Green Construction and Renewable Energy Renewable energy is finding its way into more and more new and even some existing homes these days. We applaud the growth of this industry, and see ourselves as partners with the same goal--to reduce our dependence on non-renewable energy sources. What a lot of people don't know is that in order to use renewable energy technologies to fully power your home, you would need a lot of wind generators and solar panels. A well planned approach to integrating renewable technologies would first include reducing energy consumption. Remember the old phrase: "Reduce, Reuse, Recycle"ω They are in a logical order, and this applies to using renewables as well. First reduce your consumption, then add in renewables. Due to the high cost of large renewable systems, it makes the most sense to spend the larger cost on energy reduction. At least then you get some of the other benefits that go with it, like comfort, health, and sound reduction. Green Building The following is a summary of what makes our homes green. But first, a warning is in order about green building. To avoid greenwashing, educate yourself on what makes products and companies green. Ask the product representatives and salesmen why their product is green. Ask them why their company is green. Talk to a builder who is a leader in the industry--perhaps seek out an energy rater's recommendations, they are an excellent resource. For an article detailing specifically with some well-known green building standards, such as LEED for homes, Green Built, and Energy Star click here.
The above photos are courtesy of Chris from Zero Power Home. They are of neighboring homes, taken at the same time; and illustrate very well why green building's first priority is the building envelope. (The home on the left is a traditional stick-built home, while the home on the right is an ICF home.) You can clearly see the difference in heat leakage between the two homes. The building envelope consists of the basement floor, all of the exterior walls, doors and windows, and the roof. A home is heated or cooled for most of the year, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Your home contributes far more toward emissions and using fossil fuels than the vehicle you drive, even if it were the biggest SUV made! This also means that the greatest positive impact to the environment is made by improvements to the building envelope--much more than finding the greenest flooring options! Consider the following quote from the editors of Green Builder magazine: "Our position is that if you must build a large home, make the integrity of the building envelope your primary concern. You can include all the sustainable products in the world, but if the house has a low quality building envelope it will consume inordinate amounts of energy to heat and cool over it's lifetime, far outweighing any benefit acheived by using such products as low VOC paint or woven rugs." (Letters, July/August 2006) So how do ICF's make a home so greenω
For those interested in a holistic approach to green building, ICF's are integral to reducing energy consumption, and they go well with solar hot water, photovoltaics, and wind generation to make clean power and further reduce a homes impact on it's environment as well as the owner's pocketbook! In the photos below you will see how much waste went to the landfill after nearly 2 months of construction on an ICF home. This is for real folks! I also show us recycling foam waste.
An important thing to know is that green building doesn't mean sacrificing your desires in order to do what is right. Many green products like ICF's are actually a premium choice. Your ICF home will look just like any other new home. But it will be much more comfortable than any other home. As Kermit once said: "It isn't easy being green." That is, not if you want to be really green. It is a work in progress. A green builder needs to constantly be evaluating new products, seeking out the latest in green building, where to buy it, learning how well it works and how long it lasts. There are those who will tell you it doesn't cost much more to be green. While they may mean well, it is only true if you want to do the minimum. To truly be green means seeking out the best green products and methods takes time and energy. You are always learning, and this is hard to do (at least it is when you are over 30!). Some green products are more expensive, but they are always a better value. Occasionally a green choice can be less expensive to purchase, but then it is often more costly to install. Most important is to remember that green ICF homes are always less expensive to own and maintain than their counterparts. R-Value is still learning. We have found and use water-based stains and sealers and low-VOC form oil. We use higher volumes of recycled fly-ash in much of our concrete. We recycle most of our waste, and are learning where to recycle more of it. We are finding sources for recycled paper, we use e-mail whenever possible to reduce paper, and we employ recycled ink cartridges, etc. We spread the word as much as possible on green building practices. It is a work in progress. Interestedω Learn more by clicking on the photo below!
"The thermal envelope is where you should spend all of your money up front!"--Mike Holcomb of The Home Inspector General, energy rater for Green Built, Energy Star, and LEED for Homes Share
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