Description
Book SynopsisA comprehensive guide to building green on any budget.
According to conventional wisdom, building a green home is an expensive endeavor. The standard approach treats green as an add-on, tacking premium products, finishes, and equipment onto a traditional home design. As a result, many green home projects end up over budget or fail to achieve their environmental and performance goals.
Green Home Building explodes the myth that green homes have to cost more. Using proven methods based on applied building science, the authors show how to:
- Lower base construction costs to provide funding for high performance upgrades
- Achieve a net-zero energy home, including zero-ing water, waste, carbon, and associated costs within fifteen years
- Live affordably into the future, despite anticipated rising costs for fuel, water, materials, taxes, and health care
This comprehensive guide to building green on any budget defines the strategies that maximize the return on green investments. Written for anyone who has ever been swayed by the argument that the price tag limits how green a home can be, Green Home Building is a must-read for builders, contractors, architects, designers, and homeowners.
Miki Cook is a green building and sustainability consultant who has dedicated her career to educating contractors and the public on the strategies, methods, and benefits of green homes.
Doug Garrett has trained thousands of homebuilders, architects, and sub-contractors to build energy-efficient homes using applied building science to improve comfort, durability, and healthfulness while meeting or exceeding the energy code.
Table of ContentsForeword by Sarah Gutterman
Introduction
We're All Green with Envy
What Is a Green Home?
How Can I Build an Affordable Green Home?
section one: Show Me the Money
1. Location, Location, Location
Smart Growth
Analyzing Your Building Site
Other Considerations for Site Selection
Payback on This Investment
2. Size Matters
Assessing Your Needs
Paybacks on Right-Sizing Your Home
3. Design, Design, Design: Everything You Need to Know
1. Designing for Your Site
2. Designing for Passive Systems
3. Designing for Resource Efficiency
Payback On Design Elements
4. Building Products and Materials: Shades of Green
Global Citizens
Building Product Research
Selecting Building Materials
How We Use Building Materials
Paybacks: Return on Investment for Building Materials: The Real Cost of Housing
5. Construction Waste: The 8,000-Pound Gorilla of Cost Savings
Money in the Dumpster
Three Strategies for Waste Reduction
Payback: Return on Investment for Construction Waste Diversion Practices
6. Equipment and Systems
Efficiency Ratings
HVAC: Heating, Ventilation and Cooling Systems
Hot Water Systems
Rainwater, Greywater and Onsite Sewage Systems
Electrical Systems
Paybacks: Return on Investment from High-efficiency System Upgrades
7. Health and Environment
Toxins
Strategies for Improved Indoor Air Quality
Other Health Concerns
8. Outdoor Living
Defining Your Outdoor Living Spaces
Landscaping
9. Green Bling
The Modest Green Home
The Mainstream Green Home
The Custom Green Home
Avoid Wasting Money
10. Keeping It Green
Periodic Maintenance and Repairs
Commissioning
Lifestyle Choices
Protecting Your Health
Green Makeovers
Green Power Alternatives
section two: Getting to Zero
11. The Zero Energy Capable Home Model
Net Zero Defined
The Typical American Home
Our Baseline Home
Net Zero Home Model
12. Net Zero Water
The Water-Energy Connection
Where Does the Water Go?
How Much Water Is Available
Case Studies
How Low Can You Go?
13. Zero Waste
Waste Beyond the Household
Waste Prevention
Waste Diversion
The Key to Making Changes in Your Life
14. Zero Your Carbon Footprint
Revisiting Section One from a Carbon Perspective
Our Carbon Reduction Plan
15. Zero Cost Premium
Reducing Your Total Cost of Ownership
Reducing Your Construction Costs
Healthy and High Performance
Putting It All Together
End Notes
Index
About the Authors
