Build Green and Save: Protecting the Earth And Your Bottom Line

by Matt Belcher

Overview

This insider's guide to residential green building leads you through the actual residential construction process and details how you can apply green building techniques that will benefit your business, your relationships with your customers, your reputation, and your bottom line. Matthew Belcher shares his 30+ years of experience as a successful green builder to help you on your way to• * identifying and selecting green building materials • * implementing green construction techniques• * explaining the benefits of green housing to your customers• * offering affordable green building solutions to your customers• * creating healthier homes• * marketing your environmentally sound practicesFuture generations of builders and home buyers are counting on the builders of today to use the planet's natural resources wisely. This book is your first step towards securing an environmentally sound future for generations to come. "Matt makes the case for affordable green building with informative sidebars, backed by personal experiences and details. Build Green & Save is not over the head of the novice green builder, yet still has plenty of information for the experienced green builder and developer." ---Steve Hale, President, Hale and Son Construction, Inc, Albuquerque, New Mexico, Founding member; Build Green New Mexico, Consensus Committee Member; ANSI National Green Building Standard "Though his background and experience--growing up with a father who inherently practiced sustainability in Build Green & Save, Matt Belcher offers the depth of his expertise with a fine balance of wit and wisdom." ---Annette K. Stelmack, Owner, Inspirit-LLC, Louisville, CO Build Green & Save Kindle Edition is also available on Amazon.com. You can start reading this book immediately on your iPad, Kindle, or smartphone (iPhone, Blackberry, or Android), or on your desktop by simply downloading Amazon's Kindle App here.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780867186611
Publisher:	National Association of Home Builders
Publication date:	04/01/2009
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	172
File size:	3 MB

About the Author

Matt Belcher, Founder and President of Belcher Homes, is an industry expert and St. Louis-based green builder. Because Matt believes in “leading by example,” his company builds homes that use land wisely, save resources, and provide a healthy and affordable living environment for their owners. Belcher Homes is the leading green building company in the St. Louis region. In 2006 and 2007, the National Association of Home Builders named Matt Chairman of the NAHB National Green Building Conference. He is actively involved in many regional and national green building organizations. In 2007, the Home Builder’s Association of Greater St. Louis and Eastern Missouri awarded Belcher Homes the first Gold Level Green Home Verification in St. Louis. Matt guides his company according to this principle: Custom Sustainable Home Building. “Our goal is to improve the quality of your life.”

Table of Contents

Acknowledgments ix

About the Author xi

Introduction xii

Chapter 1 The Business Of Building Green 1

Beware of Greenwashing 3

Set Realistic Expectations 4

Green by Design 5

Green Guidelines & Standards 9

National Green Building Standard 9

Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design Program (LEED) 13

Green Building Initiative (GBI) 16

Chapter 2 Building Homes That Last 21

Good Site Planning is Key 27

Chapter 3 Using Resources Wisely 47

Reducing, Recycling, Reusing 48

Enhancing Durability and Reducing Maintenance 51

Reusing and Recycling Materials 54

Using Renewable Materials 57

Using Indigenous Materials 58

Salvaging Tear-Down Components 60

Reusing Infrastructure by Building Infill Housing 62

Chapter 4 Reducing Energy Consumption 65

The Green Building Envelope 66

Windows 67

Walls 68

Insulation 73

Wraps 77

Air-Sealing Package 78

Windows and Doors 81

Roof Trusses 84

HVAC Design, Equipment, and Installation 87

HVAC and Heat Pump Efficiency 88

Geothermal Design 89

Solar Power 92

Water Heating Design 94

Energy-Efficient Lighting and Appliances 96

Home Energy Rating Specialist (HERS) 101

Chapter 5 Conserving Water 105

Plumbing 107

Water-Efficient Appliances 109

Rainwater Collection Systems 111

Chapter 6 Constructing A Healthy House 115

Minimizing Potential Sources of Pollutants 116

Managing Potential Pollutants Generated in the Home 121

HVAC and Filters 121

Venting 122

Appliances 123

Radon 124

Chlorine-Reducing Showerheads 127

Green Cleaning Methods 128

Managing Moisture 130

Chapter 7 Learning To Live Green 133

Chapter 8 Green Choices Have Global Impact 141

Creating a Plus-Plus142

Ensuring Watershed Health 145

Old-Growth Wood 146

Energy Efficiency 148

Index