all levels of the Environments for Living® program. It is recommended as a “best practice” that roof sheathings include a reflective barrier, except when insulation is applied to the underside of the roof deck. These framing and sheathing requirements work together to create a tight building envelope and ultimately an energy efficient home.

LIGHTING EFFICIENCY – CFL/LED LIGHTINGThe Environments for Living Certified Green® program requires that at least 60 percent of all hard-wired lights are compact fluorescent lights (CFL) or light emitting diode (LED) lights, which reduce home energy consumption.

OPTIONAL LIGHTING EFFICIENCY – DIMMINGThe Environments for Living Certified Green® program recommends use of dimmer switches for non-fluorescent fixtures, which allow homeowners to reduce watt usage. This is optional and not a program requirement, but encouraged as a “best practice.”

LOW-E WINDOWSThe “E” stands for “emissivity” but Low-E really means energy efficient. Low-E windows have a thin metal coating, virtually invisible from the inside, allows light in but inhibits thermal heat gain. Low-E windows add to energy efficiency in both the heating and cooling seasons – helping to prevent heat from coming inside during the summer and escaping during the winter.

ENERGY STAR APPLIANCESEnergy Star® - a program of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) – promotes energy efficient products and practices. Appliances that qualify for an Energy Star® designation meet strict guidelines set by the EPA and DOE. According to the EPA and DOE, Energy Star® qualified appliances incorporate advanced technologies that use 10 to 50 percent less energy and water than standard models.

WATER EFFICIENCY

LOW-FLOW/HIGH-EFFICIENCY TOILETS
The Environments for Living Certified Green® program requires toilets that meet the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s WaterSense TM specifications for efficiency and performance. This includes an effective flush volume of 1.28 gallons, which is 20 percent less than the federal standard, and solid waste removal of 350 grams or greater. According to the EPA, WaterSense TM labeled toilets combine high efficiency with high performance unlike some first generation low-flow toilets to save water without a trade off in flushing power.

HIGH PERFORMANCE APPLIANCES
The Environments for Living Certified Green® program requires clothes washers that are ENERGY STAR® qualified and have a water factor (WF) no greater than 6.0. Water factor is a measure of water efficiency, calculated as gallons of water used per cubic foot of capacity. In other words the lower the water factor the more efficient the clothes washer (according to information from ENERGY STAR®). High performance clothes washers that meet its standards use an average of 55 percent less water than standard models about 31 percent less energy to run the washer and heat the water.

ENERGINEERED PLUMBING SYSTEMSIn order to reduce water wasted during the time it takes hot water to reach the tap, the Environments for Living Certified Green® program recommends that builders follow one of several options for efficient plumbing design. These range from central location of the water heater to a demand-controlled hot water recirculation pump. Efficient plumbing design helps to reduce the “wait time” for hot water – thereby conserving water – and also helps reduce the amount of energy used to heat the water.

INDOOR ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY

DUCT TIGHTNESS
The Environments for Living® program and the Environments for Living Certified Green® program both require that duct connections are sealed with a UL-listed mastic product, and all supply and return boot-to-house connections are sealed with UL-listed class 1 pliable sealant such as mastic or caulk. This technique, combined with specific duct tightness metrics required by the program, helps keep attic dust and other contaminants out of the home’s ventilation system.

RIGHT-SIZED HVAC
“Right-sizing” a home’s heating and cooling system not only contributes to the efficiency of the equipment – it also helps to manage indoor relative humidity by removing moisture during the cooling season. When systems are over-sized, moisture problems can adversely impact indoor environment quality, along with affecting occupant comfort.

COMBUSTION SAFETY
Avoiding the build-up of carbon monoxide (CO) – a colorless gas – is important for occupant safety. At all program levels, the Environments for Living® program requires hardwired and removable CO detectors in all homes.

FRESH AIR AND SPOT VENTILATION
All levels of the Environments for Living® program require mechanical fresh air ventilation throughout the home, in addition to spot ventilation in the kitchen and bathrooms. Fresh air ventilation means that filtered outside air is brought into the home through the HVAC system. The Environments for Living Certified Green® program also requires a specific filter performance metric, or approved electronic air cleaner. Spot ventilation in kitchens and bathrooms is important because it helps move moisture from showering and cooking out of the home. At all levels of the program, kitchen and bathroom ventilation must be capable of exhausting to the outside a specific volume of air at a specific rate.

AIR PRESSURE BALANCING
At all levels, Environments for Living® program requires all rooms (except bath and laundry rooms) in the conditioned space to not exceed a pressure differential of +/-3 pascals with respect to the outside when interior doors are closed and the air handler is operating. Returns, transfer grills or jump ducts may be needed to balance each room. Why is it important? When equipment does not take in or emit equal amounts of air, positive or negative air pressure imbalance occur.

INTERNAL MOISTURE MANAGEMENT
Moisture – whether it’s naturally occurring from condensation or created by occupant activities such as cooking and showering – is important to manage for the purpose of indoor environmental quality. At all levels, the Environments for Living® program includes a number of requirements that help manage moisture inside the home. Builders must follow the Energy and Environmental Building Association TM (EEBA) Water Management Guide so that moisture entering building assemblies has a way to dry – either to the interior, exterior, or both. Tub and shower surrounds must be backed with specific water resistant materials. And, in hot, humid climates, additional requirements apply, such as not using vinyl wallpaper in kitchens and bathrooms.

LOW-VOC PAINT
The Environments for Living Certified Green® program requires that paints contain low levels of VOC’s (Volatile Organic Compounds). VOC’s are organic substances that can off-gas from solids or liquids, including paint and coatings. By using low-VOC products, exposure to these compounds is reduced, resulting in better indoor air quality in the home.

LOW-VOC CARPETS
The Environments for Living Certified Green® program requires that carpet products carry the carpet Rug Institute (CRI) Green Label® for low –VOC (volatile organic compound) emissions. This results in better indoor environmental quality because it limits substances that can off-gas. In addition, the Environments for Living Certified Green® program requires low-VOC tack strips and adhesives for carpet installation, and prohibits use of urea formaldehyde wood products under carpets. The program also requires use of an approved central vacuum in homes where carpeting exceeds 70 percent of the area in conditioned space.

DURABILITY

AIR BARRIER
Three primary physical forces adversely affect the durability often interrelate. The air barrier, thermal barrier, and moisture barrier work together as a system to manage air flow, heat flow, and moisture flow. The air barrier inhibits air from entering and exiting the building envelope, and plays an important role not only in energy efficiency but also in durability – because it is part of the system that controls air, heat and moisture flows. At all levels, the Environments for Living® program requires a continuous air barrier and sealing of penetrations. Components and finished surface materials such as drywall and sheathing act as a barrier, but regardless of the material, it’s important that the air barrier is continuous and that holes are sealed.

THERMAL BARRIER
Three primary physical forces adversely affect the durability of building materials- air, heat, and moisture – and the physics of how the impact durability often interrelates. The air barrier, thermal barrier, and moisture barrier work together as a system to managed air flow heat flow, and moisture flow. At all levels, the Environments for Living® program requires the thermal barrier, or insulation, to be applied in direct physical contact with the continuous air barrier, in order to minimize air flow that can reduce the effectiveness of the insulation. Fiberglass, cellulose, and foam insulation materials are all effective thermal barriers, but regardless of the material, it’s important that the thermal barrier is in physical contact with the air barrier.

INTERNAL MOISTURE MANAGEMENT
Moisture is one of three primary physical forces that can adversely affect the durability of building materials – with air and heating being the other two. Whether it’s naturally occurring from condensation or created by occupant activities such as cooking and showering, it is important to control moisture. At all levels, the Environments for Living program includes a number of requirements that help manage moisture inside the home. Builders must follow the energy and Environmental Building Association TM (EEBA) Water Management Guide so that moisture entering building assemblies has a way to dry – either to the interior, exterior, or both. Tub and shower surrounds must be backed with specific water resistant materials. And, in hot, humid climates, additional requirements apply, such as not using vinyl wallpaper in kitchen and bathrooms.


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