Page 40 - Green Builder July-August 2017 Issue

practice among green builders can also make the home more visually
enticing for buyers, which contributes to its wide level of use, even USE OF HEALTHIER PRODUCTS
among those who do a moderate level of green building (16 percent to
60 percent of their projects green). Daylighting needs to be managed
carefully, however, to avoid glare and to avoid increased energy use
to keep spaces cool.
■ Eighty percent of homebuilders and remodelers who are
■
dedicated green builders (more than 60 percent of their projects
green) use non-chemical pest prevention, a much higher percentage
than builders doing less green work. Non-chemical pest prevention
consists of using sealing, caulking and screening rather than
chemicals to keep out pests, which can have an important impact
on the air quality within the home.
Sixty-four percent of those who do a The No. 1 healthy
moderate level of green building also home feature:
report using this feature, much higher
than those who do little green building Daylight.
(46 percent).
■ The degree of green involvement The up-and-comer:
■
is very influential in whether a builder The garage
or remodeler is likely to use a dedicated exhaust fan.
fresh air system. Nearly three quarters
(74 percent) of dedicated green builders make this investment in
their homes, compared with just 18 percent of those doing little
green building. Since this is part of the mechanical system, it is
used by a significantly higher percentage of builders (48 percent)
than remodelers (27 percent). It is more likely to increase the cost
of the mechanical system, but it can also have a big impact on the
air quality in a home, according to the study.
■ Acoustic comfort has not been included as a credit on many
■ SOURCE: DODGE DATA & ANALYTICS
green home rating systems, and this may account for the fact that
there is less difference in its use across the three levels of green
involvement than for any other healthier home feature, DDA notes.
It may also explain why it is not more widely used in general, even Product priorities. State-mandated carbon monoxide detectors
though it is an important factor for comfort, and for health factors and no- or low-VOC products are the top air quality devices on
such as sleep quality. builders’ lists. Central vacs and insulated siding, on the other hand,
■ The use of exhaust fans in garages is still an emerging feature have yet to make their presences known.
■
for those doing a lot of green building and those doing very little, for these products in homes, according to DDA.
although it is more likely to be used by dedicated green builders, ■ ■ Low-/no-VOC products and low-/no-formaldehyde products
the study notes. are each used by 60 percent to 66 percent of survey respondents.
However, these are far more widely used by dedicated green builders
Air Quality Products and remodelers (those doing more than 60 percent of their projects
green) than by those doing less green building. The study attributes
by Degree of Use the high usage rates to builder awareness of requirements and points
given to their avoidance by green building rating systems.
REEN AND HEALTHIER HOMES identifies several types of remodelers use air purification systems (41 percent) and MERV
■ A relatively high percentage of dedicated green builders and
■
G remodelers in their sustainable housing projects, depending 8+filters or higher (51 percent) compared with those doing less green
air quality products considered important to builders and
upon their amount of green involvement:
building. The study deems this an indicator that green building
■ Carbon monoxide detectors are the most widely used
■
invest in these systems.
of all building products that impact indoor air quality. This is largely experience impacts the willingness of builders and remodelers to
due to the number of states (29) with varying mandates for their use. ■ ■ Level of green building involvement has no impact on the use
In addition, public awareness of the risks posed by the accumulation of a central vacuum system and insulated siding, according to DDA.
of carbon monoxide in the home, including illness and death, has The study notes that greater industry awareness of the benefits of
increased significantly in the last decade, creating consumer demand these products on improving indoor air quality is necessary. GB

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

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