Green from the Ground Up : Sustainable, Healthy, and Energy-Efficient Home Construction - A Builder's Guide

by JOHNSTON, DAVIDGIBSON, SCOTT

• ISBN13: 9781561589739
• ISBN10: 156158973X
• Format: Trade Paper
• Copyright: 2008-04-01
• Publisher: Taunton

Summary

Green construction is the building trend of the decade. In direct response to the growing demand for sustainable, healthy, and energy-efficient homes, David Johnston and Scott Gibson present the most forward-thinking theories and the best proven methods of new and remodeled green construction. They begin with down-to-earth explanations of green building basics and move on to site planning, materials selection, energy efficiency, and indoor air quality-detailing along the way every step in design and construction, from framing to finishes.

Author Biography

Nationally recognized green building expert, author, and lecturer David Johnston has been a leading thinker behind the green building movement. He created the first green remodeling program in the country and his approach to green building has been embraced by cities, building professionals, and sustainability advocates nationwide. Johnston has represented the United States internationally to develop international research agreements on sustainable construction. He designed the Denver Metro Home Builders Association's Built Green Program and the Boulder Build Green Program. What's Working, Inc., the company he founded, has offices in California and Colorado.

Table of Contents

Introduction	p. 2
Green Building Basics	p. 5
Green Is No Longer on the Fringe	p. 6
Lots of Green, Few Common Standards	p. 8
Dealing with the World around Us	p. 13
The House as a System	p. 23
How Heat Is Transferred	p. 24
Thermal Transmission	p. 26
Controlling Heat Flow	p. 28
Air Leakage	p. 29
Air Barriers	p. 31
Airflow Mechanisms	p. 32
Tight Houses Need Ventilation	p. 34
The Many Faces of Water	p. 35
Controlling Sound Transmission	p. 38
Putting It All Together	p. 40
Planning and Design	p. 43
Get the Team on Board	p. 44
Siting a House for Comfort	p. 46
Planning for Water Management	p. 64
Foundations	p. 67
Foundations Should Be Insulated	p. 69
Forming Foundations with Wood	p. 78
Improving Concrete with Fly Ash	p. 79
Controlling Moisture around Foundations	p. 80
Make Crawl Spaces Generous	p. 81
Framing	p. 83
Advanced Framing Reduces Waste	p. 84
We Have Tree Farms, Not Forests	p. 89
Engineered Lumber Makes Sense	p. 96
Using Steel Studs with Recycled Content	p. 99
Structural Insulated Panels Are Fast	p. 101
Timber-Frame Construction	p. 106
Roofs and Attics	p. 109
Frame with Trusses	p. 110
Attic Ductwork	p. 111
Superinsulated Attics and Roofs	p. 114
Stopping Air Leaks at the Ceiling	p. 115
Sheathing and Roof Membranes	p. 118
Roofing Materials	p. 120
Light Colors Reduce Heat Gain	p. 126
Really Green Roofs	p. 127
Windows and Doors	p. 129
Window Frames	p. 133
Glazing	p. 137
Preventing Air and Water Leaks	p. 144
Insulating Windows Themselves	p. 148
Skylights and Light Tubes	p. 148
Doors	p. 149
Plumbing	p. 155
Distributing Hot Water Efficiently	p. 156
Water Heaters	p. 159
Eliminating the Wait for Hot Water	p. 162
Insulate All Hot Water Pipes	p. 164
Saving Water by Reducing Flow	p. 166
Plumbing for Gray Water	p. 168
Appliances That Save	p. 170
Heating, Ventilation, and Air-Conditioning	p. 173
Designing a System	p. 174
Forced-Air Systems	p. 175
Radiant Systems	p. 182
Heating Appliances	p. 184
Geothermal Systems	p. 187
Ventilation	p. 189
Cooling	p. 192
Electrical	p. 197
What Drives Demand?	p. 198
Lighting	p. 199
Lighting Design	p. 201
Energy-Efficient Appliances	p. 203
Electric Heating	p. 204
Solar and Wind	p. 204
Insulation	p. 207
Old Assumptions Don't Work	p. 209
Form Follows Function	p. 210
Making Sense of Insulation Choices	p. 213
Loose-Fill Insulation	p. 218
Spray-In Insulation	p. 220
Rigid Foam	p. 222
Radiant Barriers	p. 226
Siding and Decking	p. 227
Drainage Planes	p. 228
Siding Materials	p. 233
Decking	p. 242
Solar Energy	p. 251
Solar Hot Water	p. 253
Solar Collectors	p. 258
Active Solar Space Heating	p. 260
Photovoltaics	p. 262
Indoor Air Quality	p. 273
Setting Standards for Exposure	p. 274
Contaminants and Their Impact on Health	p. 275
Building Products That Off-Gas	p. 280
The Cure for Dirty Air	p. 282
Interior Finishes	p. 287
Choosing Environmentally Friendly Products	p. 287
Drywall	p. 291
Paints, Finishes, and Adhesives	p. 293
Interior Cabinets	p. 295
Countertops	p. 297
Green Flooring	p. 303
Landscaping	p. 311
Evaluate Site and Climate	p. 312
Working with What's There	p. 315
Integrated Pest Management	p. 321
Afterword	p. 322
Resources	p. 326
Credits	p. 327
Index	p. 328
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