EA New Homes Measures Guide - Earth Advantage

2012 Earth Advantage Residential
Measures Resource Guide
3.8.2
Exterior Paint: Recycled content (50% post-consumer)
Energy
Health
Materials
Water
0 0 1 1 0
Description: Recycled latex paint is made from unused latex paint collected from households, government, businesses, and painting
contractors. New materials are sometimes added to improve the paint's consistency and to make standard colors. Recycled paint must
contain at least 50 percent post-consumer content.
Land
Benefit: Using recycled content latex paint offers a number of environmental and economic benefits. First, by incorporating used paint, the
manufacturer diverts it from taking up space in hazardous waste facilities. Second, using recycled content products lowers the demand on
limited new resources. Third, using recycled content paint reduces the embodied energy of a home and the amount of pollution that results
from the extraction, transportation, and disposal of the materials necessary to build it. Fourth, recycled paint costs less than virgin paint,
and its performance is the same. Finally, in addition to the environmental benefits of its recycled content, choosing paints with low-VOC
content also helps protect air quality both indoors and out.
Verification: EA Rater will examine paint containers to confirm that the material comes from Metro Paint or another known source of
recycled paint.
3.9 Windows, Skylights and Doors
3.9.1
Window Efficiency Suggested: U-0.30
Energy
Materials
Water
0 0 0 0 0
Description: Enter the U-value of windows. A heat loss rating of U-0.30 or lower is strongly recommended. This is an area-weighted average
of all windows and glazed doors.
Health
Land
Benefit: Window heat loss is described by U-value. Window manufacturers use a standard procedure for testing and reporting window
characteristics established by the National Fenestration Rating Council (NFRC). The U-value is reported on a sticker attached to each
window. The heat loss of a window with a U-value of 0.30 is about 14 percent less than the heat loss of a window with a U-value of 0.35.
Low emissivity coatings that contribute to the lower heat loss also block much of the ultraviolet radiation that passes through the window.
This reduces fading in interior furnishings and finishes. These windows often have argon gas fill.
Verification: EA Rater will look at the NFRC sticker on each window.
3.9.2
Energy Health Land Materials Water
Window framing Material: Composite or Wood with clad exterior
0 1 0 1 0
Description: Install composite (fiberglass composite) and wood windows with an exterior cladding.
Benefit: Composite framing uses a fiberglass composite that is very stable under extreme conditions. Wood framing is a natural product,
and the exterior cladding eliminates maintenance. Neither product contains compounds that are toxic during manufacturing or when
burned.
Verification: EA Rater will visually inspect window frames to determine the material.
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