Greening
Your Home Series
For
information about residential green building and resources to
assist you in your green building (or renovation) project, please
contact the Cleveland Green Building Coalition at 216-961-8850
or info@clevelandgbc.org
Regreen Guidelines - new home renvation guidelines from
the USGBC are available on line for a FREE download. These guidelines
are all about renovating a home with the environment in mind.
Go to www.regreenprogram.org.
PDF
files of the Greening Your Home flyers are below. For additional
information, please contact the Cleveland Green Building Coalition.
Brochures
in the Greening Your Home Series include:
Greening
Your Home Overview - green or sustainable, high performance
building means constructing our living spaces so there is little
or no harm done to the natural environment or to the residents
of these spaces. This brochure outlines general guiding principles
for greening your home and your neighborhood.
Greening
the Site - Make use of the sun, control water on-site,
protect existing plantings and soils, use native plants, reduce
or eliminate the use of chemicals on the landscape of your home,
reduce waste and recycle during construction and use permeable
surface materials (driveway, walks, etc).
Greening
the Foundation - Avoid moisture penetration into and provide
effective water control away from the foundation, use fly ash
in concrete foundations, include an insulation system, consider
frost-protected shallow foundation, no asphalt-base damp proofing,
and non-toxic form release agents.
Greening
the Exterior Walls - Use wall systems that are effectively
insulated and air-sealed, use flashing details to keep wall interiors
form getting wet, but make sure walls can dry if they do get wet.
Greening
Exterior Surfaces - Use a siding surface material that
can effectively reduce rain penetration, avoid moisture damage
to itself, that requires minimal maintenance, is recycled and/or
recyclable or biodegradable, does not create significant environmental
hazards from its production to the end of its useful life and
which is installed using methods that enhance, not detract from
the effectiveness of the siding material.
Green
Daylighting - Provide effective natural lighting (daylighting)
to as much living space as possible, using as many windows, skylights,
light tubes and doors as the project can afford while keeping
the heat loss/gain under control.
Greening
the Roof - In a Cleveland climate, use optimum value engineering,
maximize energy efficiency, employ appropriate ventilation (or
no ventilation) strategies and install surface materials with
the best life-cycle analysis.
Green
Heating and Cooling - Use high-efficiency equipment and
properly size heating and cooling systems. Keep all delivery systems
out of unconditioned spaces, use sealed combustion heating equipment
when using gas, and use alternative energy sources as circumstances
permit.
Greening
Ventilation - Install controlled spot and/or whole house
ventilation to evacuate moisture and stale air. Provide makeup
air and bring fresh air with minimal heat or cooling losses.
Greening
Interior Surfaces - Use recycled or fully recyclable building
materials, coatings that do not off-gas noxious or toxic fumes
and wood from certified forests.
Greening
Electrical Services - Use Energy Star appliances and equipment,
compact fluorescent bulbs, alternative energy sources (solar,
etc.) and other measures to reduce electricity demand.
Greening
Water Usage - Use least polluting service and waste lines,
plumbing fixtures that are all water savers, rainwater harvesting,
greywater reuse, and filter/disinfect potable water as necessary.
Greening
Residential Maintenance - Provide a home with a maintenance
plan that includes non-toxic furnishings and cleaners, effective
use of equipment, and comprehensive recycling.
