Green Building as a Process, not a Product

September 5th, 2013

Virginia Housing Coalition

Philip AgeeGreen Building Technical Manager

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EarthCraft Virginia Certified Projects

• 1850 New Construction Homes/~250 builder• 147 certified MF projects totaling 10,402 units• 3 Light Commercial Projects• New Construction ~ HERS Index 72• Renovation ~40% improvement

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What is Green Building and why do we care?

An effort to create high-performance, EE structures that improve occupant comfort and well being while minimizing environmental impact.

Graph: Lawrence Berkley Laboratory

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• Building Envelope • Continuous Air

Barrier• Complete

Insulation Coverage

• Proper Heating and Cooling Systems

• Controlled Ventilation

Outside

The House (or Unit) as a System

Green Building as a Process, not a Product

• Goal Setting and Design• Construction, verification and testing• Project feedback loop

Pre-Construction Pre-Drywall Project Closeout

1 Project Registration 7 Kick-Off Meeting 1 Final Inspection(s)

2Project

Information Submittal

8 Kick-Off Meeting Report Submittal 1 Confirmed Energy

Model(s)

3 Preliminary Energy Model(s) 9 Air Sealing

Inspection(s) 1Final Inspection &

Confirmed Energy Model Report Submittal(s)

4Preliminary Energy

Model(s) Report

Submittal(s)1 Air Sealing Inspection

Report Submittal(s) 1 Certification

5 EarthCraft Design Review 1 HVAC Initial

Diagnostics/Inspection(s)

6EarthCraft

Design Review Report Submittal

1HVAC Initial

Diagnostics/Inspection Report Submittal(s)

1 Insulation Inspection(s)

1 Insulation Inspection Report Submittal(s)

Goal Setting and Design• Pick the right team

– Make sure everyone speaks the same language• Identify project goals/facilitate a design charrette• Identify a standard

– Ensure that goals/requirements make it in the drawings/specs

• Look for opportunities to add value without adding cost

Construction, Verification, and Testing

• Pre-construction meeting• Mockup unit• “Don’t expect, what you don’t inspect.”• Diagnostic testing -blower door testing,

duct leakage, flow testing

Project Feedback Loop• Don’t be afraid of lessons

learned meetings– “an expert is someone who remembers their

mistakes.”

• Maintenance staff should be involved in all aspects of the process/project.

• Measure what you project

Measure What You Project“There is nothing so horrible in nature as to see a beautiful theory murdered by an ugly gang of facts.” -Benjamin Franklin

LIHTC Case Study

Thank You

Philip AgeeGreen Building Technical

ManagerPhilip.Agee@earthcraftvirginia.

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