Builder Magazine - July 2008 - (Page 84)

CONSTRUCTION hat’s it take for a builder to go green? It starts with a desire to learn and a willingness to push the envelope. Then the company has to make a commitment to apply new ideas and new methods on the job. There are many paths to sustainable building—a production builder’s ﬁnal choices might not be the same as a custom builder’s. Let’s see how two builders operating in different market segments are blazing trails for others to follow. In the suburban market of Madison, W Pushing Toward Zero Wis., four near-zero–energy houses for the DOE Building America program taught Veridian Homes manager Gary Zajicek’s building teams the principles they now implement on scores of Energy Star–labeled, Wisconsin Green Built– certiﬁed mid-market homes every year. In the Finger Lakes region of upstate New York, custom builder Kevin Stack, owner of Northeast Natural Homes, demonstrates advanced concepts on LEEDrated upscale country houses, then applies the lessons learned in his consulting work to subsidized low-income housing in Syracuse. As custom builders, says Stack, “we get to identify innovative and costeffective measures—and then, part of my business is to make them adaptable and affordable to the low-income community.” Both men are willing to impart what they’ve learned: Zajicek presents seminars on his company’s recycling solutions to local and national audiences; Stack teaches a class on sustainable construction at a local community college and consults for other area builders.—T.C. Framing joints are caulked for airtightness. Wiring penetrations in top plates are foam-sealed to eliminate air leakage into attic. Energy heel roof trusses provide space for full insulation thickness above wall plate. Attic ﬂoor is insulated with blown ﬁberglass. Two-foot-on-center stud spacing and engineered window headers allow more space for ﬁberglass insulation. Careful insulation and vapor-retarder detailing improve insulation effectiveness. Window ﬂanges are taped to housewrap for airtightness and watertightness. Concrete foundations are waterproofed and protected with insulating drainage board. PRODUCTION PERFORMANCE illustr ation: harry whitver For Veridian Homes, successful energy performance hinges on quality control and account- QUALITY CONTROL THAT PAYS ability. Frequent trade ally meetings and comprehensive scopes of work help trades stay on track with effective air-sealing and insulating details. Says manager Gary Zajicek, “That high-quality bath fan will help maintain good air quality while saving energy, but not if it isn’t installed right.” Zajicek teaches trade contractors to inspect each others’ work and to communicate one-to-one in order to keep energy details up to snuff, job after job. 84 ■ B U I LD E R j u ly 2008 W W W.BUILDERONLINE.COM http://WWW.BUILDERONLINE.COM

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Builder Magazine - July 2008

Builder Magazine - July 2008 Contents Editor's Notes B-Mail Book It Green House Business Update Products National Beat Seider's Economy The Greener Good Commentary Land Planning Design Construction Marketing Ad Index Further Considerations Environmental Concerns Commentary Road to Perdition? Editor's Notes Flip Contents

Builder Magazine - July 2008

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