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 Innovative
Home Magazine
GETTING TO GREEN
A few how-to guidelines.
TO MEET LEED FOR HOMES OR ANY OTHER GREEN BUILDING
STANDARD, BEGIN BY FOLLOWING A FEW GENERAL
GUIDELINES.
Choose a high-density site close to existing
infrastructure and public services. If a Greenfield
site is the only option, consider the yard.
Innovative designers should gently nudge homeowners
away from the traditional picket-fence lawn In fact,
the less lawn, the better Rain gardens and
deep-rooted, drought-tolerant plants are a wear
choice than conventional turf The University of
Wisconsin Extension and the Wisconsin Department of
Natural Resources have created a useful brochure
titled Rain Gardens; A Household Way to
Improve Water Quality in Your Community
University extension services are also an excellent
source for regional drought-tolerant species lists.
Other opportunities to defy convention lie in the
bathroom. Faucet aerators rated at 1.5 gallons per
minute are an inexpensive upgrade worth two LEED for
Homes points. While early models of low-flow
showerheads and toilets had their growing pains, new
testing protocol and product advancements have
resulted in significant improvements. Some research
may be required to protect homeowner satisfaction,
so investigate online reviews. Terry Love’s
Consumer Toilet Reports is one online source
that reviews low-flow toilets.
The lndoor Air Quality and energy-efficiency
requirements in LEED for Homes are likely familiar
to those already in Sated in high-performance
building lingo lAQ issues that are sometimes
overlooked include vehicle emissions, particulates
and future possibility of radon. In an attached
garage situation, carbon monoxide diffuses through
unsealed penetrations, cracks and unpainted drywall.
LEED for Homes requires carbon monoxide detectors
installed in occupied space over garages and tightly
sealed shared walls and ceilings. Chemicals aren’t
the only threats to IAQ; managing particulate
contaminants through permanent walk off mats or
central vacuum systems earns additional points.
LEED for Homes requires radon protection measures
in parts of the country already identified as
problematic by the EPA, but because radon pockets
move, builders n low risk areas are also rewarded
for installing future radon mitigation provisions.
Measures include a monolithic slab with sealed
penetrations, a capillary break beneath the slab and
a vent stack with future exhaust capability run from
beneath the slab to above the roof line.
For green glamour, nothing beats wool carpet, native
stone and sustainably harvested hardwood. But
earning LEED for Homes points for environmentally
preferable products is far simpler. The low-hanging
fruit includes a host of low-VOC products: paint,
insulation, carpet and pad (or use no carpet),
counters, cabinets and trim with no added
urea-formaldehyde. Toss in recycled content
insulation or drywall, and you’ve earned three of
the four points available for this LEED for Homes.
For an impressive finish, include any material
listed in
GreenSpec®. The resource developed by
Building Green Inc. has emerged as one of the
most respected sources for green building materials.
Everything a covered in Green Building Products: The
GreenSpec® Guide to Residential
Building Materials.
Call, visit our
website
www.altaloghomes.com, or drop by our showroom
and factory for more information and updates on the
pilot program.
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