Kitchen & Bath Business - January 2020 - 28

LEARNING CORNER

Becoming an
Eco-Friendly Pro
Breaking down green certifications,
building standards & ratings

This Brooklyn townhouse is
a Passive House Plus, which
produces as much energy as the
residents consume; additional
energy is generated from photovoltaics such as the rooftop
solar panels. Designed by Baxt
Ingui Architects, photo by John
Muggenborg Phototography

By ERINN LOUCKS

ACCORDING TO THE U.S. ENERGY INFORMATION

ADMINISTRATION, residential and commercial

buildings account for 40 percent of energy consumption in the nation.This includes water waste,
energy usage and the construction process itself.
Green certifications are helping combat this issue
by creating incentive and value for eco-friendly
projects.There are many to strive for - each with a
variety of rules and stipulations - but the result is
well worth the effort.
ENERGY STAR

Developed by Energy Star's Residential New
Construction program, Energy Star-certified
homes are at least 10 percent more efficient than
homes built to code and achieve a 20 percent improvement in efficiency on average.
How to Achieve: Buildings receive this certification
through measures like complete thermal enclosure, heating and cooling and water management
systems, as well as the inclusion of energy-efficient
lighting and appliances.
The Why: "Green certifications like Energy Star
are important to me because they are an independent validation of the product we bring to
the market. These certifications distinguish our
projects from others who just provide the bling."
- John Barrows, 2019 NAHB Sustainability &
Green Building Subcommittee chair & founder of
Wainscott, N.Y.-based P3 Builder Group Inc.
LEED

Leadership in Engineering and Environmental Design (LEED) certification is a non-biased, credible
measure of sustainability for projects and is the most
widely used green-building rating system globally.
 How to Achieve: To have a LEED professional
credential, designers and architects must earn
continuing education hours and pass an exam.
Certified LEED projects - which can fit into
a variety of categories from residential homes
to commercial interiors - must meet a number
of requirements, including rainwater management and access to transit.
 The Why: "I believe it is the responsibility
of professionals who design interior spaces

to make every effort to support the wellness
of the occupants living in the space. LEED
is one method to ensure the materials and
products we use do not harm our environment. Energy efficiency, non-toxic/no-VOC
products and recycled content are all part
of this equation. - Joan Kaufman, FASID,
LEED-AP, Interior Planning and Design,
Naperville, Ill.
PASSIVE HOUSE

A Passive House building certification comprises
a set of design principles used to attain a quantifiable level of energy efficiency, which is mainly
focused on indoor air quality, resilient construction
and the overall comfort for homeowners.
 How to Achieve: This type of building is designed and built in accordance with five principles: 1) It must employ continuous insulation
throughout its entire envelope without any
thermal bridging 2) The building envelope
is extremely airtight, preventing infiltration
of outside air and loss of conditioned air 3) It
must employ high-performance windows and
doors 4) The building must have some form of
balanced heat and moisture-recovery ventilation 5) It must use a minimal space conditioning system.
 The Why: "We currently have more than six
Passive House projects under construction
with several others in design, and you can see a
significant difference in the clients. They once
asked what a Passive House was and wondered
why you would do it. Now they are convinced
that the amenities of a Passive House are a
must-have - it's a home that is sealed from
many bugs, dust, pollen and has filtered fresh
air 24/7."- Michael Ingui, Baxt Ingui Architects,
New York
NET-ZERO ENERGY BUILDING

These homes create renewable energy on site to
offset the energy used inside.
 How to Achieve: Energy efficiency is first
achieved through measures like sun control
and shading devises, high-performance en-

velopes and a careful selection of windows.
The remaining energy needs of this home are
then met using renewable energy technologies, including photovoltaics - a process that
converts light into energy - solar water heating
and wind turbines.
 The Why: "It can be a challenge to get all the
consultants, sub-contractors and even plans
examiners to rethink typical construction
methods. Involving all team members also
helps create a common goal. Once you get
the plumbing sub excited about what value
you achieved on the airtightness of a home,
then you know you've made some progress!" - Gabe Headrick, Steelhead Architecture,
Portland, Ore.
OTHER CERTIFICATIONS

 Green Globes: The submittal requirements of
this online green-building rating and certification tool consist of documents like construction drawings, energy modeling, lifecycle
analysis, records of meetings and any "green"
plans developed, like storm-water management or landscaping.
 Home Energy Rating System (HERS) Index: This
is an evaluation of energy efficiency within a
home and is determined by a certified Home
Energy Rater, who assigns the home a relative
performance score. The lower the number, the
more energy efficient the home.
 Living Building Challenge: This certification program promotes a high building standard that
connects occupants to light, air, food, nature
and the community. Living Buildings are selfsufficient and remain within the resource limits
of their site, produce more energy than they use
and collect and treat all water on site.
 National Green Building Standard (NGBS): This
standard certification provides independent
verification that a building is designed and
built to achieve high performance in six
key areas: site design, resource efficiency,
water efficiency, energy efficiency, indoor
environmental quality and building operation and maintenance.


/ JANUARY 2020 / KBBONLINE.COM / The official publication of NKBA (NKBA.org) and KBIS (KBIS.com)

http://www.KBBONLINE.COM http://www.NKBA.org http://www.KBIS.com

Kitchen & Bath Business - January 2020

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