Sustainable Design Tips for Homeowners

Sustainable Design Tips for Homeowners Green building, also called sustainable design, promotes environmentally responsible and efficient building pra...
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Sustainable Design Tips for Homeowners Green building, also called sustainable design, promotes environmentally responsible and efficient building practices that create healthy and comfortable places to live and work. There are five common sustainable design principles that are incorporated into sustainable building practices. These design principles include: Site Planning & Land Use Water Efficiency & Water Resource Management Energy Efficiency & Renewable Energy Environmentally Preferable Materials & Resources Healthy Indoor Air & Environmental Quality The most effective way to incorporate these sustainable design principles is by utilizing a whole building approach. This means designing, understanding, and integrating all factors of a building to work together for optimal efficiency. Steps to making a building more sustainable and efficient include: optimizing the building’s site potential; optimizing the floor plan potential; protecting and conserving water; utilizing energy efficient strategies; incorporating renewable energy sources; using environmentally preferable products; enhancing indoor air and environmental quality; and optimizing operational and maintenance practices. To learn more about sustainable design principles and view additional resources, please visit the NHC Planning & Inspections Green Resources webpage which will direct you to further information: http://www.nhcgov.com/PlanInspect/Pages/Green-Resources.aspx Disclaimer: These design tips are guidance materials to aid homeowners, designers, and contractors that choose to incorporate sustainable design principles into their projects. For homeowners: while many of these tips may be do-it-yourself projects, you may need a contractor for others. For all projects: permits and inspections may be required depending on the degree and scope of the project. All projects are required to meet all applicable North Carolina State Building Codes and New Hanover County ordinances. All products must be third-party verified in the United States and must meet North Carolina code requirements. For more information, and to determine if a project requires permits or inspections, please call the Inspections Division. Building & Plan Review: (910) 798-7450 Electrical Section: (910) 798-7205 Plumbing & Mechanical Section: (910) 798-7206

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Site Planning & Land Use Tips 

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Reduce the amount of impervious surfaces on your site. Impervious surfaces (such as pavement, roads, parking lots, driveways, and roofs) are surfaces that cannot be penetrated by water. Consequently, these surfaces cause rainwater and storm water runoff that negatively impacts water quality in our region. Choose pervious surface materials such as gravel, pavers, and pervious concrete whenever possible. Pervious materials allow water penetration which reduces runoff. Utilize low impact development principles (see the NHC Planning & Inspections Low Impact Development webpage for more details). Consider installing a rainwater catchment system such as a rainwater cistern, vegetated swales, rain gardens, or attach your gutter system to rain barrels.

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Reduce the amount of sod on your property, which is water-intensive to maintain. Instead, choose drought-resistant grasses or other native ground covers. Implement “xeriscaping” principles for your landscaping, meaning select native, droughttolerant trees, plants, bushes and other landscaping that suits the local climate. If irrigation or watering is needed for landscaping, water plants at dawn or dusk to reduce evaporation and minimize water use. Plant evergreen plants along your home’s North walls as a buffer against winter winds. Plant deciduous plants along the East, West, and South walls of your home to help provide shade during the hot summer months.

Water Efficiency & Water Resource Management Tips 



If you are replacing your water heater, choose a water heater with the highest possible Energy Factor (EF) rating. Consider using a tankless, on-demand water heater (available in gas and electric) which will reduce your energy consumption because on-demand heaters only heat needed, instead of constantly heating water to approximately 120°F. If you have a traditional water heater, make sure to insulate your hot water tank with jacket insulation specifically designed for water heaters. Insulate hot water pipes for both traditional water heaters and tankless water heaters. If you are replacing your toilets, choose low-flow toilets that use 1.6 gallons or less per

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flush. Also consider purchasing dual-flush toilets which allow the user to select varying water levels per flush and need. Replace your showerheads with low-flow fixtures that use less than 2.5 gallons per min. Replace your faucets with low-flow faucets that use less than 2.2 gallons per min. Fix all leaky pipes, faucets, and showerheads.



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Energy Efficiency & Renewable Energy Tips Building Envelope:  Ensure that all connection joints are sealed to eliminate potential air leakage. For the experienced “do-it-yourself” homeowner, you may be able to seal these potential areas of leakage yourself. If you do not feel comfortable trying these projects, have an experienced contractor seal these areas. Typical air leakage sites include: o Holes in or around slab floors, electrical boxes, plumbing connections on exterior walls, exhaust fans, attic accesses, HVAC return and supply registers, HVAC ductwork, dropped ceiling soffits, and others.  When sealing potential air leakage areas use low-VOC (volatile organic compounds) compounds, sealants, and caulk to seal joints. VOCs are harmful to occupant health and



negatively impact indoor air quality. If you hire a contractor to seal these areas, request that they use low-VOC compounds as well. Consider sealing your crawlspace and attic (if applicable) to prevent heat loss, heat gain, and unwanted moisture problems. There are various methods and materials available for sealing crawlspaces and attics; discuss your options with an experienced contractor.

Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning (HVAC) Systems:  If you are replacing your HVAC system, talk with your contractor about the following: o Have your HVAC contractor perform “Manual J” sizing calculations and “Manual





S” calculations for equipment selection. Using “rules of thumb” for sizing HVAC units often favors the selection of units that are too large and operate inefficiently. o Locating ducts within conditioned space to minimize air penetration, if possible. o Using duct insulation if ducts are in unconditioned space. o Sealing all duct joints and connections with mastic tape. For typical air conditioning units, choose an Energy Star rated unit with a Seasonal Energy Efficiency Rating (SEER) of 14 or greater. SEER rating standards are defined by the Air Conditioning, Heating and Refrigeration Institute. The higher a unit's SEER rating, the more energy efficient it is. Consider using radiant heating and cooling flooring systems instead of a traditional HVAC system.

Renewable Energy:  Consider incorporating renewable energy strategies into your home such as solar hot water heating, solar Photovoltaic panels, geothermal, or wind power generation. 3

Environmentally Preferable Materials & Resources Tips Use environmentally preferable, sustainable materials whenever possible. A material’s “greenness” depends on a variety of factors such as the renewability of the resource, amount of recycled content, the reusability of the product, durability, energy used to produce the product, distance the product will travel, and overall environmental impact. The products listed below are general construction products and interior products that can be found at a variety of home improvement stores and building supply centers. Some construction tips are also provided. Wall Construction:  If you are doing any remodeling projects, consider using engineered lumber, which reduces the consumption of wood products, or sustainable wood products such as SFICertified Lumber (Sustainable Forestry Initiative Program) or FSC-Certified Lumber (Forest Stewardship Council). Exterior Wall Finishes:  If you are replacing your exterior siding, avoid using vinyl siding due to its production being environmentally destructive. Instead, consider using recycled-content siding, fibercement siding and trim, engineering wood trim, recycled plastic lumber, or traditional stucco siding, all of which reduce the consumption of non-renewable resources. Interior Wall Finishes:  Choose Low-VOC or no-VOC interior paints.  Choose Low-VOC or water-based wood finishes for interior projects.  If you are using interior panels, choose panels with recycled-content that are also formaldehyde-free.  If you are replacing interior trim, considering using finger-jointed trim which is made from recycled scrap lumber.  For flooring, chose environmentally preferable flooring materials such as tile, reclaimed wood, engineered wood, bamboo, cork, or natural linoleum.  Avoid carpet due to health concerns and indoor air quality issues associated with the lack of ability to fully clean carpets on a regular basis. If carpet is desired, choose Low-VOC and formaldehyde-free carpet. Also consider using recycled-content carpet.

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Environmentally Preferable Materials & Resources Tips - Continued Roofing  If you are replacing your roof, choose a light-colored roofing material which will absorb less heat. Also consider using roofing materials with recycled content. Insulation  If you are replacing the insulation in your home, talk to your contractor about the following insulation techniques: CFC-Free Spray Foam Insulation, Cellulose Loose-Fill Insulation, Mineral Wool or Recycled Blue Jean Insulation. Also talk to your contractor about increasing the R-value of your insulation beyond the minimum code requirements. The R-value is a measure of the insulation’s resistance to heat flow. The higher the R-value, the greater the insulating effectiveness. Windows & Doors  If you are replacing your windows, choose Energy Star High-performance windows with the lowest possible U-value (for the Cape Fear Region, Energy Star recommends a U-value of 0.35 or less). The U-value is the overall heat transfer coefficient, which describes how well a building element conducts heat. The lower the U-value, the less heat is transferred, meaning your windows are more efficient.  Performance criteria for doors are typically based on the amount of glass within the door; choose doors with the best possible energy efficiency ratings. Appliances & Lighting  If you are replacing any of your home’s appliances, choose Energy Star rated appliances.  If you are replacing your oven (in addition to choosing an Energy Star rated oven), consider a convection oven which is typically more efficient than a standard oven.  If you are replacing your washing machine or dryer, (in addition to choosing Energy Star rated appliances) consider purchasing a front-loading washer or dryer which typically use less water and less energy than traditional top-loading machines.  When replacing lighting, choose compact fluorescent lighting (CFLs) or light-emitting  

diodes (LEDs), which are more efficient that traditional incandescent bulbs. Consider installing motion detectors to control lighting in low-usage areas such as closets and bathrooms. Consider incorporating solar-tube lighting to allow natural lighting into your interior rooms. Solar tubes are similar to skylights but tend to be much more energy efficient. 5

Healthy Indoor Air & Environmental Quality Tips 



When selecting indoor air filters, look for filters with a high MERV rating. MERV stands for Minimum Efficiency Reporting Value and is the industry standard for efficiency ratings of air filters (meaning the filter’s ability to capture particles). Air filters with higher MERV ratings, such as MERV-13, are more efficient that filters with lower MERV ratings, such as MERV-8. Please note, some residential HVAC systems may not have the capacity to accommodate higher efficiency MERV filters due to fan speed and motor capacity. If you are unsure if your HVAC system has the necessary capacity, check your HVAC manufacturer’s information. Change your air filters regularly (as specified in the manufacture specifications)



Ensure that your home has proper ventilation for all moisture prone areas to eliminate

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mold growth. Consider installing timers on your bathroom fans to ensure that the fan runs for an adequate period of time to allow for proper moisture control. Ensure that your home has proper ventilation for range hoods, stoves, fireplaces, and gas appliances. Consider installing air quality sensors such as carbon monoxide or carbon dioxide sensors Choose low-VOC or no-VOC interior materials to prevent out-gassing. Always use non-toxic pest control measures for indoor spaces and plants.

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