Low-Cost Strategies For Going Green: Energy

Low-Cost Strategies for Going Green
The following information was published in Global Green USA's "TOP 20 No- or Low-
Cost Green Building Strategies."
Energy
1. Orient building to maximize natural daylighting

Description: Natural daylighting is usually available to the east, south, and west
facades.
Benefits: Maximizing natural daylighting reduces the need for artificial light, thus
reducing energy consumption and utility bills. Dwellings that have good natural
daylighting are also more pleasant for the residents.
2. Place windows to provide good natural ventilation

Description: Natural ventilation systems take advantage of prevailing winds and
thermal convection to ventilate living spaces.
Benefits: Placing windows to take advantage of natural ventilation reduces the need
for air conditioning, saves money on energy bills, and can make homes without air
conditioning more comfortable.
3. Select a light-colored "Cool Roof"

Description: Dark roofing materials absorb heat, making the house warmer in
summer months, whereas light-colored roofing reflects heat away from the building.
Benefits: Light-colored roofing reduces heat buildup through the roof, thus increasing
occupancy comfort and decreasing air conditioning bills. Light-colored roofing can
also last longer because it does not thermally expand and contract as much as
darker colors.
4. Provide overhangs on south-facing windows

Description: Overhangs or screens on south-facing windows are one component of a
natural cooling system.
Benefits: Shading south-facing windows reduces heat gain by screening the summer
sun during the hottest periods of the day.
5. Install whole-house fans or ceiling fans

Description: Whole-house and ceiling fans improve interior comfort by circulating
cold and warm air. They can be adjusted to either draw warm air upward during
summer months or push it downward during the winter.
Benefits: Fans can reduce the need for air conditioning and heating by circulating air
effectively and, on average, use one-tenth the electricity of an air-conditioning unit.
6. Eliminate air conditioning

Description: After the refrigerator, air conditioning is the second biggest consumer of
electricity in an average household.
Benefits: Eliminating air conditioning will significantly reduce a household's electricity
bill.
7. Provide combined-hydronic heating

Description: Combined-hydronic heating uses hot water stored in the water heater to
operate radiators typically installed in baseboards.
Benefits: Combined-hydronic heating saves energy by using hot water already

produced and stored in the water heater, and eliminating the need for a separate
furnace.
8. Install fluorescent lights with electronic ballasts

Description: Interior fluorescent bulbs and fixtures produce light quantity and quality
that is comparable to incandescents, while expending less energy. Electronic ballasts
also improve efficiency and reduce flickering.
Benefits: Energy-efficient lighting reduces energy consumption and lowers utility

bills. One compact florescent bulb will pay itself back more than ten times over the
course of its life through reduced energy use.
9. Install high R-value insulation

Description: Insulation provides a continuous thermal barrier to minimize heat flow
through the walls, ceiling and floor. The higher the R-value, the greater the
material's ability to insulate.
Benefits: Installing higher R-value insulation improves comfort, decreases demand

for air conditioning and heating, saves money, and makes the home quieter.
10. Select Energy Star appliances

Description: Refrigerators and freezers are among the largest users of electricity in
most homes. They can account for up to 25% of household energy use. Energy Star
appliances use 10-15% less energy and water than standard models.
Benefits: Energy Star refrigerators can save over 10% of the total annual electrical
bill in a home. Check with the local utility company for rebate programs.
Water
11. Design water-efficient landscapes

Description: Low-water landscape designs (such as xeriscape) reduce water use by
emphasizing native and/or drought tolerant plants, eliminating turf areas, and
minimizing maintenance. Efficient irrigation systems, such as drip and micro
irrigation, place the correct amount of water directly at the base of each plant, thus
reducing water use and waste from overwatering.
Benefits: Water-efficient landscape and irrigation systems help plant growth and
overall health by eliminating overwatering or excessive drying. They also lower water
bills and reduce impacts on water supply infrastructure.
12. Install water-efficient toilets and fixtures

Description: New toilets use 1.6 gallons per flush compared with old toilets that
require 5-7 gallons per flush. Flow reducers fit into the aerator at the tip of the
faucet and reduce the rate of water flow through the faucet. Low-flow showerheads
replace standard showerheads.
Benefits: Low-flow toilets can save up to 22,000 gallons of water per year for a
family of four. Flow reducers can cut water usage of faucets and showers by as much
as 40% with little noticeable effect.
13. Use permeable paving materials

Description: Permeable paving allows stormwater to percolate into the soil.
Benefits: Permeable paving allows on-site percolation, thus reducing the volume of
polluted water that flows into rivers or bays, while replenishing soil moisture and
local aquifers. Additional benefits include reduction in irrigation requirements and a
lower risk of flooding.
Materials
14. Use 30 - 50% flyash in concrete

Description: Flyash is a byproduct of coal-burning power plants and can be an
inexpensive substitute for 15 - 40% of the Portland cement used in concrete.
Benefits: Flyash increases the strength and durability of the concrete. Using flyash
also reduces the amount of cement needed, thereby decreasing the overall
environmental impacts of cement production (mining and energy consumption).
15. Use engineered wood for headers, joists, and sheathing

Description: Solid sawn lumber in sizes of 2X10 or greater typically comes from old
growth forests. Engineered lumber products, however, come from small-diameter
and fast-growing plantation trees. 2X10 and larger dimensional lumber is typically
used for floor and ceiling joists and some seismic applications. Large-size lumber can
be replaced with engineered lumber (microlam, paralam, gluelam) in most
applications unless required by seismic codes. Solid sawn 4X6s are often used for
headers when smaller dimension lumber would suffice, such as double 2X6s, unless
solid 4X6s are required by seismic codes. Wood I-Joists are an alternative to 2X6s or
2X8s used for floor and roof joists.
Benefits: Reducing demand for large dimensional lumber decreases pressure to cut
down old growth forests. Engineered lumber uses wood fiber more efficiently than
conventional lumber, resulting in stronger and higher quality homes.
16. Use recycled-content insulation, drywall, and carpet

Description: Recycled-content insulation, drywall, and carpet are made from recycled
paper, recycled plastic and glass bottles, recycled wool or recycled cotton. They don't
differ in appearance or performance and the prices are comparable to conventional
products.
Benefits: Recycled-content materials save resources and divert waste from landfills.
Approximately 40 two-liter soda bottles are recycled per square yard of carpeting.
Recycled-content insulation may contain up to 30% recycled glass.
Indoor Air Quality
17. Use low- or no-VOC paint

Description: No-VOC paint does not emit odors related to volatile organic compounds
(VOCs). Organic chemicals are widely used as ingredients in household products like
paint, adhesives, cleaning supplies, etc. No-VOC paint is used exactly like
conventional paint. No-VOC paints are most suitable for indoor use.
Benefits: Use of low- or no-VOC paint can eliminate eye, nose, and throat irritation;
loss of coordination; and potential damage to the liver and central nervous system
caused by VOCs. Outside, VOCs can bond with other pollutants and create ground-
level ozone.
18. Use formaldehyde-free or fully sealed materials for cabinets and counters
Description: Particleboard typically contains formaldehyde, which can offgas for 10-
15 years. EPA ranks formaldehyde as a probable human carcinogen. Exposure can
cause eye, nose and throat irritation; skin rashes; headaches; nosebleeds and
nausea.
Benefits: Elimination of formaldehyde-based materials reduces exposure to

residents, particularly children, who are most susceptible. Sealing with a flat, latex-
based primer or other suitable material can prevent the offgassing of formaldehyde.
19. Vent range hood to the outside

Description: Steam, gases, smoke and other combustion by-products (such as
unburned hydrocarbons) can result from cooking. Stovetop range hoods expel these
by-products to the outside.
Benefits: Range hoods improve indoor air quality, prevent overheating and reduce
moisture build-up.
20. Install carbon monoxide detector

Description: Carbon monoxide detectors monitor the level of this gas in individual
dwelling units.
Benefits: Detectors can reduce harmful human health effects of carbon monoxide, a
common indoor air pollutant created by the combustion of natural gas from stoves
and heaters.
Post Construction: Prepare operation and maintenance plan

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Low-Cost Strategies for Going Green

1. Orient building to maximize natural daylighting

2. Place windows to provide good natural ventilation

3. Select a light-colored "Cool Roof"

4. Provide overhangs on south-facing windows

5. Install whole-house fans or ceiling fans

6. Eliminate air conditioning

7. Provide combined-hydronic heating

Benefits: Combined-hydronic heating saves energy by using hot water already

8. Install fluorescent lights with electronic ballasts

Benefits: Energy-efficient lighting reduces energy consumption and lowers utility

9. Install high R-value insulation

Benefits: Installing higher R-value insulation improves comfort, decreases demand

10. Select Energy Star appliances

11. Design water-efficient landscapes

12. Install water-efficient toilets and fixtures

13. Use permeable paving materials

14. Use 30 - 50% flyash in concrete

15. Use engineered wood for headers, joists, and sheathing

16. Use recycled-content insulation, drywall, and carpet

Indoor Air Quality

17. Use low- or no-VOC paint

Benefits: Elimination of formaldehyde-based materials reduces exposure to

19. Vent range hood to the outside

20. Install carbon monoxide detector

Post Construction: Prepare operation and maintenance plan

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