January 24, 2009
Every Building should have these!
While gearing up for the new presidency and getting excited about him closing Guantanamo, I also think now is the time to actually get things done. President Obama to me seems like the type of man who is no bullshit, real, and measurable.
This means several things for us as peons. It means we will actually see things happen in the United States instead of that wait and react feeling we’ve had for the last several years (oh wait, let me correct myself and say last 8 years!). The good news is we’ve already see it.
Our last post revolved around the idea of Obama and energy efficiency for government buildings. Thats great and I’m happy for the government. Maybe they will set the example for the rest of us so we can actually look up to our leaders instead of following in their footsteps (look to American debt vs. other countries like Japan if you don’t agree – classic example).
With that said, you are probably wondering how you can contribute.
Well below is from the Organic Architect’s website.
EVERY Project should include these!!
1. Every project should be a Passive Solar design, orient to the sun and incorporate passive cooling.
2. Double the minimum amount of insulation required. Use only non-toxic or recycled content
insulation.
3. Use Low/No-VOC and Formaldehyde-Free Paint. Use Solvent-Free Adhesives.
4. Use Low VOC, Water-Based Wood Finishes.
5. Use certified wood or finger-jointed wood for all finish trim.
6. Expose the structure to avoid the need for additional finishes.
7. Avoid wall to wall carpet, or use carpet tiles with a company with a take back program.
8. If you must use drywall, use recycled content drywall. Try other natural wall finishes.
9. Use composite lumber for all exterior decks.
10. Replace up to 35% of the Portland Cement in the concrete with Fly Ash.
11. Avoid vinyl products. Alternatives include rubber, turned up carpet, linoleum, etc. As an
alternative to vinyl flooring consider linoleum, made from wood flour, resins and linseed oil. It’s
available in a variety of colors and can be cut and pieced in to any pattern you can dream up.
12. Specify a light color roof in warm regions; a non asphalt roof allows for future water catchment.
13. Avoid standard particle board cabinets and use formaldehyde-free medium density fiberboard,
plywood or wheat board for cabinet boxes.
14. Consider bamboo, reclaimed or sustainably harvested wood, and wheatboard for cabinet doors
and drawers, and sealed with a no- or low-volatile organic compound clear finish.
15. On-demand hot water pumping system rather than a whole house re-circulating hot water loop,
which has proven to be inefficient for delivering hot water quickly.
16. Any new toilets should be dual flush type. For $20, EcoFlush makes a kit to retrofit existing
toilets to dual flush.
17. Recycle Job Site Construction and Demolition Waste. Change your general demolition notes to
salvage all removed doors and windows for possible salvage or reuse.
18. Use treated wood that does not contain Chromium, CCA or Arsenic for decking and sill plates.
19. Landscaping uses drip irrigation system to save water and indigenous xeriscaping plants that
require little water.
20. Incorporate permeable paving at all driveways and exterior surfaces.
21. Reuse concrete form boards, or reusable slip forms.
22. Insulate foundation before backfill.
23. Substitute solid sawn lumber with engineered lumber.
24. Use OSB for subfloor and sheathing
25. If you are going to use stucco siding, use integrally colored stucco.
26. Install a whole house water filter.
27. Provide conduit for future solar addition.
28. Provide dimmers on all light switches. (Wattstopper)
29. South and west facing walls to have a high thermal mass material (concrete, or earthen).
30. All appliances to be high level EnergyStar models.
31. Pre-plumb for solar water heating.
32. On demand, tankless water heaters
33. Provide heat reclaimation GFX exchangers at all high use showers.
If you don’t understand what this stuff means then look it up and do your homework. This is real, its now and it needs to be known.
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