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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