Green Building

Subtitle:  Environmental product declarations cover four categories of North American lumber products Images: 

Environmental impact summaries for four types of North American lumber products are now available, the American Wood Council and the Canadian Wood Council said.

The "environmental product declarations," or EPDs, list such things as the global warming potential, ozone depletion potentialAmount of damage to the ozone layer a given chemical can cause compared to trichlorofluoromethane (CFC-11), which is given a value of 1.0 on this relative scale. and fossil-fuel consumption for various categories of products. The new declarations cover softwood lumber, plywood, oriented strand board (OSB), and glue-laminated lumber.

Subtitle:  Just as in other states, the dispute centers on timber harvesting certification and whether LEED shows an unfair bias toward the Forest Stewardship Council Images: 

A bill working its way through the North Carolina state legislature would prevent officials from seeking LEEDLeadership in Energy and Environmental Design. LEED for Homes is the residential green building program from the United States Green Building Council (USGBC). While this program is primarily designed for and applicable to new home projects, major gut rehabs can qualify. certification for state government buildings because the green-rating system doesn't give enough credit for using North Carolina lumber products.

Subtitle:  A new report predicts the worldwide market for green construction materials will double in seven years Images: 

A new report says the worldwide market for green construction materials will more than double over the next seven years to reach $254 billion by 2020.

Subtitle:  Researchers adapt Aeroseal duct-sealing technology for use on whole houses Images: 

Builders who specialize in high-performance houses spend a lot of time tracking down and correcting air leaks. The process can involve a number of materials and sealants, such as special gaskets, tape, and caulk, plus a lot of time and attention to install them correctly.

Researchers at the Western Cooling Efficiency Center at the University of California-Davis think they've found a way to make the process much faster and easier.

Subtitle:  The Minnesota company will become the sole North American supplier of windows with Passivhaus certification Images: 

Minnesota-based Marvin Windows and Doors expects to become the first North American producer of windows certified by the Passive HouseA residential building construction standard requiring very low levels of air leakage, very high levels of insulation, and windows with a very low U-factor. Developed in the early 1990s by Bo Adamson and Wolfgang Feist, the standard is now promoted by the Passivhaus Institut in Darmstadt, Germany. To meet the standard, a home must have an infiltration rate no greater than 0.60 AC/H @ 50 pascals, a maximum annual heating energy use of 15 kWh per square meter (4,755 Btu per square foot), a maximum annual cooling energy use of 15 kWh per square meter (1.39 kWh per square foot), and maximum source energy use for all purposes of 120 kWh per square meter (11.1 kWh per square foot). The standard recommends, but does not require, a maximum design heating load of 10 W per square meter and windows with a maximum U-factor of 0.14. The Passivhaus standard was developed for buildings in central and northern Europe; efforts are underway to clarify the best techniques to achieve the standard for buildings in hot climates. Institute US, allowing builders on this side of the Atlantic to avoid long waits for certified windows to be shipped from Europe.

Subtitle:  The state reaches a photovoltaic milestone four years earlier than it had originally planned and sets a new target Images: 

Massachusetts has reached its goal of 250 megawatts of installed photovoltaic(PV) Generation of electricity directly from sunlight. A photovoltaic cell has no moving parts; electrons are energized by sunlight and result in current flow. capacity four years sooner than the original 2017 target, and has set a new goal of 1.6 gigawatts by 2020, according to PV Magazine.

Subtitle:  City College of New York will host the second annual event Images: 

The 2nd Annual Passive HouseA residential building construction standard requiring very low levels of air leakage, very high levels of insulation, and windows with a very low U-factor. Developed in the early 1990s by Bo Adamson and Wolfgang Feist, the standard is now promoted by the Passivhaus Institut in Darmstadt, Germany. To meet the standard, a home must have an infiltration rate no greater than 0.60 AC/H @ 50 pascals, a maximum annual heating energy use of 15 kWh per square meter (4,755 Btu per square foot), a maximum annual cooling energy use of 15 kWh per square meter (1.39 kWh per square foot), and maximum source energy use for all purposes of 120 kWh per square meter (11.1 kWh per square foot). The standard recommends, but does not require, a maximum design heating load of 10 W per square meter and windows with a maximum U-factor of 0.14. The Passivhaus standard was developed for buildings in central and northern Europe; efforts are underway to clarify the best techniques to achieve the standard for buildings in hot climates. Symposium will take place on June 8, 2013 at The Bernard & Anne Spitzer School of Architecture at the City College of New York.

The NY13 Symposium will include presentations by Dr. Berthold Kaufmann of the Passivhaus Institut and Richard Leigh of the Urban Green Council as well as others.

The 18 vendors on hand will show high-performance products and services. Organizers say the day-long event is aimed at anyone with an interest in Passivhaus design, "both the uninitiated and initiated alike."

Subtitle:  An Alaska couple sets a world mark with a blower-door test result far below the Passivhaus standard Images: 

A Dillingham, Alaska, couple has claimed a world record for airtightness in a 600-sq. ft. home with 28-in. thick walls and a ceiling rated at R-140.

According to the World Record Academy, a blower-door testTest used to determine a home’s airtightness: a powerful fan is mounted in an exterior door opening and used to pressurize or depressurize the house. By measuring the force needed to maintain a certain pressure difference, a measure of the home’s airtightness can be determined. Operating the blower door also exaggerates air leakage and permits a weatherization contractor to find and seal those leakage areas. measured 0.05 air changes per hour at 50 pascals of pressure (ACH50), less than 10% of the very rigorous PassivhausA residential building construction standard requiring very low levels of air leakage, very high levels of insulation, and windows with a very low U-factor. Developed in the early 1990s by Bo Adamson and Wolfgang Feist, the standard is now promoted by the Passivhaus Institut in Darmstadt, Germany. To meet the standard, a home must have an infiltration rate no greater than 0.60 AC/H @ 50 pascals, a maximum annual heating energy use of 15 kWh per square meter (4,755 Btu per square foot), a maximum annual cooling energy use of 15 kWh per square meter (1.39 kWh per square foot), and maximum source energy use for all purposes of 120 kWh per square meter (11.1 kWh per square foot). The standard recommends, but does not require, a maximum design heating load of 10 W per square meter and windows with a maximum U-factor of 0.14. The Passivhaus standard was developed for buildings in central and northern Europe; efforts are underway to clarify the best techniques to achieve the standard for buildings in hot climates. air-tightness standard of 0.60 ACH50.

Subtitle:  This thermal image really is worth a thousand words Images: 

Designers are accustomed to talking about high-performance houses in a language of abstractions: R-values, triple-pane windows, and blower-door testTest used to determine a home’s airtightness: a powerful fan is mounted in an exterior door opening and used to pressurize or depressurize the house. By measuring the force needed to maintain a certain pressure difference, a measure of the home’s airtightness can be determined. Operating the blower door also exaggerates air leakage and permits a weatherization contractor to find and seal those leakage areas. results. We sort of get it. But this thermal image makes the dramatic difference between a PassivhausA residential building construction standard requiring very low levels of air leakage, very high levels of insulation, and windows with a very low U-factor. Developed in the early 1990s by Bo Adamson and Wolfgang Feist, the standard is now promoted by the Passivhaus Institut in Darmstadt, Germany. To meet the standard, a home must have an infiltration rate no greater than 0.60 AC/H @ 50 pascals, a maximum annual heating energy use of 15 kWh per square meter (4,755 Btu per square foot), a maximum annual cooling energy use of 15 kWh per square meter (1.39 kWh per square foot), and maximum source energy use for all purposes of 120 kWh per square meter (11.1 kWh per square foot). The standard recommends, but does not require, a maximum design heating load of 10 W per square meter and windows with a maximum U-factor of 0.14. The Passivhaus standard was developed for buildings in central and northern Europe; efforts are underway to clarify the best techniques to achieve the standard for buildings in hot climates. project and conventional construction really easy to understand.

Subtitle:  A $4 million grant will subsidize the construction of 25 net-zero energy homes, while a second grant will fund research into new net-zero technologies Images: 

A newly announced $4 million grant will subsidize the construction of at least 25 net-zero energyProducing as much energy on an annual basis as one consumes on site, usually with renewable energy sources such as photovoltaics or small-scale wind turbines. homes (NZEHs) in four Canadian provinces. The initiative is being funded by the Canadian government's ecoENERGY Innovation Initiative (ecoEII), homebuilders, and building materials manufacturers, including Owens Corning Canada.

Subtitle:  An unusual event at a western Maine wind farm could mean a $4 million loss for the turbine's Canadian owner Images: 

Fire has destroyed a 3-megawatt turbine that's part of the 44-turbine Kibby Mountain wind farm near the Canadian border, according to an article in the Bangor Daily News. The newspaper published the article on April 23 but said the fire actually had taken place on Jan. 16, noting that wind farm operators in Maine are not required to report turbine fires to any state agency.

Subtitle:  Addition to 'green fields' category would make it easier for buyers to find energy-efficient homes Images: 

The "green fields" in Colorado's Multiple Listing Service are expanding, a change that will make it easier for real estate agents and home buyers to find energy-efficient properties.

As reported on the website of the Residential Energy Services Network, the Colorado Energy Office has been working on the expanded MLS listings so they will include:

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The Home Energy Rating System (HERSIndex or scoring system for energy efficiency established by the Residential Energy Services Network (RESNET) that compares a given home to a Home Energy Rating System (HERS) Reference Home based on the 2006 International Energy Conservation Code. A home matching the reference home has a HERS Index of 100. The lower a home’s HERS Index, the more energy efficient it is. A typical existing home has a HERS Index of 130; a net zero energy home has a HERS Index of 0. Older versions of the HERS index were based on a scale that was largely just the opposite in structure--a HERS rating of 100 represented a net zero energy home, while the reference home had a score of 80. There are issues that complicate converting old to new or new to old scores, but the basic formula is: New HERS index = (100 - Old HERS score) * 5.) index score

Energy Star homesA U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) program to promote the construction of new homes that are at least 15% more energy-efficient than homes that minimally comply with the 2004 International Residential Code. Energy Star Home requirements vary by climate.

Subtitle:  Federal court filings in a half dozen states allege that spray polyurethane foam is defective and dangerous to homeowners Images: 

Federal lawsuits claiming that spray-polyurethane foam insulation is toxic and can sicken those who live in houses where it has been installed are pending in more than a half-dozen states as lawyers deal with an “avalanche” of complaints, a Florida attorney says.

Subtitle:  In a setback for the Republican governor, an appeals panel has overturned efforts to weaken green building regulations Images: 

An appeals court in New Mexico has overturned an attempt to weaken green building regulations originally implemented by Democratic Gov. Bill Richardson but opposed by the incumbent, Republican Susana Martinez.

Subtitle:  The LEED rating system has global influence, but critics complain that LEED is more about winning points than energy performance Images: 

The U.S. Green Building Council, the organization that launched the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) rating system for new and renovated buildings, marks its 20th birthday this month.

The U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) is a nonprofit association that promotes sustainable materials and building practices.

Subtitle:  This energy-saving technology is now a recognized part of the province's building energy code Images: 

Ontario has become the first province or state in North America to recognize drain-water heat recovery (DWHR) as part of its building energy code. Provincial builders will now be able to use DWHR to meet energy-savings requirements in the Ontario building code, and the change also should prove a boost for manufacturers.

Subtitle:  In China, a 10-megawatt power plant will take advantage of differences in ocean water temperatures at different depths Images: 

Lockheed Martin, the U.S. defense giant, has announced plans to build a 10-megawatt generating plant that uses variations in ocean water temperatures to generate electricity. The plant will be built off the coast of southern China.

Subtitle:  A house proposed for Habitat for Humanity in Providence, R.I., emphasizes a small carbon footprint and affordability, and wins its designers a $5,000 cash prize Images: 

A four-bedroom, two-bathroom house its designers named "The Little Green Rhody" has won top honors in a design competition that promotes affordability, reduced fossil fuel use, and a lower carbon footprintAmount of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases that a person, community, industry, or other entity contributes to the atmosphere through energy use, transportation, and other means. .

Subtitle:  Oregon researchers are developing new coatings that would block infrared radiation without sacrificing light transmittance Images: 

Public and private researchers in Oregon have been awarded a $150,000 grant to continue work on a new coating process for architectural glass that would reflect infrared radiation without blocking as much visible light as current coatings.

Subtitle:  A California community requires every new home to include a PV system as it strives to become the solar capital ‘of the universe’ Images: 

In Lancaster, California, net-zero energyProducing as much energy on an annual basis as one consumes on site, usually with renewable energy sources such as photovoltaics or small-scale wind turbines. is taking on a whole new meaning. The city of 150,000, about an hour north of Los Angeles, will require most new homes to include photovoltaic(PV) Generation of electricity directly from sunlight. A photovoltaic cell has no moving parts; electrons are energized by sunlight and result in current flow. panels as it tries to becomes the first city to produce more solar electricity than the city consumes on a daily basis.