by Charles Hendricks | Aug 24, 2014 | Building Science, Green Building
Solarize Harrisonburg is moving forward and big news was announced this past week. The RFP was issued. The advantage to being involved in Solarize Harrisonburg is the potential for your solar system being 30% off the traditional cost. Let us know what you think of the solarize movement in the comments below.
Some key dates moving forward are as follows:
1. RFP Issue Date: August 19, 2014
2. Proposals Due: September 11th, 2014 by 4:59pm
3. Selection Committee Meeting: Week of September 15, 2014
4. Notice of Intent to Award: September 22, 2014
5. Contract Negotiations Completed: September 24. 2014
6. Deadline for new participants to sign up: October 31, 2014
7. Deadline for all site visits to be completed: November 14, 2104
8. Deadline for all proposals to be provided to participants: November 21, 2014
9. Deadline for all signed contracts: December 12, 2014
by Charles Hendricks | Jun 23, 2014 | architecture, Building Science, Green Building, green term defined
Recycling is the universal sign of “going green.” It is a process that takes a waste material and converts it to a new product, thus reducing the consumption of raw materials, potentially reducing energy usage, and diverts materials from a landfill. Recycling is not only a great way to save our planet but a spectacular way to save money.
Recycled materials include wood, glass, metal, paper, plastic, electronics, and even fly ash. These materials used in a new product are counted as “Recycled Content.” There are two types of recycled content: “Pre-Consumer” and “Post-Consumer.”
Recycling should not be confused with composting, which is a great way to further reduce the amount of trash going to a landfill. To learn more about composting click HERE.
Pre-Consumer materials are generated by manufacturers and processors, and may consist of scrap, trimmings, and other by-products that were never used in the consumer market.
Post-Consumer material is an end product that has completed its life cycle as a consumer item and would otherwise have been disposed of as a solid waste. Post Consumer materials indicates the product was made with these materials that were recycled by residents and other businesses. Post consumer materials can introduce contaminants into the stream of products which makes recycled material harder to manufacture than pre-consumer or virgin raw materials. Additionally, items like paper and plastic have raw materials that degrade in quality each time it is recycled.
Recycling has become more of a challenge over the last few years with global supply chain changes. While the total amounts of products being recycled continue to grow, it is harder to find a place to send everything, for example, #3-#7 plastic, and manilla envelopes with interior plastic cushions cannot currently be recycled in Harrisonburg. On the other hand, more products are now readily available that are made from recycled content materials, such as plastic lumber for park benches, picnic tables, and lawn furniture. Newspapers are commonly recycled into building insulation, construction paper, and even countertops. So as you are thinking about whether to throw it away or recycle it, think about how that small decision, multiplied over a year’s worth of trash, can impact our future.
by Charles Hendricks | May 12, 2014 | architecture, Building Science, Green Building, green term defined
Those living in the Chesapeake Bay Water Shed are going to start hearing a LOT about stormwater over the next few months. Stormwater is water that comes from precipitation (rain, snow, sleet…) and does not soak into the ground. Stormwater runoff is the concern that is now being addressed in a proactive manner in our area. This surface runoff, which can flow directly into a stream or creek or through storm sewers and eventually becomes surface waters.
The two main concerns of stormwater are flooding and water pollution. We have found ways to battle the flooding issues over the years by building higher, channeling streams to avoid flooding in inhabited areas, and by building detention ponds. Now we are addressing the water pollution aspect of stormwater as we see the negative impacts on our fresh water resources. Runoff from impervious surfaces (roads, buildings, driveways, gravel parking lots) does not soak into the ground and collects chemicals such as oil, engine coolant, and degreasers which ends up in our surface water. Heavy rains on our front yards wash off the excess fertilizers and weed killers we use to keep the lawn green into our watershed. Agriculture uses heavy pesticides and fertilizers to amp up crop growth which also seeps into our streams. Erosion along stream edges and livestock being allowed into streams is also a major problem with our watershed issues. Of course industry has also played a part in the problem over the years as many businesses were developed along waterways to take advantage of the supply of fresh water.
Things that can be done in the building industry to protect our watershed include vegetative roofs, raingardens, cisterns, pervious pavement, and LID (low impact development). Charlottesville, Staunton, and Harrisonburg are MS4s. This requires the city to develop and implement and enforce a stormwater management program. This includes 6 minimum control measures:
1. public education and outreach
2. public participation and involvement
3. Illicit discharge detection and elimination
4. construction site stormwater runoff management
5. post construction stormwater management in new development and redevelopment on prior developed land
6. pollution prevention for municipal operations
by Charles Hendricks | Apr 7, 2014 | architecture, Building Science, Green Building, green term defined, Indoor Air Quality
Permeability is a HUGE topic in our mixed humid climate for anyone involved in the construction industry. The perm rating of a product is the measure of the diffusion of water vapor through a material. This vapor drive through a building material can make or break the durability, efficiency, and indoor air quality of a project.
In our climate, the key is to have a wall and roof assembly that is air tight and vapor permeable. This is an almost impossible task so there are other things that need to be done for the house to be as efficient and durable as possible – but I will not go into that depth with this post.
Vapor permeability (air tight and vapor permeable) is sometimes referred to as the breath-ability of a system or ability to let water vapor pass. This should not be confused with stopping bulk moisture, which is a must for a wall and roof assembly. Bulk water is moisture in liquid form and water vapor is a gas.
So why is vapor permeability so important to the health, efficiency and durability of a building system? Because walls and roofs do get wet. Condensation will occur in some systems. Plumbing leaks do happen on occasion. Most important, we have two seasons here in Virginia and therefore have two different vapor drive directions. So walls and roofs need to be able to dry in both directions. When a wall cannot dry out, it becomes susceptible to moisture damage (rot, mold, insects).
Anything with a perm rating of less than 1 is a semi-vapor barrier. These products should be used sparingly for the thermal envelope in our climate. Anything less than 10 has low permeability and care needs to be taken to dry the assemblies out and not trap vapor inside.
Many products we use traditionally need extra thought due to their permeability:
Open Cell Foam = 15 Perms
Closed Cell Foam = 1 Perms
Concrete = 3.2 Perms
Gypsum wall board = 50 Perms
Plywood Sheathing = 10 Perms
OSB Sheathing = 2 Perms
Oil Paint = 1.6 Perms
15# Felt = 8 Perms
Kraft paper batts = 1 Perms
House wrap = range 5 to 50 Perms
Having an architect that understands building science is a must in our mixed humid climate. A well planned wall and roof assembly will be healthy, durable, and energy-efficient.
by Charles Hendricks | Mar 5, 2014 | architecture, Building Science, Green Building, green term defined, Indoor Air Quality
There are many terms used to describe a home that is built to a higher standard, green, sustainable, LEED Certified, and EarthCraft Certified to name a few. EarthCraft is a regional green rating system that has been adopted across the Commonwealth of Virginia.
Projects that receive EarthCraft certification have an independent third-party verification, along with meeting the EarthCraft programs criteria. The EarthCraft brand ensures each project addresses indoor air quality, energy and water efficiency, reduced resource consumption, and reduced maintenance demands.
Developed in 1999 by the Greater Atlanta Home Builders Association and Southface, EarthCraft was adopted in Virginia starting with the Blue Ridge Area Home Builders Association. This is the only regional green building residential rating system in the state. There are certification programs for Single Homes, Light Commercial projects, multi- (more…)
by Charles Hendricks | Jan 29, 2014 | architecture, Building Science, Green Building, green term defined
Light pollution is excessive, misdirected, or glaring artificial light. There are many consequences from light pollution including:
- wasted energy
- habitat and migration disruption
- human health impacts
- not being able to see stars in the sky
Light pollution can be avoided with proper design. It should be carefully planned on the outside of buildings as well as inside. Safety around buildings can be improved, environmental issues can be mitigated, and the architecture can be enhanced.
Here are the full cut off lights used on this project that had very particular lighting needs. The solution provided very appropriately placed lights for a senior community while not casting a glow within an existing neighborhood.
