Page 42 - Green Builder September-October 2018 Issue
P. 42
COURTESY OF ROXUL
CREDIT: JAMES BREYISTOCK
Built for tough times. While no building is completely disaster-proof, resilient buildings
are likely to suffer less damage, protecting occupants and their pocketbooks.
But there’s more: Resilient buildings actually create value.
INVESTING IN RESILIENCE According to a report from the Urban Land Institute, which compiles
Today’s building codes are doing a pretty good job of protecting case studies of resilient buildings, such buildings can “benet from
occupants in the face of hazards. But many building professionals, better nancing options, more competitive insurance rates, greater
including such organizations as the American Institute of Architects, long-term savings on maintenance and higher overall value compared
recognize that “building to code” isn’t enough anymore. to more vulnerable properties.”
“Given the increasing frequency and intensity of superstorms, In that case, what are we waiting for?
wildres, hurricanes, tornadoes, ooding and other natural events,
investing in resilience has quickly shifted from a ‘nice to have’ to a A ROBUST ENVELOPE
‘must have,’” says Gutterman. The Align Project demonstration house showcases resilience with its
In short, resilience describes a building’s ability to bounce back renewable energy system and storage battery, durable and energy-
in the face of disasters. I like the denition put forth in the Whole ecient construction, and energy- and water-saving features. CREDIT: FSTOP123ISTOCKPHOTO COURTESY OF KASITA
Building Design Guide, which names “four Rs” that characterize Architect Dason Whitsett designed the Kasita envelope after
resilient buildings and communities: robustness, resourcefulness, building science expert Joe Lstiburek’s “perfect wall” system, which A perfect pine. Delta Millworks' sustainably
rapid recovery and redundancy. uses four control layers, ideally installed on the outside of the sourced exterior cladding Accoya absorbs
In practical terms, this describes a building with a back-up plan— structure, to manage rain, water vapor, air and heat. 80 percent less water than similar wood
one that can take a battering and retain its vital functions. And one The envelope begins with a sturdy light-gauge steel frame. For the products.
that may not just survive a disaster, but suer minimal damage with production model, parts are milled with a CNC machine, making
minimal cost to its owner. for precise, tight framing. Noncombustible Roxul COMFORTBATT
Resilient design creates positive feedback loops. For example, a mineral wool insulation lls the stud cavities.
home with a robust, energy-ecient envelope will help regulate “There is some cavity insulation, but the majority of the thermal
interior temperatures and keep occupants comfortable, even if the control layer is outside the drainage plane,” says Whitsett, who
power goes out. And, because these buildings demand less energy, teaches in the Sustainable Design Program at the University of Texas
they help ease the burden on the electric grid and contribute less at Austin.
to the emissions that cumulatively lead to more extreme and Though the details are slightly dierent for each, both The Align
unpredictable climate events. Project demonstration house and Kasita’s production model utilize
40 GREEN BUILDER September/October 2018 www.greenbuildermedia.com
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