Page 9 - Green Builder Magazine Nov-Dec 2017 Issue
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 Green Building NEWS



 The Latest on Sustainability and Renewable Energy                                    RESIDENTIAL BUILDINGS
                     United Way, Thrive


                     Among Winners of DOE’s


                     2017 Innovation Awards
                     Recipients are helping to lead nation’s

                     effort toward net-zero homes.









                                                                                                                                CREDIT: BCAP


                                                                      CREDIT: ALLIANCE GREEN BUILDERS  building energy efficiency codes that meet 2009 IECC standards,
                                                                           A substandard effort. Nearly one-fourth of all states lack residential
                                                                           while only three exceed the 2012/2015 IECC requirements.
                                                                           ‘Stretch’ Codes Offer Fast-Track Energy



                                                                           Local building requirements can now exceed
                     Bright spot. A solar-reflective metal roof and triple-pane   Savings in Slow-to-Adopt States
                     windows helped make Alliance Green Builders’ Casa Aquila   environmental standards of national building codes.
                     in Ramona, Calif., one of the winners of the Department of
                     Energy’s 2017 Innovation Awards.
                                                                                HE 20 PERCENT STRETCH CODE, developed by New Buildings
                               NITED WAY OF LONG ISLAND, Alliance Green         Institute (NBI), is the first of two such stretch codes being introduced
                               Builders of Ramona, Calif., Greenhill Contracting   T by the organization in coming months. These codes provide building
                               of Gardiner, N.Y., Thrive Home Builders of Lone   strategies that work to squeeze every bit of waste out of building energy
                               Tree, Colo., and Thrive Home Builders of Denver   performance, even to the point of making them zero-energy-ready, according
                    Uwere grand winners of the U.S. Department             to NBI. In essence, buildings could be so energy efficient that power needs could
                     of Energy (DOE)’s 2017 Innovation Awards, the agency   be met with on-site or nearby renewable energy resources, the institute reports.
                     announced. The projects were among 26 winners in five   Current building codes experience slow or erratic adoption by states,
                     categories: Affordable Homes, Multi-Family Homes, Production   NBI notes. In such cases, new buildings will be locked in to a lifetime
                     Homes, Custom Homes (Buyers) and Custom Homes (Spec).  of underperformance. These structures are constructed to meet only
                       According to Sam Rashkin, chief architect at DOE’s   minimal energy efficiency requirements set forth by state or local building
                     Building Technologies Office, Housing Innovation Award   codes, ones that are often based on national model building codes (the
                     winners represent the top 1 percent of builders nationwide.   International Energy Conservation Code and ASHRAE 90.1).
                     These builders “successfully demonstrate they can meet the   National building codes, which establish baseline standards for energy
                     federal government’s most-rigorous specifications for high-  efficiency and other construction practices, are only updated every three
                     performance homes,” Rashkin says. Those specifications   years and can easily fall behind best practice, NBI adds. Meanwhile, many
                     include ways to achieve ultra-low utility bills, ensured   local jurisdictions have set carbon emissions reduction and energy efficiency
                     comfort, comprehensive water protection, whole-house fresh   goals that exceed the national pace.
                     air delivery, high-capture filtration, contaminant control and   NBI’s 20 Percent Stretch Code acts as an overlay to existing national codes,
                     enhanced durability.                                  to make it easier for states and cities to adopt them. They can also be adopted
                       “These winners are leading a national movement to zero-  as voluntary codes or policies. Cities and states, when working with local
                     energy-ready homes,” Rashkin says. “[They provide] better   utilities, can often offer designers and builders incentives to abide by the codes.
                     places for Americans to live, stronger communities, and a   So far, the effort is catching on. As of October 2017, 214 municipalities
                     more economically and environmentally resilient nation.” GB  have  adopted  the  stretch  code,  NBI  notes.  For  more  information:
                                                                           New Buildings Institute (http://bit.ly/2zv8gzp) Building Codes Assistance
                     The list of winners may be found at http://bit.ly/2hPCqpj.
                                                                           Project (http://bit.ly/2iFtnag). GB
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