Dispelling the Myths of LEED Certified Homes 1
Goal – Constructive conversation about LEED Certified Homes Objective – To discuss the common misunderstandings surrounding the program 2
AGEN DA • USGBC OVERVIEW • LEED FOR HOMES OVERVIEW • LEED for HOMES 2008 vs v4.1 • LESSONS LEARNED FROM PROJECTS • BEST PRACTICES • DISCUSSION/QUESTION & ANSWER 3
Green Insight- What We Do 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+) Green Builder Vision House WJ Ranch, Roaring Fork, Colorado 90% of our projects are LEED PLATINUM CERTIFIED LEED Gold certified 2011 5
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. 1 1
Program Scope and Applicable Building Types Single-Family Homes Low-Rise Multifamily Mid-Rise Pilot Single-Family Production Gut Rehab
Over 160,000 units certified LEED for Homes v2008 Units Certified 25,403 135,108 Single Family Multifamily LEED for Homes v4 Units Certified 424 580 Single Family Multifamily
19
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 on 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 of 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
Vision House Goals • 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.
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) Energy & Atmosphere • Climate Control Network System (Uponor) Category Performance • Pathway 30% of credits to Whole House Controller (RTI) achieve Gold Certification • 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
Water Category • Dual Flush Toilets (Kohler) • Low Flow Lavatory Faucets (Kohler) • Domestic Hot Water Recirculation Loop • High Efficient Irrigation System • Drought Tolerant Plant Material Water Category Performance Pathway 16% of credits to achieve Gold Certification THIS HOME IS OVER 35% MORE WATER EFFICIENT THAN A TYPICAL HOME
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 Materials Category • Green Label Carpet 13% of credits to • Reclaimed wood achieve Gold • Cabinets of CARB approved substrate Certification MORE THAN 85% OF THE MATERIALS IN THE HOME CONTRIBUTED TO THE LEED CERTIFICATION
Lessons Learned • 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 LEED SILVER CERTIFICATION OBTAINABLE WITH NO ALTERNATIVE ENERGY OR GEOTHERMAL SYSTEMS
Lessons Learned • 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) Green buildings that are energy and water efficient with good indoor air quality can be built at no additional costs
Project Goals • Use little to no toxins in the construction/finishing process – Minimize all VOC with priority on IAQ • Ensure 3 rd party verification • Maximize energy efficiency and ease of operation • 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
Recommend
More recommend
