EcoStar's Seneca Cedar Shake Tiles are manufactured from recycled rubber and plastic.
ChesapeakeHome continues its five part series by taking another look at two just-released national rating systems for green residential development and their guidelines for materials and resources: the United States Green Building Council’s Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) for Homes and the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) Model Green Home Building Guidelines.
In the “energy” article (part two – April/May issue), we learned that LEED sets a higher standard than the NAHB guidelines by about 20 percent. Both give many of the same sound techniques and suggestions, but the LEED-H standard is generally stricter.
The other major difference between the way NAHB and LEED systems are administered is in verification. For the NAHB system, many of the points are builder-verified; the builder checks off a statement that he or she has followed the guidelines. LEED for Homes, on the other hand, is third-party verified by the rating system. To achieve LEED certification means submitting photos and other documents to a third party reviewer. If you have a LEED-certified home, you know it follows the most objectively evaluated standards.
IceStone surfaces are made with 100% recycled glass in a cement matrix.
In this fourth article in the series, we look at materials and resources, which is a major focus for both LEED and NAHB. We will consider the “three R’s” of this category: renewable, regional, and recycled. Regional is defined as extracted or harvested as well as manufactured within 500 miles of the project. Renewable means that a plant can be harvested and grows back within ten years. Examples are straw, rubber, cork, or bamboo. Recycled means material which has already been through the manufacturing cycle (i.e. wood scraps from a mill) and twice as much credit is given if it has been purchased and used by consumers (i.e. glass bottles).
On some occasions green initiatives can conflict. For example, bamboo flooring may have to be imported from China, or a product with recycled content may contain questionable chemicals. It’s a matter of making good choices and balancing priorities.Two other green objectives fall under materials and resources: first, using a reduced-wood framing system encouraged by both NAHB and LEED, and second, diverting demolition and construction waste from the landfill by recycling, reusing, and salvaging. Two local companies will take usable building materials and components and give you a tax deduction for your trouble (secondchanceinc.org; loadingdock.org).
Besides their environmental benefits, many green materials are simply gorgeous, and that’s part of their appeal. They give you a one-of-a-kind appearance in your remodeling or construction project. Re-cut salvaged wood will never be seen elsewhere. Old wood has a finer grain and more beautiful appearance than the young wood, which is usually cut today, so it is especially worth saving.
Choosing the right green products can give you a completely unique, knockout look. Instead of granite or marble from China or Brazil, ripped directly from vulnerable ecosystems with little or no regulation, use soapstone, quarried in Virginia. Soapstone was used by the Native Americans in this area, and has been valued for laboratory counters for decades because of its resistance to heat and chemicals and it makes a durable and aesthetically pleasing kitchen countertop.
Bolivian rosewood imported by JG Architectural Suply.
Instead of fiberglass insulation, which tends to leave gaps and is hard on both your hands and your lungs, spend a few extra dollars to buy Bonded Logic insulation, superior in performance and made from recycled denim (yes, it is blue). It can be stood up between studs without stapling, thus saving a bit on labor, and it contains only nontoxic borate as a fire retardant.
Want to go further? Use rice hulls as insulation—a surplus agricultural product that is naturally fire retardant and does not compress once installed.Looking for spectacular and striking? You can build a straw bale wall, using materials grown on local farms and covered inside and out with a hand-applied coat of fine plaster. Straw bale gives outstanding insulation values, including sound insulation. Insects and other pests don’t like straw bale, it doesn’t burn well because the bales are compressed, and lime plaster resists mold and looks better as it ages.
Another inventive way to stay green and get that exotic flooring you’ve always wanted is to seek out wood that is Forest Stewardship Council certified (the highest possible standard for sustainable harvesting) and hand rub it with Osmo (a carnauba wax product with no toxins).
Where can you learn and see more? Amicus Green Building Center, blueHouse, alterego, and JG Architectural Supply all offer showrooms in our area and are great fun to visit.
Polly Bart is President of Greenbuilders, Inc., and eco-friendly builder and remodeler. For more information, visit greenbuilders.com or call 410-833-4814.
Contacts:
Alberene Soapstone Company: alberenesoapstone.com
alterego: alter-e.com or 800-339-1179
Amicus Green Building Center: amicusgreen.com or 301-571-8590
blueHouse: bluehouselife.com or 877-276-1180
Bonded Logic, Inc.: bondedlogic.com or 480-812-9114
ecohaus, inc.: ecohaus.com
EcoStar: ecostar.carlisle.com
Icestone: icestone.biz
JG Architectural Supply: jgflooring.com or 877-482-4771
Olde Wood Limited: oldewoodltd.com or 866-208-WOOD
