Dispelling the Myths of LEED Certified Homes 1 Goal Constructive - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

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Dispelling the Myths of LEED Certified Homes

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Goal – Constructive conversation about LEED Certified Homes Objective – To discuss the common misunderstandings surrounding the program

AGEN DA

• USGBC OVERVIEW
• LEED FOR HOMES OVERVIEW
• LEED for HOMES 2008 vs v4.1
• LESSONS LEARNED FROM PROJECTS
• BEST PRACTICES
• DISCUSSION/QUESTION & ANSWER

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Green Insight- What We Do

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We focus on multifamily and custom single family home projects providing building science, green building certification, and code compliance testing and documentation. Our Statistics (# of units certified in 6 years)

• Market Rate (600+)
• Affordable/LIHTC/USDA (4000+)
• Government/HUD (900+)
• Historic Preservation (100+)
• University/College Campus (200+)
• Single Family (200+)

90% of our projects are LEED PLATINUM CERTIFIED

Green Builder Vision House WJ Ranch, Roaring Fork, Colorado LEED Gold certified 2011

For most development teams building green is a

• grind. It’s viewed as difficult, time-consuming,

and expensive. We believe green building is a replicable practice that can be learned by architects, general contractors, and homebuilders. Regardless of the region or housing market, better projects can be designed and delivered at little to no extra cost for the homeowner, developer or contractor.

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Single-Family Homes

Program Scope and Applicable Building Types

Single-Family Production Mid-Rise Pilot Low-Rise Multifamily Gut Rehab

Over 160,000 units certified

LEED for Homes v2008 Units Certified

25,403 Single Family 135,108 Multifamily

LEED for Homes v4 Units Certified

424 Single Family 580 Multifamily

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LEED for Homes 2008 vs v4.1

LEED for Homes 2008 vs v4.1

• 1. Fewer total points in the program…simplified!
• 2. No More AFs
• 3. No More DIC
• 4. You can use as much PV as you want to drop your HERS score on a big house
• 5. Energy Star 3 HVAC credentialing not mandatory, changed to a credit (change from V4)
• 6. Program has re-prioritized the credits that have the highest value to consumers
• 7. Program has been streamlined to focus on single family attached and detached

construction types in a way that lowers overall costs both on certification and verification

• 8. Prerequisite items down from 17 to 14
• 9. Prerequisites that aren’t single family specific have been removed
• 10. Home size adjuster changed to align with Energy Star SAF, the industry standard, which is

less punitive and better for above average homes

• 11. Streamlined certification process for faster turn-around upon completion
• 12. Removed tropical wood Prerequisite requirement, meaning less useless documentation
• n homes that don’t do any tropical wood
• 13. Added LEED NC Waste tracking options, which align better with production builders

waste tracking protocols

• 14. Low Emitting Materials added options for 50% 1 pt, and 90% 2 pts for all products, which

sweetens the pot for green material installations

• 15. Makes use of V4 Regional Priority credits and offers easier path to get alternative

Regional Priority Credits to be approved.

• 16. Average HERS score for entire batch of homes certified allowed, as opposed to the “worst
• f the worst”. This has only been allowed in multi-family projects prior.

Vision House Aspen

• Green Builder Magazine “Vision House Aspen”
• LEED for Homes Gold Certified
• Speculative Home - $15 Million
• (7) Bedroom/(6 1/2) Bath
• Home Size: ANSI Standard Z765 = 6,676 SF
• Home Size: Pitkin County Standard = 7,500 SF

LUXURY HOMES have a significant influence on our natural resources , energy and water usage. Building these homes Green can have a Considerable IMPACT on our Environment

• Design and build a house that is site-specific, climate driven and glamorously green.
• Develop a model for sustainable development in the Roaring Fork Valley that can be

replicated in other mountain resort locations.

• Provide multiple educational opportunities and ongoing testing of products and

systems.

• Compare multiple different green building programs, including the Pitkin County

Efficient Building Program, Built Green Colorado, NAHB National Green Building Program, and LEED-Home.

• Design and build a house that meets the expectations of high-end buyers in the

Aspen market while showing how a sustainably-constructed house can reduce environmental impact, operating costs, and long term maintenance.

• Develop a model for a carbon, energy, and water neutral home.

Vision House Goals

Luxury Home Client/Market Expectations

Mountain Retreat

• Part time occupancy, 2 to 20 people
• Luxury Home Client/Market Expectations
• Butlers Pantry, Theater Room, etc
• Destination, Outdoor activities, etc

State of the Art /Energy Efficient

• House Control – energy, lighting, mood, etc

Green Programs Compared

• LEED for Homes™ (LEED)
• City of Aspen/Pitkin County “Efficient Building Ordinance” (EBO)
• National Green Building Standard™ – ICC 700 (Standard)

Energy Category

• HERS 32 (ACH 0.23)
• Appropriately Insulated Envelope
• Geo-Exchange System with Ground Source Heat Pumps (Water

Furnace 10 vertical holes just over 200’ deep each)

• Solar Thermal Hot Water (Stiebel Eltron – 125 gallon system)
• Solar PV (Sunsense – 3.15 kW system)
• Hydronic Flooring System (Uponor)
• Climate Control Network System (Uponor)
• Whole House Controller (RTI)
• Energy Recovery Ventilators (Panasonic)
• Whisper Quiet Bathroom Fans (Panasonic)

HOME IS OVER 60% MORE ENERGY EFFICIENT & REDUCES GREEN HOUSE GAS EMISSIONS BY OVER 40% COMPARED TO LOCAL A CODE HOME

Energy & Atmosphere Category Performance Pathway 30% of credits to achieve Gold Certification

Water Category

• Dual Flush Toilets (Kohler)
• Low Flow Lavatory Faucets (Kohler)
• Domestic Hot Water Recirculation Loop
• High Efficient Irrigation System
• Drought Tolerant Plant Material

THIS HOME IS OVER 35% MORE WATER EFFICIENT THAN A TYPICAL HOME

Water Category Performance Pathway 16% of credits to achieve Gold Certification

IAQ Category

• Centralized HRV System to meet ASHRAE 62.2 (Balanced System)
• Earthen Plaster (American Clay)
• Radiant Floor Heating (Uponor)
• Low VOC Paint Central Vacuum System (Electrolux)
• Low VOC adhesives and sealants
• Fire Place Doors
• EPA approved fire place
• Central Vacuum System
• MERV 13 Filters
• Whole House Flush
• Containment Control During Construction

IAQ Category Performance Pathway 30% of credits to achieve Gold Certification

Materials Category

• Local Concrete and Aggregate
• Engineered wood framing
• Finger Joint Studs
• Glulam Beams
• Recycled Content Insulation
• Beetle Kill Siding
• Colorado Stone
• Recycled Content Steel
• Green Label Carpet
• Reclaimed wood
• Cabinets of CARB approved substrate

MORE THAN 85% OF THE MATERIALS IN THE HOME CONTRIBUTED TO THE LEED CERTIFICATION

Materials Category 13% of credits to achieve Gold Certification

LEED SILVER CERTIFICATION OBTAINABLE WITH NO ALTERNATIVE ENERGY OR GEOTHERMAL SYSTEMS

• Routt County has adopted the 2015 ICC codes – the heavy lift has been

mandated – Ventilation requirements meet LEED requirements – Manual J and D are required and meet LEED requirements – EPA approved fire places and doors required

• Minimum HERS of 75
• Remove the Vision House Aspen alternative energy systems and geothermal

loop = HERS 68

• House Control Systems have become simpler and less expensive
• Low Flow Fixtures cost the same as other equivalent fixtures and quality has

improved

• Drought tolerant and local indigenous plant material cost the same as

equivalent plant material

• Water efficient irrigations systems additional costs are negligible in the over

cost of the house

• Local, Recycled and Low VOC Materials are more readily available and cost the

same as other equivalent materials

Lessons Learned

Green buildings that are energy and water efficient with good indoor air quality can be built at no additional costs

• Verification Costs are negotiable
• USGBC Registration & Certification Costs for a house cost

approximately $375 to $500

• Vision House Aspen Benefits

– 15 BTU’s per SF (average house in this area is 20-30 BTU’s) – Estimated winter utility bill well under $500 per month – Improved Indoor Air Quality – House Appraised at a greater value

• Changed the way Paradigm Construction developed projects
• Learning Curve
• LEED Platinum under 4.1. (We would have had to put the

driveway heating into the Energy modeling)

Lessons Learned

Project Goals

• Use little to no toxins in the

construction/finishing process

– Minimize all VOC with priority on IAQ

• Ensure 3rd party verification
• Maximize energy efficiency and ease of
• peration
• Market the home as LEED Certified
• Test project

– Attempt LEED Homes certification with no budget for renewable energy or points that require significant budget allocation.

Green Building Strategy

Energy Category

• HERS 60
• Natural ACH = 0.12; ACH @50 pascals = 1.84 (code is 3 ACH)
• Thermal Envelope:

– Roof: R-60 (Greenguard certified, formaldehyde free blown- fiberglass) – Walls: R-26 (3” spray foam cavity insulation, with Zip-R insulation sheathing CI) – Window: Average U-factor of .29. Heatshield added to windows on North and West elevations.

• Furnace:

– 95 % efficient, sealed combustion, two stage natural gas furnace

• Energy Recovery Ventilators in house and apartment

Water Category

• Low flow single flush toilets, Water Sense certified.
• Low flow lavatory faucets, Water Sense certified.
• Energy Star rated washing machines
• Minimal turf grass, xeriscaping.
• Native grasses preserved.

IAQ & Materials

• Centralized ERV System (Balanced whole house ventilation)
• Sealed combustion gas stove
• Range hood ducted to outside (compared with recirculating hood)
• CARB compliant cabinets, constructed with plywood,

formaldehyde free, zero VOC finish

• Low VOC Paint
• Low VOC adhesives and sealants
• Low VOC pad with wool carpet
• CARB compliant engineered Oak flooring, FSC certified, VOC and

formaldehyde free

• Low VOC construction adhesive used
• Local Concrete and Aggregate
• Regionally supplied drywall (from Gypsum, CO)

Challenges and Insights

• Additional project consultant

– Coordination – Time

• Contractor and Subcontractor education

– GC and HVAC subcontractor were required to do online training for Energy Star accreditation – HVAC subcontractor was required to have accreditation certificate from ACCA – Specification/work order for subs – Potential increase in construction oversight time

• Credit documentation
• Challenging Credit areas

– Waste diversion – WE: getting enough credits in this category with prescriptive path

• Toilets on a budget

The Value of LEED Homes

Texas – McCombs & The University of Texas at Austin 2016

• A statistical analysis of MLS home sale data in the state of Texas over the years

2008 – 2016 indicates that a house with an environmental designation sells for a premium of roughly 6%, and with a LEED designation in particular the price premium is estimated at roughly 8%.

• In addition, available data indicate that the LEED designation is growing in the

Texas residential market. Table 2 shows that for our Texas MLS dataset, while LEED homes represent only a very small fraction of homes that were sold when the home was older than two years old. The LEED numbers for both new construction and homes 1-2 years old are significantly higher. Our current small sample of LEED transactions shows a statistically significant price premium of roughly 8% for the LEED designation, and we hope to revisit this estimate in the future as the number of LEED transactions in the state of Texas increases. California – Kok and Kahn Report 2012

• Kok and Kahn (2012) find an incremental green premium of roughly 12% in

their study of the California housing market. In the Kok and Kahn (2012) analysis this green premium is calculated combining all environmental

• designations. When LEED designation is used as the only green designation,

the estimated green coefficient in Kok and Kahn (2012) is not statistically significant. Appraisal Institute AI Report Form 820.05 Residential Green and Energy Efficient Addendum

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BEST PRACTICES

PANELIZED CONSTRUCTION:

• SPEED OF INSTALLATION
• SUBMITTAL REVIEW OF TAPES

(LAYOUT)

• ENVELOPE ACCURACY

– LESS MATERIALS USED – THERMAL BYPASS – INSULATION – LESS WASTE

• MEETS ENERGY STAR FOR

HOMES EFFICIENT FRAMING REQUIREMENTS

• SAVING TIME IS SAVING

MONEY

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BEST PRACTICES

ZIPSYSTEM WALL (ALL IN ONE STRUCTURAL SHEATHING /EXTERIOR INSULATION)

• THREE THICKNESSES (STRUCTURAL AND R-VALUE)
• EASE OF INSTALLATION
• AIR TIGHTNESS
• LABOUR SAVINGS
• EARLY WATERPROOFING

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BEST PRACTICES

GAS WATER HEATING - Reduces HERS Index, more so than electric water

• heaters. The exception being heat pump water heaters.

<3 AIR CHANGES PER HOUR - reduces HERS index, improves thermal comfort

• f home, extends life of HVAC equipment since it’s not having to constantly

cycle on and off due to high rates of infiltration. DUCTS - Installing ducts inside of the thermal envelope in drop soffits or under the thermal boundary of a home/unit, minimizes air leakage to the

• utside and helps to improve the HERS score and Keep ducts a minimum of 2”

from insulation and roof framing members DUCT LEAKAGE - Meet Energy Star standard of less than≤ 4 CFM25 per 100

• sq. ft. of conditioned floor area by thoroughly sealing all duct work during

construction, Reduced air leakage in ducts improves overall HVAC efficiency and minimizes undue home pressurization/depressurization.

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BEST PRACTICES

VENTILATION THOROUGHLY DEFINE ALL POSSIBLE INCENTIVES AND EXPLORE HOW TO GET THEM COST EFFECTIVELY INSIST ON ROBUST PLAN & SPEC REVIEW AT 50% AND 90% CDS AND SUBMITTAL REVIEWS BY SUSTAINABILITY CONSULTANT FIND THE BUILDING RECIPE THAT WORKS FOR YOUR COMPANY AND KEEP IMPROVING IT TRADES TRAININGS ENSURE CONTRACTOR TREATS SUSTAINABILITY INSPECTIONS EQUAL TO ANY CODE INSPECTIONS.

Conclusion

As Development Teams apply new building science, re-think their designs and construction strategies, incorporate better integrated systems and new products, green projects can now be built without additional cost. Combining this with the fact that more building professionals are learning to better communicate the benefits of a high performance projects, the marketplace will continue to recognize the true value of high performance projects and reward building professionals and developers who are leading the way.

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• Headquarters in Albuquerque,

NM 2010

• Branch Office in Boynton

Beach, FL 2013

• International Branch Office in

Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands 2015

• Branch Office 2017 – Fort

Collins, CO

• Affiliates across the Country