Greening Affordable Housing Guidelines for Resource Efficiency and Sustainable Communities Presented

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Green Building 101Presented By Walker Wells
Bellevue Court, Trenton NJ
Nueva Vista, Santa Cruz, CA
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Why Build Green?
The construction and operation of conventional
buildings have numerous detrimental effects on
the environment, public health, and the economic
stability of low-income communities.
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• 40 of annual US energy use
• Air pollution
• 30 of US CO2 production
• Global warming
• 25 of water use
• Water scarcity

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• 30 of wood and raw materials
• Deforestation
• Habitat loss
• 20 - 40 of solid waste
• Landfills

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• Paints, carpets, and adhesives off-gas volatile
  organic compounds (VOCs). Most composite wood
  products contain formaldehyde.
• Childhood asthma and other respiratory
  ailments
• Dioxin is created through manufacturing of many
  building materials.
• Increasing rates of cancer

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• Utility costs can be up to 25 of expenses after
  rent.
• Greater potential for default or eviction.
• Fewer funds available for education or health
  care.

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We can, and must, build better buildings.
Green building is a tool to help us.
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What is Green Building?

• Green building is a process that creates
  buildings and supporting infrastructure that
• 1) minimize the use of resources,
• 2) reduce harmful effects on the environment
• 3) provide healthier environments for people.

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GREEN BUILDING COMPONENTS

• SITE site selection, bike storage, building
  orientation, landscaping, stormwater management,
  construction recycling.
• WATER EFFICIENCY efficient toilets and
  appliances, efficient irrigation,
  reclaimed/recylced water.
• ENERGY/ATMOSPHERE energy efficient envelope,
  systems,lighting and appliances, renewable
  energy, no HCFCs.
• MATERIALS/RESOURCES efficient building systems,
  reused, recycled-content, and rapidly renewable
  materials.
• INDOOR ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY avoid or eliminate
  VOCs, formaldehyde,and mold, natural
  ventilation, daylighting, thermal comfort,views,
  acoustics

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Whats Driving Green Building?

• Changing Environmental Awareness
• Generational Change
• Technological Innovation
• Popular Interest in Design
• Financial Incentives
• Marketing value of green
• Policies and Regulation

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Green Building Is a Process!
Green building is a process that creates
buildings and supporting infrastructure that 1)
reduces harmful effects on the environment, 2)
minimizes the use of resources, and 3) develops
healthier environments for people.

• Foster design team collaboration
• Conduct charrette early in design process
• Establish performance targets
• Develop cost estimates throughout the design
  process
• Maintain ongoing communication and feedback loops

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Design Process
Strategies, Technologies, Materials, and Systems
Operations and Maintenance
Costs and Financing
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Conventional Design Process
Planning (Owner, land use consult)
Schematic Design (Architect)
Design Development (Arch, Engin., Landscape)
Construction (Contractor, Owner, Arch.)
Project Time Line
Beginning
Middle
End

• Linear and sequential
• Architect led
• Limited overlap/collaboration in work efforts
• Concepts often get lost between phases

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Integrated Design Process
Planning/ Entitlements
Charrette
Schematic Design
Design Development
CD
Constr.
Op.

• Start early
• Conduct charrette(s) to foster collaborate
• Carry concepts between development phases
• Establish performance targets
• Develop cost estimates throughout the design
  process
• Establish communication structure and feedback
  loops

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Integrated Design Process
CHARRETTE
Y/N Decisions
Zoning/ Massing
Research
Cost Analysis
Skills
Gathering Spot
Diversity
Schematic Design
CD
Design Development

• At the Charrette Determine project goals,
  select rating system, identify financing
  implications, choose specific strategies, assign
  responsibilities, and establish feedback
• After the Charrette Follow up with research,
  cost analysis, and decision-making

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Guidelines to Structure the Process
Tax Credit, Trust Fund, or Lender Criteria
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Youre Doing Integrated Design When
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Green Strategies
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Green Systems and Materials
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Green Building Benefits
Global
Stormwater/ Recyling
Regional Benefit
Energy and Water Savings
Direct Benefit
Climate Change/ Forestry
Health/ Durability
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Costs of Green Building

• First cost cost to purchase.
• Life cycle cost costs plus savings for a
  products life
• Payback time needed to recoup additional first
  costs via long-term savings
• Return on Investment (ROI) overall return over
  time allows for an apples to apples comparison

Useful life -15 yrs
Payback - 5 yrs
Initial Investment 150 Payback Period 5
years Savings period 10 years Total Period 15
years Total savings 300 Annual savings 20
Annual ROI 13
Savings Period - 10 yrs
Toilet water 6/month average Dual Flush Toilet
40 less water Savings 2.50/month
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Top 22 No/Low Cost Green Building Strategies

• ENERGY
• 1. Maximize natural daylighting
• 2. Place windows to provide good ventilation
• 3. Select a light-colored Cool Roof
• 4. Provide overhangs on south facing windows
• 5. Plant trees proximate to east and west facades
• 6. Install whole house fans or ceiling fans
• 7. Eliminate air conditioning
• 8. Use hydronic heating
• 9. Install fluorescent lights
• 10. Install high R-value insulation
• 11. Install Energy Star appliances

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Top 22 No/Low Cost Green Building Strategies

• WATER
• 12. Design water efficient landscapes
• 13. Install water efficient toilets and fixtures
• 14. Use permeable paving materials
• 15. Install in-line flow restrictors
• MATERIALS
• 16. Use 30-50 or flyash in concrete
• 17. Use engineered wood
• 18. Use recycled-content insulation, drywall,
• carpet, etc.

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Top 22 No/Low Cost Green Building Strategies

• INDOOR AIR QUALITY
• 19. Use low- or no-VOC paint
• 20. Use formaldehyde-free or fully sealed
• material for cabinets and counters
• 21. Vent rangehood to the outside
• 22. Install carbon monoxide detector
• Post-Construction Prepare operation and
• maintenance plan

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Why Green Affordable Housing?

• Long-Term Ownership Supports a Life Cycle
  Approach.
• Projects are typically owned and operated by the
  same organization for 15-55 years -- justifies
  medium to long payback periods.
• Dollar Savings Help Low-Income Families Most.
• Utility costs can be 25 of expenses after
  rent. More than education or health care.
• Housing Should be Safe, Affordable and Healthy.
• Formaldehyde,volatile organic compounds (VOCs),
  mold and other indoor pollutants can impact
  childrens nervous and respiratory systems and be
  a trigger for asthma.
• Affordable Housing is a Public Asset
• Approximately 500 million annually in Federal
  tax credits allocated to housing and combined
  with state and local bonds, property tax set
  aside and other funds. It is critical that these
  assets are well-designed, not create an operation
  burden, and are long-lasting.

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Getting Started

• Start with what interests you
• Use available resources to guide you- Energy
  Star, local green building programs, LIHTC regs
• Pick a manageable and achievable number of
  strategies, systems,or materials
• Minimize additional costs through integrated
  design, rebates, and grants
• Learn from experience - repeat what works, change
  what doesnt
• Add a few items to each new project
• Step up to Green Communities Initiative or LEED
  for Homes

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• 2218 Main Street
• Santa Monica, CA 90405
• [phone]
• www.globalgreen.org
• Walker Wells, AICP
• RESCUE Program Director
• wwells_at_globalgreen.org