The Complete Guide to Green Building & Remodeling Your Home: Everything You Need to Know Explained Simply

by Martha Maeda

Overview

In today’s economy and in response to the growing awareness of how much damage has been done to the environment in the past, people cannot afford to delay considering ways they can build or remodel their homes to ensure they are green and resource-friendly.

This book will guide you and your family through the process of learning more about and implementing the necessary changes to a new, green lifestyle. You will learn how to remodel with green in mind and how to start working with building professionals who can provide the necessary materials, plans, and paperwork you need to proceed. Your Guide to Green Building will cover which materials are best for green building and how to choose between all the choices. The basics of framing your building, natural building methods, the energy systems you might use, and the heating/cooling options at your disposal are all here, right at your fingertips.

Construction and environmental experts have been interviewed, and their expertise is included in this book

to help you complete your green dream home, as well as know what kinds of water and waste systems are best, how to site plan and landscape your home, and what the most common myths about green building are. You will learn ten things you can do on any building project to keep it green and any materials you should always have on hand for anything you do around the house.

Atlantic Publishing is a small, independent publishing company based in Ocala, Florida. Founded over twenty years ago in the company president’s garage, Atlantic Publishing has grown to become a renowned resource for non-fiction books. Today, over 450 titles are in print covering subjects such as small business, healthy living, management, finance, careers, and real estate. Atlantic Publishing prides itself on producing award winning, high-quality manuals that give readers up-to-date, pertinent information, real-world examples, and case studies with expert advice. Every book has resources, contact information, and web sites of the products or companies discussed.

This Atlantic Publishing eBook was professionally written, edited, fact checked, proofed and designed. You receive the same content as the print version of this book. Over the years our books have won dozens of book awards for content, cover design and interior design including the prestigious Benjamin Franklin award for excellence in publishing. We are proud of the high quality of our books and hope you will enjoy this eBook version.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781601387752
Publisher:	Atlantic Publishing Group
Publication date:	06/17/2011
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	336
File size:	6 MB

Table of Contents

Introduction 11

Chapter 1 What is Green? 13

Green Building Concepts 15

Misconceptions About Green Building 21

The Evolution of Green Building 24

Energy Crisis of the 1970s 28

Emergence of Green Building Guidelines and Regulations 28

Conclusion 29

Chapter 2 Why Build Green? 31

Global Concerns 32

Energy Savings and Return on Investment 38

Indoor Environmental Quality (IEQ) and Health 39

Obstacles to Building Green 47

Conclusion 50

Chapter 3 Planning and Designing Your Green Home Project 51

Principles of Sustainable Building 52

Establishing Priorities 55

Finding Green Professionals and Choosing Your Design Team 58

The Charette 62

Location and Orientation 63

Passive Home Design 70

Conclusion 80

Chapter 4 The Building Envelope 81

The Foundation 82

Framing 88

Insulation 103

Walls 115

Roofs and Attics 120

Windows and Doors 138

Conclusion 142

Chapter 5 Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning (HVAC) 143

Air Pressure and Air Barriers 144

Forced Air Systems 145

Radiant Heat 147

Geothermal Systems 147

Ventilation 148

Natural Ventilation 149

On-demand Hot Water Systems 150

Conclusion 150

Chapter 6 Renewable Energy, Solar and Wind Power 151

Solar Heating 152

Solar Water Heaters and Pool Heaters 154

Solar Power 156

Photovoltaic Energy for Your Home 159

Location and Climate 162

Evaluating your Energy Consumption 165

Components of a Solar Power System 174

Wind Turbines 189

Components of a Wind System 191

Cost of a Wind Energy System 193

Hybrid Systems 194

Backup Generator 194

Selling Power to Your Utility 195

Renewable Energy Credits and Green Power 197

Solar-powered Appliances 198

Conclusion 198

Chapter 7 Water 199

Water Efficiency 199

Your Water Budget 203

Water-saving Appliances 203

Conclusion 204

Chapter 8 Green landscaping 205

Protecting the Building Site 206

Tree 206

Lawns 207

Native Plants 210

Xeriscaping 211

Advanced Irrigation Systems 211

Landscaping for More Energy Conservation 212

Living Walls 213

Permeable Pavement 215

Porches, Decks, and Fences 215

Conclusion 220

Chapter 9 Selecting Green Materials and Products 221

Social Responsibility is Green 222

Selecting Materials for the Interior of a Building 224

Woods 225

Cabinets 227

Counters 228

Carpeting and Flooring 229

Sealers and Adhesives 230

Paints 231

Third Party Certification 235

Finding Green Manufacturers and Retailers 237

Conclusion 238

Chapter 10 Green Interior Design 239

Drywall 241

Lighting 242

Universal Design 247

Acoustics 248

Fabrics and Furnishings 249

Conclusion 250

Chapter 11 Green Renovation for Existing Homes 251

Identifying Your Priorities 253

Calculating Your Returns 254

Green Renovation Projects 255

Adding Passive Solar 257

Home Energy Audit 257

Steps for Decreasing Energy Use 267

Energy Efficient Appliances 270

Regreen Program 271

Green Neighborhoods 271

Conclusion 272

Chapter 12 Certification and Financing 273

Leed Certification 274

National Green Building Certification 277

Certification and Legal Issues 278

Permits and Zoning Requirements 279

Financing Your Green Building Project 280

Tax and Financial Incentives 282

The Residential Renewable Energy Tax Credit 283

The Residential Energy Efficient Property Credit 286

Rebates 288

Financing a Green Remodeling Project 289

Keeping to Your Budget 290

Conclusion 290

Conclusion 291

Appendix A Load Analysis Worksheet for Solar or Wind Electricity System 293

Appendix B Acronyms Used in the Book 301

Appendix C Helpful Websites 305

Appendix D Green Building Glossary 315

Bibliography 329

Author Biography 331

Index 333