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Green...What's It
Mean? - Part III
The 6 aspects of good green construction that we’ve discussed so far all have had a direct affect on energy conservation,
a large part of green building. These next two components address building a healthy home and reducing the usage and
subsequent cost of water.
7 – Water:
Water conservation is another integral part of green construction. Only 3 percent of all water on earth is fresh, and
2 percent of that is frozen in icecaps and glaciers. Selecting low-flow fixtures, low-flush commodes, and installing
low-volume irrigation all contribute to preserving one of the earth’s most precious resources.
Low-flow fixtures, defined as those that supply less than the standard 2.2 (for a sink faucet) or 2.5 (for a showerhead)
gallons per minute, are now offered by many companies.
Toilets are a major user of household water second only to irrigation. Low-flush
commodes use approximately 1.28 gallons per flush (gpf) as opposed to the standard 1.6 gpf. This reduction equates to an
estimated savings of 3200 gallons per fixture per year for a family of four. Dual-flush versions use 0.8 or 0.9 gpf for
liquids and 1.6 gpf for solids. Since we flush liquids much more often than solids, an average family of four can save
approximately 7,000 gallons of water per year per dual-flush toilet.
 Advances
in technology have made significant improvements in the performance of these products. To make it easy to find
and select water-efficient products with good performance, the EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) has introduced its
WaterSense® program, a label that’s backed by independent testing and certification.
In order to achieve WaterSense® standards, products must perform their intended
function as well as or better than their more traditional counterparts. For a list of qualified low-flow products visit
www.EPA.gov/WaterSense
Irrigation is listed as number one for household water usage. Green construction
considers either eliminating the need for irrigation through the use of drought-tolerant turf, plants, and trees, or
utilizing low-volume irrigation and efficient design to drastically reduce water usage.
 Among
their many attributes, these affective systems provide water to the roots
of the plants, not the air above. The turf can be irrigated via more traditional methods but proper design will make a
world of difference. An efficient, low-volume irrigation design can result in a 40% reduction in water usage.
(Photo courtesy of the University of Florida’s Institute of Food and Agriculture.)
Contact your local Extension Agency for help with area-friendly plant selections and placement.
These offices provide an amazing amount of free information and help from Master Gardeners. A nationwide list of Extension Agencies
is available at, USDA Extension Agencies.
Professional irrigation designers and installers can be found through the Irrigation Association
www.Irrigation.org.
As discussed in last month’s ezine, Energy Star® dishwashers and washing machines also contribute
to water conservation. Access the ezine archives to get the scoop.
Ezine Archives@Detailed Solutions.
 Rain
harvesting through the use of cisterns is growing across the United States. Massive
amounts of water can be captured from roof runoff, stored in cisterns, and utilized for irrigation, clothes washing,
or flushing toilets.
Although incorporation of cisterns is not a standard feature in most green homes, it is a
consideration when the budget allows. For more information visit The American Rainwater Catchment Systems Association,
www.ARCSA.org or The Rainwater Harvesting Community,
www.HarvestH2O.com.
8 – Indoor Air Quality (IAQ):
According to the EPA, indoor air pollution is America’s most serious environmental health problem. The agency says
that indoor air quality is three to five times worse than outdoor air quality. The America College of Allergists
reports that half of all illnesses are caused by or aggravated by poor indoor air. And the American Lung Association
says that 42.3 million Americans are affected by asthma or hay fever, which are exacerbated by poor indoor air quality.
A Green home can include a number of procedures and products to improve these statistics. Here are a few examples.
 A
central vacuum system will improve the air quality of the home by providing effective removal of dust, dirt, and
pollen. Unlike traditional vacuums where a portion of dust and pollen is tossed back into the air, 100% of what is
vacuumed with a central vacuum system is picked up and deposited in the canister (usually located in the garage or basement).
Research at the University of California, Davis, showed that a Beam®
central vacuum removed allergens and reduced allergy symptoms by 47 percent for nasal, 48 percent for non-nasal,
61 percent for eye, and 44 percent for sleep. The EPA has acknowledged this product as an indoor-air-quality enhancer.
See www.BeamVac.com for more information.
Many products incorporated in the home such as flooring, paint, countertops,
cabinetry, and some insulation emit chemicals into the air in the form of gases. These chemicals, such as formaldehyde,
are known as VOCs (volatile organic compounds). The good news is that low- or no-VOC options for all of these products
are readily available.
This is a large subject. I’ve consolidated information about these products in
The Difference is in the Details, my new e-Planning Guide mentioned at the top of this ezine. This tool provides education,
photographs, and links to third party organizations that test and confirm low-VOC content in various products. Those sites
provide lists of approved goods. I’ve also provided examples of low-VOC items including links to supplier sites. For more
information visit, www.DifferenceInTheDetails.com.
 Sealing
the HVAC registers upon completion of the ductwork installation is a
very simple procedure that contributes to improved IAQ. By preventing construction dust and debris from
settling in the ductwork, you won’t be breathing in this mess when you first turn on the system.
Copyright © 2008 Tracy DeCarlo, Detailed Solutions,
Inc. - All Rights Reserved
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Tracy DeCarlo,
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