10 things I learned at the Green Building Professional Training

Earlier this Fall, I attended a two day "Certified Green Building Professional" training organized by BuildItGreen.  The training was sold out and the room was packed for those two long days.  I was expecting to see other architects, contractors and design professionals, but was surprised to also see real estate agents, mortgage brokers, material suppliers, cabinetmakers and many city officials from all over the Bay Area.  It is exciting to see the changes developing in our industry and the commitment to environmental issues coming from all sectors.  It will take a concerted effort by all of us to reverse global warming, but it is possible!

Many of the topics covered in the training, such as proper building siting, planning and drainage, passive solar heating and cooling, use of efficient framing, proper insulation, use of long lasting and renewable materials are well known to architects, who are trained in building science as well as design.  I won't go into those issues here (or I would need to write a whole book), but here is a list of 10 things I learned at the training:

1. The construction industry is the number one cause of climate change. 8% of greenhouse gases come just from our use of cement.
2. In our lifetime, we will have used 80% of the earth's resources.
3. Water conservation issues will become more and more critical in the future.  Saving water saves treatment chemicals as well as distribution, pumping, and heating energy. Carefully select plumbing fixtures, check for leaks, and minimize the use of lawns.
4. Building codes and Title 24 energy regulations are a minimum guide; strive to exceed their requirements, not just meet them.  Energy costs will continue to rise as our supplies dwindle and the costs of heating and cooling will become much more critical to the cost cycle analysis of buildings in the long term.
5. The R value ( a measure of the insulative properties of a component of a building) is reduced by 1/2 in steel stud framing because of the conduction properties of the metal.  Steel is a good material in terms of its' recyclability, but the insulation details are key.  Wood framing (especially if the wood is sustainably harvested according to the principles of the Forest Stewardship Council) is still an excellent material and choice for construction.
6. Soil is a living breathing organism; one teaspoon of compost has 1 billion organisms. These organisms are similar to the plankton in the oceans.  They are the foundation for a healthy site ecology. Value and protect your topsoil that has taken millions of years to be created.  Carefully plan projects to avoid a lot of cut and fill.  Do not stockpile topsoil more than 6 feet high or the organisms may die.
7. On average indoor air pollution is 2-5 times worse than outdoor air and yet the EPA tells us we spend 90% of our time indoors.  The indoor air quality issues around green building are critical for health and productivity. Be especially careful of carbon monoxide from gas appliances and cars.  A strong vent over a stove can actually create negative pressure pulling in dangerous gases from attached garages and other sources. Install carbon monoxide detectors which will alert you to a dangerous level in your home.  A continued low level of exposure is also dangerous though.  Look for a detector that meets UL2034 and CSA 6.19 that measures both of these dangers.
8. Building materials offgas (think of that new car smell...) and some of these gases are dangerous to our health.  Urea formaldehyde (often used in interior glues in cabinets, furniture, fabrics, curtains) is the main culprit.  It is a known carcinogen and mucous membrane irritant.  The gases are sweet smelling and tend to hang at low levels, so be especially careful when you have young children who like to play on the floor.  There are other options and glues available, it is a matter of asking the question of the manufacturer you are considering. The denser the material, the longer it takes to offgas.  Particleboard can take 3-5 years... Also try to avoid soft PVC (polyvinyl chloride) products, such as sheet vinyl (the beach ball smell).
9. Carpet, especially wall to wall, which cannot be removed for proper cleaning, should be avoided wherever possible.  Here is a scary bit of data - carpet can weigh 2-4 times more when removed from a project than when put in...Just think of all those particles stored that a vacuum cleaner and carpet cleaner cannot remove...Carpet is also a source of VOC's (volatile organic compounds) that are known health risks.  If you must have carpet, try to let it offgas for 30 days before installation, or buy recycled or natural wool carpet.  With wool, double check that insecticides have not been used for moth control on imports.
10. Regular maintenance of a home, checking for leaks, replacing filters, etc. is key to maintain a healthy environment and to protect your investment in the long term, thereby increasing the usable life of the project.

Buckminster Fuller once said "The best way to predict the future is to design it."  I would like to challenge all of us in the industry to be conscientious in thinking of the future in every step and in every detail of the design and construction process.

Comments

[Benjamin Ostroff]

The Build-It-Green training program taught many valuable concepts, as well as innumerable factual tidbits.

I would like to add the largest lesson I learned which dispels the myth that green building equates to a higher price tag. Green building does not have to cost a dollar more than conventional building if planned and designed properly. Additionally, when accounting for the lifetime cost of materials and energy consumption, green building can be substantially cheaper.

Secondly, the program left me with a sense of empowerment, and the knowledge that we, as professionals in the building sector, can make a difference. As the green building movement grows in awareness and magnitude, the attitude of the consumer is shifting, and the industries of housing and building will determine the direction of this movement. We can and need to create a positive change in these industries.

[Susan Davis, Certified Green Building Professional, Certified GreenPoint Rater]

One of the things I've found most exciting about participating in the Build-It-Green programs is the opportunity to expand and strengthen my network of like-minded professionals. I was one of the first group of Building Professionals to participate in the Build-It-Green program back in 2004, and have remained active in the network ever since. In the area of Sustainable Design and Green Building, the commitment to life-long learning and collaboration with other professionals is so important to keep relevant and provide the best possible solutions for every project. There is such power to effect positive change when we combine efforts and support one another in this endeavor, and being part of the Build-It-Green network is a great way to do this!

[Jill Moran, Project Developer at Camber Construction, CGBP]

Thank you so much for a very thoughtful overview of some very important sustainable building topics. I'd like to echo Benjamin's comment about costs, in that there is a very strong perception in the general public that green building costs more than "standard" building. I would say that there are actually several different categories of cost impact for green building: Approaches which either decrease or do not increase cost, but actually decrease life-cycle costs over time (a good example is xeriscape planting); approaches which may increase cost slightly, but also decrease energy cost over time (a good example would be exceeding Code insulation requirements); and then approaches which increase cost but are more truly representative of a true cost to the planet of resource extraction (a good example would be FSC lumber, which can be more expensive than non-certified lumber). I would also add that in the bigger picture, building structures properly to the highest standard does cost more up front than the sadly typical sloppy building that takes place much too often in our industry. However, in the long run even that costs less, as the buildings last longer, and don't have to be repaired as soon. Imagine if we all decided that our structures had to last at least 500 years. That would be a huge shift in our building outlook, but it would have a very positive impact on the planet, in terms of the amount of resources that we use over time.
Thanks again for the informative blog!

[Matthew - DIY Solar Heating Specialist]

This is kind of scary...to think that so many of the small, everyday things we take for granted in new construction and remodeling is so completely horrible for the environment. One of things that we are really starting to push to help offset this is to incorporate solar heating, solar hot water and/or solar electric systems right in the initial building plans...even on homes or offices where we are not looking for LEED certification.

I came across a great resource for solar hot water and solar heating systems online. They have tons of articles and videos on the subject: http://www.solarhotwaterstore.com