Page 38 - Green Builder July-August 2017 Issue

A Healthier Performance Ahead IMPORTANCE OF INDOOR QUALITY

OMEBUILDERS AND REMODELERS were asked to rank
the top three most important green practices to improve
a home’s performance out of a list of seven options.
Not surprisingly, energy efficiency tops the list, with
nearly all respondents selecting it in their top three.
This finding is consistent with previous studies, DDA
H notes.
But an up-and-coming practice toward improving a home’s green
performance for builders and remodelers is the creation of healthier
indoor living environments. In the current study, it is not only
selected by over two-thirds of builders and remodelers as among
the top three most important practices, but it also is selected by
11 percent overall as the most important practice out of the list of
seven. This variable may increase in importance if the industry
continues to give more attention to healthier buildings, according
to DDA.
Homebuilders and remodelers generally agree on the importance of
building products and practices that enhance indoor environmental
quality, just as they do on most of the other categories of building SOURCE: DODGE DATA & ANALYTICS
products and practices. However, the residential sector as a whole
is widely split in terms of the importance of specific products and
practices, DDA notes.
■ Increased moisture control and ventilation is recognized by most
■ Clean air matters. Contractors with more than 60 percent of their
respondents (78 percent) as important to improve the performance of projects as green recognize the importance of filtration and
a green home. Most people expect a green home to also be healthier, air cleaning systems. But even those builders with limited
and controlling moisture and maintaining sufficient ventilation are involvement—16 percent to 60 percent—can find such systems
favorable for their businesses.
widely recognized as important factors to prevent a home from
having a negative impact on health. The recognition of its importance
MOST IMPORTANT FOR PERFORMANCE ranks with the highest energy efficiency products and practices.
■ ■ The use of low-volatile organic compounds (VOC) materials falls
in the middle range of importance, with 60 percent rating it at that
level. Use of green building certification systems has widely raised
industry awareness of the need to avoid VOCs. It is possible that
it would rank higher if there were greater awareness among home
owners as well, the study notes.
■ Less than half consider MERV 8+ filtration and/or air cleaning
■
systems important.
Previous findings suggest that those who use these methods
find them very important, but that their use is low, DDA notes. The
current study also suggests more industry education is needed on
the importance of these strategies.
Meanwhile, the difference between homebuilders heavily involved
in green and those less involved is more distinct on all three indoor
environmental quality products/practices than they are for any other
SOURCE: DODGE DATA & ANALYTICS more green projects) increases the likelihood that builders will
category.
■ Even a moderate level of green building work (16 percent or
■
consider increased moisture control and ventilation important.
■ As involvement in green increases, the recognition of the
■
builders with a relatively high level of green involvement (more
Best practices. Builders still consider energy efficiency as the best importance of using low-VOC materials increases consistently. Only
way to improve a home’s green performance. But a newcomer than 60 percent of their projects are green) widely recognize the
practice, indoor health, is ranked third and gaining prominence. importance of MERV 8+ filtration and/or air cleaning systems.

36 GREEN BUILDER July/August 2017 www.greenbuildermedia.com

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