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VERMONT BUILT GREEN PROGRAM. A Building for Social Responsibility Initiative Promoting Sustainable Building in Vermont. Who is BSR?. Builders Architects Designers Building energy professionals Waste reduction/recycling organizations Students Interested others. VEIC’s Involvement.
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VERMONT BUILT GREEN PROGRAM A Building for Social Responsibility Initiative Promoting Sustainable Building in Vermont Vermont Built Green
Who is BSR? • Builders • Architects • Designers • Building energy professionals • Waste reduction/recycling organizations • Students • Interested others Vermont Built Green
VEIC’s Involvement • Contractor to BSR • Grants fund administrator: • Worked with BSR to obtain funding: • Vermont Sustainable Jobs Fund: $22,000 • ERH’s DOE Grant: $5,000 • DPS: $2,000 • Staff • Program delivery in future? Vermont Built Green
Why Green Building? • “Sustainability” is major trend • Comprehensive environmental approach • Energy is just one element • Most people are more concerned with other elements: • health • IAQ • environmental protection Vermont Built Green
History • “Green” rating programs have been around for 10 years • Austin, TX • NAHB NRC manual for starting programs • USGBC’s LEED for commercial: the standard • No residential standard • 40+ programs currently under development Vermont Built Green
History con’t • BSR reviewed existing programs • Doug Seiter (Austin, Denver) in 1999 • Floated green building program idea: • DPS • Act 250 Environmental Board • VSJF • Funding commitment winter 2000 Vermont Built Green
VBG Development • Criteria development • Andy Shapiro • August 2000 retreat at Vermont Law School • 40 local and regional green building experts • consensus-building approach • Fall 2000 v. 1.0 • Outreach/networking • Marketing survey • Business plan Vermont Built Green
What is VBG? • A voluntary program for rating homes on “green-ness” or sustainability • New construction, for now • Existing homes if demand in the future • Based on scorable, weighted criteria • An umbrella program: • Expands scope and widens appeal from just energy to all green issues Vermont Built Green
What Purposes Does VBG Serve? • A marketing tool for builders, developers, manufacturers and suppliers • An evaluation tool for homebuyers • A design and construction guide for architects, designers and builders • Standards for government and institutions • An education tool for all Vermont Built Green
Synergies / Partnerships Suppliers Manufacturers Foresters Businesses Architects Builders Professional Organizations VBG Not-for-Profits focussed on Environmental and Social Issues Local, State, and Federal Government Entities Vermont Built Green
VBG Scoring Structure • Checklist • Basic requirements • Threshold to gain certification • Scorecard • All basic requirements necessary • Points (1-3) per approach • Open-ended scoring • Total score adjusted based on house size • Compliance based on combination of inspections and self-documentation Vermont Built Green
What are the Categories? 1. Siting and land use 2. Building design 3. Quality/durability 4. Energy use 5. Resource impacts 6. Occupant Health/Indoor Air Quality 7. Keeping it green: Occupant education and O&M Vermont Built Green
Siting and Land Use Strategies • Location: Choose location to reduce the dependence on automobiles • Optimize land use to minimize damage to the environment and, where possible improve the environment. • Do not build on currently usable agricultural land. • Do not build on wetlands or sensitive wildlife habitat. • Community: Promote community and security through site and building design. • Nature connection Vermont Built Green
Building Design Strategies • Efficient building design • Construct building that optimizes the use of interior space, so that overall building size is kept to a minimum while still meeting occupants' needs. • Minimize house size to reduce environmental impact • House size multipliers Vermont Built Green
Quality/Durability Strategies • Choose quality materials and details for minimum maintenance requirements. • Install materials with proper detailing to control degradation from sun, heat and moisture, including: Wood>8”above soil; Roof/wall flashing with siding cut 2” above roofing; Minimum 10” overhang size; Durable drip line on ground; membrane flashing on all rough openings • Minimum 25-year roof warranty. • 10 year warranty on insulated glass. Vermont Built Green
Energy Use Strategies • Envelope and Systems: Implement a comprehensive approach to energy-efficient design. • ENERGY STAR (86 energy rating points) • Efficient Lighting and Appliances • Minimum of 4 ENERGY STAR fixtures • Sustainable Equipment • No electric heat • Points per PV Watt installed (.005) Vermont Built Green
Resource Impacts Strategies • Resource-efficient and environmentally responsible materials • No old-growth wood (except reused) • No tropical wood unless third-party certified • Reduce, Re-Use and Recycle • Create and implement a plan for construction • Encourage diversion of waste for recycling during occupancy • Provide space for recycling containers • Water efficiency • No landscaping that requires irrigation once mature Vermont Built Green
Occupant Health/Indoor Air Quality Strategies • Minimize sources of pollutants • Low formaldehyde and low VOC paints, solvents, adhesives • Provide ventilation to remove pollutants generated in the house • Install vented range hood • Install automatic, effective ventilation system Vermont Built Green
Keeping it Green - Occupant Education and O&M Strategies • Provide education for owners/occupants in the use and care of their dwellings • Provide training • Provide “User’s Manual” • Provide “VBG Scorecard” to owners/occupants Vermont Built Green
Current Opportunities • UVM Student Housing Project • 100 units • Required minimum of 50 points VBG • City of Burlington adoption for Depot Triangle project • Mass. Renewable Energy Trust • Vermont Sustainable Jobs Fund • Surdna Foundation • NRDC: NJ Green Building Tax Credits Vermont Built Green
Phase II Goals : Ramping Up • Create guidebook and worksheets • Develop scoring software and website • Establish program forms and procedures • Develop builder/architect training materials • Hire and train staff • Develop ads and marketing materials • Continued outreach Vermont Built Green
Phase III: Full Operation • MARKETING • Print ads • Radio/TV ads • Earned media • Signs, brochures CRITERIA AND RESOURCE REVIEWS AND UPDATES Institutional “Home”* • EDUCATION • Builder training • Program manual • Resource listing Continuing OUTREACH AND NETWORKING VBG • GREEN PRODUCTS • Manufacturers • Suppliers* PROJECT REVIEW and CERTIFICATION Vermont Built Green
The Future • Secure funding to continue development • Partner with others regionally & nationally • Have LEED-R recognize and support VBG • Find an institutional home (VEIC?) • Build support and recognition for green building • Move the market towards sustainable building Vermont Built Green
Partnering Opportunities • Cross-reference standards • Joint training of builders, planners, gov’t • Partner with VSG Collaborative • Joint foundation applications • MRET incorporate VFS training & criteria • Promote participating developers Vermont Built Green