Home Energy Retrofit Forum, May 3, 2010 Jess Traver P.E. The Builders Association of Northern Nevada

1. Green Home Building Home Energy Retrofit Forum, May 3, 2010 Jess Traver P.E. The Builders Association of Northern Nevada

2. Northern Nevada “Green” Residential Building Program

3. NAHB National Green Building Standard • ICC 700 2008 • National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) • Approved by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) • International Code Council (ICC) Development Partner

4. Green Retrofit/Remodeling The National Green Building Standard provides a credible industry benchmark and scoring process for green remodeling and renovation projects. The standard was developed through an open, consensus-based process allowing full participation of all interested stakeholders. It is also the first green building rating system to be approved by ANSI, making it the benchmark for green residential construction.

5. ICC 700 2008 Standards Subdivisions Site Design and Development Homes Lot Design, Preparation, and Development Resource Efficiency Energy Efficiency Water Efficiency Indoor Environmental Quality Operation Maintenance and Building Owner Education

6. How do you “Rate” a home to be green using ICC 700 2008?

7. Remodeling Step-By-Step Remodelers can use the online Green Scoring Tool, a free, easy-to-use software application, to streamline the process of planning and scoring a green remodeling project to the standard. The software is designed to guide users step-by-step through the green requirements. It is also designed to provide online links, where appropriate, to green products that have been pre-approved for specific points in the standard.

8. Two Paths to Green Remodeling Certification Green Building Path for homes built after 1980 follow the same path as newly constructed homes using the notes for renovation and/or additions. Green Remodel Path for homes built before 1980, a remodeler can choose to follow the certification process for new-home construction or this method.

9. Green Building Path Homes built after 1980 must use this path, in which scores are defined for renovations and additions throughout the Standards. Each practice earns points or meets certain mandatory requirements toward certification. There are several hundred practices to choose from. Remodelers only need enough practices to accumulate threshold points for the desired level of green certification. The Renovation Notes often provide additional points.

10. Some typical suggestion for Remodelers taking the Green Building Path include: Deconstruct instead of demolish rooms to be remodeled. Donate (or sell) materials from the deconstruction for reuse or recycling. If building an addition to the home that expands the footprint, take action to conserve the natural resources of the land being used. This may also apply to minimizing changes in slope, managing storm water, maintaining a wildlife habitat and minimizing soil erosion. Insulate floors, foundations and crawlspaces. Reduce total hot water pipe length. Vent bathrooms, clothes dryers and kitchen exhaust or range hoods to outdoors.

11. Green Remodel Path The Green Remodel Path is available only to homes built before 1980 and has three required elements: Achieving a certain reduction in energy usage Achieving a certain reduction in water usage Complying with five mandatory indoor environmental quality practices The reduction in energy and water consumption must range from a minimum of 20% for Bronze to at least 50% for Emerald certification. The home's water and energy usage must be analyzed before and after the remodel.

12. Remodelers taking the Green Remodelers Path may make these recommendations to a home owner for meeting certification to the standard: Conduct an energy audit to determine energy leaks in the house. Improve insulation and sealing, such as caulking and flashing, to reduce air and energy leaks. Install a more efficient and properly sized heating and air conditioning system while upgrading the ducts in the home, such as sealing and insulating to minimize leaks. Upgrade appliances with greater efficiency, such as Energy Star products — including a refrigerator, dishwasher and washing machine. Replace water fixtures with more efficient products, such as toilets, faucets and a tankless water heater. Use low- or no-VOC paints and varnishes.

13. Third-party Verification Visual third-party verification of the green features in every remodeling project that earns the Green Certified is a HALLMARK of the Green Building Certification. Verifiers accredited by the Research Center are REQUIRED to independently confirm, through a process involving document reviews and on-site inspections, that all green certification requirements and points specified by a builder or remodeler are in place for a home. No self-certifications or affidavits are allowed.

14. Tax credits www.nahb.org/efficiencytaxcredit Washoe County, City of Reno, City of Sparks, Truckee Meadows Water Authority and NV Energy (formerly Sierra Pacific Power Company) have all endorsed the Built Green Nevada.

15. NAHBGreenoffers the tools and resources that help any builder and home owner work together to go green, in a way that’s affordable. This is achieved through a program that is both market driven and voluntary.

17. Transforming the market by allowing home builders to provide homes that are as green as the customer wants and as energy- and resource-efficient as the customer can afford. It’s how green building will move to the mainstream.