We would like to extend Kudos to TW Perry for its excellent Green Building Workshop, an all day series of lectures and panel discussion held on February 25th in Rockville.

Along with several interesting and relatively short pitches by suppliers touting their product’s green credential, three speakers offered their informed perspectives on Green Building.

Peter Yost is the Technical Director of www.greenbuildingadvisor.com and was a very engaging speaker. Think of your favorite lecturer or professor in college. The Greenbuildingadvisor website is an authoritative and amazingly extensive source of information and discussion on all aspects of building. The website is non-advertorial and relies on a subscription program for funding. Any renovator or builder looking to produce a smarter and higher quality product should subscribe and use this website. There is a good deal of free content to give you a taste of what’s behind the pay wall, so check that out.

Peter Pfeiffer of Barley & Pfeiffer architects in Texas, the sole speaker invited back from last year, also gave an engaging and illuminating talk. His view of how your remodeling or construction dollar should be spent is a rational and pragmatic approach based upon the idea of the food pyramid. At the bottom of the pyramid (representing how you should spent most of your dollars) are the lowest cost most effective items such as insulation and durable smart construction details. At the top of the pyramid are what he and others referred to as “Eco-Bling.” These include PV solar panels, Geo-thermal heating systems and Solar Hot water systems, etc. “Renewables” have their place he said, but the focus and dollars of construction and renovation should first be on durability, energy efficiency and building health (particularly in strategies to control humidity). Mr. Pfeiffer was featured in a Washington Post article in December of 2009. http://www.washingtonpost.com/
wpdyn/content/article/2009/12/03/AR2009120305116.html

During his talk Mr. Pfeiffer projected an interesting pie chart showing the lifecycle costs of a home broken down into the following categories: financing, construction, maintenance and insurance, alterations and Energy. While the construction costs of the home are 15% of its total cost, energy is 27% and maintenance and insurance are 23%. Alterations and improvements are 21%. (see above) The following three conclusions can be drawn:

(1) While fundamental issues of durability, energy efficiency, comfort and quality are determined during the design and planning processes, the costs associated would not even show up on this pie chart.
(2) Do not scrimp on the quality of a home’s initial construction or its renovation. Choose the best materials and systems you can afford. Over time, durability for a home is like health for a person.
(3) Make the home as energy efficient as possible.

The first speaker of the day was Chuck Miller, principal of Miller Custom Homes in the Tidewater region of Virginia. Mr. Miller built the first EarthCraft home in his area and builds both homes on spec and custom homes. Also an engaging speaker, Chuck discussed his experience with building Green Homes with a focus on energy efficiency.

Chuck made the interesting and controversial assertion that a large home can be a green home. He uses a formulation of approximately 800 square feet per occupant. According to the NAHB, the average home size in 2000 was 2,330 sft. In 1970 the average home size was 1,400 square feet and the average household size was 3.14*. If you look at the last census, (2000) the average household size was 2.59 people. Chuck’s formulation is about right on average and even a little low. That said, it is debatable whether after the 3.14’th person in a home, each person needs 800 more square feet. In the spirit of Sarah Susanka, we would recommend putting your resources into quality first then quantity.

* From US RITA website

There are dozens of choices for countertop materials. While countertops are a small part of your home, they can represent an intensive amount of money, time and emotion spent in small areas. While finishes don’t typically improve the energy efficiency of your home, they can certainly impact the indoor air quality. From a sustainability perspective, like the lumber or masonry in your walls, energy and natural resources were in their manufacture.

Without necessarily thinking about it too much, you can go to your local counter install and pick out a stone which is mined in Pakistan, for example. It’s an amazing world we live in! A huge amount of energy goes into not only cutting and extracting huge chunks of stone from deep within the ground, but into slicing the stone into useable slabs, polishing it, shipping it around the world, cutting it to fit over your cabinets and trucking it over and installed in your home. In sustainability terms this represents an awful lot of “embodied energy.”

Likewise, if you choose an abundant, renewable and relatively locally available material which is not durable or appropriate for the intended location and it needs to be replaced several times more often than the aforementioned granite counters, then that may be an even less sustainable choice.

Below, we’ve put together a brief summary of some the many available materials with their pros and cons, both in terms of durability and environmental sustainability.

3form
Resin and recycled product based. Not heat resistant. Can be repaired. Translucent colors available. Some materials are imported to the USA. http://www.3-form.com/ $$$-$$$$

Butcher Bock
Can be made from FSC hardwood. Bamboo butcher bock is also available. Wood is a renewable resource. Manufactured locally by woodworkers everywhere. Needs to be sealed periodically, though sealer can have health benefits. Can be repaired and used as a cutting surface. Requires maintenance. $$-$$$

ECO by Cosentino
Non porous and does not require sealing. Made from 75% recycled materials including mirrors, glass, bottles, porcelain and glass & corn based resin. Substitute for engineered stone. Cradle-to-Cradle certified. Cosentino is a Huge Spanish corporation which also manufacturers Silestone. US manufacturing plant in Texas means slabs use lots of gasoline to get to DC. http://www.ecobycosentino.com $$$

Engineered woods including Kirei Board, Wheatboard, Plyboo, Dakota Burl, etc.
Sustainable materials when appropriate material is paired with appropriate application. In many cases, less expensive than other materials. Can be installed by a carpenter. Not heat resistant or moisture resistant in many cases or as durable as some other alternatives. May be more maintenance intensive. Needs to be sealed. May not be suitable for kitchen or bath locations. $-$$

Laminates – Wilsonart, Formica, etc.
Laminates are made of high density plastic applied to plywood. They are an inexpensive choice, but are petroleum based and not considered to be a sustainable material. $

Linoleum - Forbo Marmoleum, Armstrong
Linoleum, unlike laminate, is a renewable resource made from linseed oil. While it is more typically used for flooring, a good carpenter can made a striking countertop with Linoleum on a plywood base. Linoleum can be repaired, is durable, affordable and can be recycled. An excellent choice. See Linoleum counters on a Landis Construction project at the following link: http://www.landisconstruction.com/our_portfolio/g_05.htm
$-$$

Natural Stone – Granite, Marble, Soapstone
Granite, marble and Soapstone are beautiful and highly durable and there are literally hundreds of colors in a rainbow of colors and textures. Jumbo environmental footprint and embodied energy. Stone typically needs to be sealed. Marble is prone to chipping and staining and extreme heat can damage the finish. Some stones are rumored to emit radon. $$-$$$$

Ice Stone
Made from recycled glass in a cement matrix. Made in New York. Cradle to Cradle Gold Certified. http://www.icestone.biz/ $$$$

New River Concrete Countertops
Manufactured local to DC Metro Area. Made from reclaimed river aggregate and other recycled content from dredging operations. Custom Fabricated. Heat and stain resistant. $$$
www.newriverconcretecountertops.com/

Paperstone
100% Post consumer waste made of paper and resin. Shipped from Washington State (not local to DC). Heat and stain resistant. Structural. Can be fabricated and installed by a carpenter. www.paperstoneproducts.com $$-$$$

Quartz – Silestone, Zodiaq, Cambria, Caesarstone Quartz counters can in some cases contain some recycled content depending upon color and manufacturer. Quartz has a high embodied energy from the manufacturing and mining process and from shipping, but is a greener choice than granite. Some quartz counters do not need to be sealed. Quartz is durable, heat resistant and scratch resistant. $$-$$$$

Richlite
Made from wood fiber. Two products contain recycled content. Shipped from Washington State (not local to DC). Heat and stain resistant. Structural. Can be fabricated and installed by a carpenter. $$-$$$ http://www.richlite.com/countertop/

Squak Mountain Stone
Fibrous cement comprised of recycled paper, recycled glass, fly ash and cement. May be maintenance intensive. Premade slabs need to be cut to size like granite. Need to be sealed $$$

Subterra Cork
Engineered cork product. 25”x36” sheets can be seamed with wood glue. Needs to be sealed. Non structural. Not recommended for kitchens. Cork is a renewable resource from the bark of the cork oak. This can be installed by a carpenter. $$

Tile – Porcelain and Ceramic
Tile can be utilized to make a durable counter that is also heat and stain resistant. Many tiles are available with high recycled content. Though heat resistant, tiles are more prone to cracking than some other materials. Porcelain is typically stronger and more durable than ceramic. Large grout lines can be a problem for staining. More popular in the West and Southwest than in the DC area. $$

Michael Gotthelf – Landis Construction

[gallery]GREEN REMODELING ENTIRE HOUSE

Landis Construction won a NARI Metro DC COTY (Contractor of The Year) Finalist award in the category of Green Remodeling Entire House for its LEED-H platinum level.

When you close your eyes and imagine a “Green House,” you may get an image of either a hot house for growing tomatoes, or a super modern boxy structure with solar panels on the roof. Our “Green House” renovation took place in vigilantly historic Georgetown and proves that green construction and historic renovation can blend together with extraordiany results.

Part of the difficulty of a “Green Home” goes to the very question of what is a green home. Several third party organizations such as the US Green Building Counsel, with its LEED program, have addressed this issue by creating a system of metrics and a third party planning and evaluation system for certifying a home’s level of green. Through LEED’s rigorous planning, testing and documentation process, special attention was paid from design through completion of construction to ensure the home: (1) is exceedingly well constructed; (2) greatly exceeds current energy efficiency standards; (3) manages water resources; (4) promotes healthy indoor air quality (IAQ); and (5) produced a limited waste stream during demolition, construction and the life of the home.

The project all started when Landis Construction’s clients, the Walters, purchased a relatively neglected 100+ year old home with the goal of transforming it into just such an example of Green Construction meets Historic. With some research, they decided to make the investment in a LEED-H certified house.

As Landis’ first LEED certified project, this renovation produced many challenges we had never encountered before.

Four of the biggest green related challenges came from:

(1) Integrating 21st century building science into a historically protected 19th century home.
(2) The LEED process required us to fundamentally change the way we go about designing, planning and producing a renovation. LEED puts significant emphasis on the planning, designing and documenting portion of the project. Everyone involved in this project entered this project with a mindset open to learning the principals of sustainable design and construction.
(3) During the project, we expended a large amount of time and effort educating ourselves and our trade partners and vendors about the fundamentals of sustainable design and construction.
(4) The documentation requirement of the LEED process is not required on standard remodeling projects. During this process we were required to complete:
a. Durability Report – Documentation that a number of best practices were followed including flashing, air sealing, proper installation of insulation, some structural details along with water infiltration prevention detailing.
b. Duct Blaster Test – ensuring ductwork was properly sealed.
c. Blower door test – documenting the improvement of air leakage before and after, as well as to ensure that we had achieved a consistently tight thermal envelope.
d. Commissioning of HVAC system included balancing all of the air supplies and returns and verifying that all equipment was working at or above manufacturer’s specifications.
e. Submissions for LEED platinum – producing specific documentation for every point (there were dozens of them making up the 102 points we received) including photographs, manufacturers’ specifications, receipts, and written verification from third party testers.

Below are highlights of some of the “green” strategies employed in the renovation of this home.

Demolition, Excavation, and Site Work:
• Deconstruction
• Donation of salvageable materials
• Recycling of construction and demolition waste

Concrete and Block Foundations:
• Concrete with high fly-ash content

Rough Framing
• Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certified dimensional lumber throughout
• Borate-treated, FSC dimensional lumber
• FSC, formaldehyde-free plywood for subflooring
• No added formaldehyde OSB board for sheathing
• No-VOC adhesives
• Optimum Value Engineered (Advanced) Framing Techniques were employed to save wood, limit thermal bridging and optimize size of insulation cavities
• A number of engineered wood beams in the house were used instead of steel.

Exterior Windows and Doors
• Historically-correct Energy Star Jeld-Wen windows and doors at rear and side of the house.
• Restored original front façade windows re-weatherstripped for energy efficiency with high quality wood storm windows.

Exterior Finish: Trim, Siding, Soffits
• Hardi-plank siding salvaged from side of neighbor’s addition was reinstalled at the new rear elevation.

Roofing
• New, sun-reflective “cool roof”

Masonry: Brick or Stone Veneer, Chimneys
• Salvaged historic bricks

Plumbing
• Fusiotherm piping was used throughout rather than copper
• Highly water-efficient bath and kitchen faucets, toilets and showerheads
• Solar thermal hot water

HVAC
• Very high efficiency (96% efficient) gas furnace
• Very high efficiency (21 SEER) AC unit
• Ducts sealed with mastic rather than tape to minimize leaks
• Ducts kept sealed during construction to minimize contamination
• Energy Recovery Ventilator installed to bring in fresh air and pre-heat or pre-cool that air with the exhausted air.
• Very high 16-MERV air filters installed to maximize removal of air contaminants

Electrical
• LED lighting throughout home in the form of recessed cans and under-cabinet lighting
• Some CFL and fluorescent tubes used in closets and stairwells

Insulation
• Demilec open-cell, high soy-content spray foam for non-basement walls and roof rafters.
• Demilec closed-cell, high soy-content spray foam for basement walls.
• Careful air sealing throughout the house around all penetrations

Gypsum Wallboard
• High recycled content gypsum and paper wallboard
• No-VOC joint compound
• No-VOC drywall adhesive
• Drywall scraps were recycled

Fireplace
• Closed-combustion, low-emission, high-efficiency, gas fireplace

Flooring: Hardwood, Vinyl, Carpet
• No carpet used
• Engineered salvaged heart pine flooring installed on middle and upper floors
• Solid, woven bamboo installed in basement
• Low and no-VOC adhesives and/or finishes used on the flooring

Stairs, Railings & Interior Trim
• Interior stair systems used all FSC and salvaged woods (This was the first ever built by our partner stair company.)
• Exterior stair and railing wood was either borate-treated pine (for structure) or locally salvaged (Bethesda, MD) and milled white oak for other components
• Interior trim was locally milled from urban forested lumber (Poplar trees certified as being locally salvaged by our sawyer/miller).

Tile: Walls and Floors
• Local and/or recycled content tiles installed in bathrooms, foyer and laundry areas

Painting: Interior and Exterior
• Green Seal certified primers and paints

Cabinets
• Cabinetry – Greentech super green cabinets.

FINAL RESULTS
The renovated home honors the elegant detailing and finishes of its historic period. However, below the surface, the home boasts many cutting edge building technologies. The house is more than twice as energy efficient as a home constructed to today’s energy code. The home is durable (low maintenance) and operating costs will be very minimal for many years. Because of the building materials and finishes used and the HVAC energy recovery ventilator, the air quality in the home is superior.

The clients are very happy that their home achieved a high LEED platinum rating (102 points, 9 points over the threshold). The homeowners have also more than satisfied their LEED educational requirements, by having several well attended events at the home and more are planned.

With its generous well-proportioned spaces, rational flow, and openness this historic and sustainable home will provide current and future owners with a wonderful place to live and welcome friends.