Green Building for the Homeowner - City of Pasadena

This information, provided by RBF Consulting, is for informational 

purposes only, and is not an endorsement of any individual, 

group, and/or company. The content provided is 

not intended to be a comprehensive list of all 

websites, resources, and/or materials available. 

Produced for the City of Pasadena 

Green Building Outreach & Education Program 

by RBF Consulting

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Green Building Workshop #1 February 2007 

FAQ for Green Building 

Q: What are the top things I can do NOW to green my home without spending any money? 

A: You can immediately start operating your home in a green fashion. 

Save energy by: 

 

 

 

Save water by: 

 

 

 

Turning off lights, TV, or stereo when you are not in a room 

Using ceiling fans to cool yourself, but turning them off when you are not in the room 

Don’t overheat or overcool your home, and adjust your system for when you are not home. 

When using a hose, faucet, or other water fixture, don’t let the water run needlessly or 

unattended 

Checking your timing schedule on your irrigation system and only running it when needed 

Washing only full loads of laundry or dishes, or setting the water level to the appropriate 

depth 

Improve indoor air quality by: 

 

 

 

Taking your shoes off when you enter the home or using a sturdy welcome mat as this is how 

most of the dust and particles come into your home 

Running your bathroom and stovetop exhaust fans to remove humidity and fumes 

Keeping cleaning materials, pesticides and other hazardous chemicals safely stored in the 

garage rather than inside the home. When you do buy these materials, choose ones that are 

less toxic. 

Lead a green lifestyle by: 

 

 

 

Preventing waste before it starts, only buy what you need 

Being conscientious about recycling and reusing as much as you can 

Start trying to compost some kitchen and yard wastes 

Q: I’d like to remodel my home green, but I’m unsure about what products to use. 

A: First, look for products that: 1) make your home more energy efficient and/or comfortable; 2) save 

water; 3) are safe for your family; 4) are durable so you won’t have to replace or repair; 5) made from 

recycled materials; 6) manufactured in an environmentally-friendly way; and 7) made locally. 

Second, read about green remodeling products to familiarize yourself with green products and 

techniques. 

Third, ask your retailer's staff or management what types of green products they carry and for a list of 

them. 

Pasadena Green Building Education and Outreach Program


Q: What should I look for in a contractor? 

A: First, take the time to thoroughly research and plan exactly why and what you’d like to do in your job. 

It is much cheaper and easier to make changes on paper than it is to make changes once your project is 

underway 

Second, interview a number of contractors to understand the wide array of professionals you could get 

(also ask friends for recommendations of good contractors). You can also find a list of NARI Certified 

Green Building Professionals on this web site or at http://www.build-green.org/. During the interviews: 

see if they are properly licensed and insured; get references of past clients and definitely call them; ask to 

see photos and/or visit past jobs; ask them if they how about green building practices; ask for their advice 

on your project and how they would approach the job, and then ask for a written bid from the contractors 

with whom you feel the most comfortable. 

Third, as you review the bids and the contractors, be sure you and they are clear on what it will cost, what 

will be done, how it will be done, what happens if things go wrong in the process, how are change orders 

handled, and what guarantees and warranties will you have that the work will be completed to your 

satisfaction. Most problems between contractors and homeowners are a result of a homeowner not doing 

good research to pick the best contractor for their job and a lack of good communication between the 

contractor and the homeowner resulting in differing expectations. Construction jobs will always have 

some problems along the way, but the key to picking a good contractor is how well she/he will resolve 

those problems along the way. Remember that, more times than not, you get what you pay for and 

headaches, problems, and bad communication can cost a lot more money than the initial bid price. 

Fourth, when you feel comfortable with everything: make your choice, read your contract thoroughly and 

ask questions before you sign, and then maintain good communication with your contractor to keep things 

running smoothly. 

Q: What is the best way to save water in my home? 

A: One of the best ways to save water is outside your home. Our irrigated landscapes use 30-70% of our 

home’s water. The first best thing to do is to improve your irrigation system operations by adjusting your 

timer to really only water when your plants need it. Most of us overwater our plants significantly. Second, 

run your system and adjust the sprinkler heads so that they actually hit the plant areas and don’t spray the 

sidewalk or your driveway, so that your precious water just runs down the street. Third, you could add a 

rain or a moisture sensor to the system, so that the system does not irrigate when the soil already has 

enough water for your plants. Fourth, you could change some of your larger, broadcasting sprinkler heads 

to drip hoses and heads that feed water directly to the plant root area, rather than losing so much water to 

the leaves and the atmosphere via evaporation. Use some mulch to try and keep the water in the soil and 

reduce weed growth. Finally, start to look at your plantings and slowly begin to try reducing the amount 

of plants that are big water users and increasing plantings of native and drought-tolerant plants. Do a 

small section at a time so you don’t get overwhelmed. 

You can find all of this information and more in detail by visiting www.bewaterswise.com. 


Residential Workshop #1 February 2007 

Myths and Facts about Green Building 

Myth: 

Fact: 

Myth: 

Fact: 

Green buildings are unattractive thatch-roofed mud huts and require the sacrifice 

of modern amenities. 

The design, methodologies, materials and building procedures of the Green Building 

movement have been around for thousands of years albeit in a slightly different form. 

Modern technologies have made green building materials more readily available, 

useful and reliable than ever before. Green buildings do not have to sacrifice on 

amenities; instead they can be functional, urban and modern. Oftentimes, green 

buildings look and are just like conventional buildings in every way, but they are 

operated and maintained in a sustainable manner. Many people are concerned that 

are manufactured with toxic materials that may quickly degrade and are often 

unhealthy for their inhabitants. The popularity of green building is not just a 

response to the energy crisis or the health crisis, but rather a natural evolution of the 

building industry towards greater efficiency, purity, and harmony with nature. In 

general, green buildings are far more efficient and technologically advanced than 

most traditional buildings. 

Green buildings cost more to design and build. 

A recent California study of 33 diverse LEED for New Construction certified 

institutional buildings built over the last 10 years shows that the cost premium was 

1.8%. 1 Five of these buildings had no premium at all. Green buildings are less costly 

to operate due to integrated design. In fact, many of the green improvements paid for 

themselves within three years having annual return on investments of 25-40%. The 

average savings of the buildings in the CA study were substantial: 30% increase in 

designed energy savings and 50-97% savings in waste costs. Green buildings are less 

taxing on natural resources – the study showed that the buildings experienced about 

30-50% decrease in water consumption. 

The U.S. EPA found that average Americans spend more than 90% of their time 

indoors, and indoor air quality can be two to five times worse than outdoor air 

quality. 2 Green buildings improve the indoor environmental quality of a building, 

which can increase employee productivity according to an increasing number of case 

studies. Since salaries are by far the largest expense for most companies (for offices, 

salaries are 72 times higher than energy costs, and they account for 92% of the life- 

1 The Costs and Financial Benefits of Green Buildings: A Report to California’s Sustainable Building Task Force, October 2003. 

2 U.S. EPA Office of Air and Radiation, 1989, Report to Congress on Indoor Air Quality, Volume II: Assessment and Control of Indoor Air Pollution 


Residential Workshop #1 February 2007 

cycle cost of a building), green building can dramatically reduce the overall costs of 

building operation. 3 

Additionally, in some cases, green buildings can potentially reduce project costs. 

Green building projects that are well integrated and are comprehensive in scope can 

result in lower or neutral project development costs. Rehabilitating an existing 

building can lower infrastructure and materials costs. Integrated design can use the 

payback from some strategies to pay for others. Energy-efficient building envelopes 

can reduce equipment needs – downsizing some equipment, such as chillers, or 

eliminating equipment, such as perimeter heating. Using pervious paving and other 

runoff prevention strategies can reduce the size and cost of stormwater management 

structures. (www.usgbc.com) 

3 Fisk and Rosenfeld, 1998, “Improved Indoor Environment Could Save Billions of Dollars 



RESIDENTIAL GREEN BUILDING: 

Tips for the Homeowner 

Green building does not necessarily have to be a comprehensive, expensive renovation of your 

home. Here are 10 ideas that will result in a greener, healthier home. 

1. Turn down the thermostat. When you are at home, keep the thermostat at 78°F or higher in 

the summer and 62°F or lower in the winter. Install a programmable thermostat to reduce 

output when you are not home during the day or at night when you are sleeping. These 

actions could reduce your energy bill by $100 per year or more! Pasadena Water and Power 

provides rebates for programmable thermostats. Visit www.PWPweb.com. 

2. Use ceiling fans in the summer AND winter. By reversing the direction of the blades in 

winter, warm air is pushed down, helping to keep rooms warm. 

3. Conserve energy by purchasing major appliances with an Energy Star rating. Compared to a 

1990 model, an Energy Star-qualified refrigerator would save enough electricity to light a 

home for more than four and a half months. Pasadena Water and Power provides rebates 

for energy-saving fixtures and a rebate for recycling your refrigerator. Visit 

www.PWPweb.com 

4. Repair leaky water fixtures: one drop per second from a leaky faucet can waste as much as 

10 gallons of water each week. 

5. Install low-flow showerheads, faucets, and toilets. Low-flow faucets reduce water 

consumption and the cost of heating water by as much as 50 percent; using a low-flow toilet 

can save 2.1 trillion gallons of water and $11.3 million nationwide every day. Pasadena 

Water and Power provides rebates for water-saving fixtures. Visit www.PWPweb.com 

6. Choose carpeting, rugs, window treatments and other textiles made from natural fibers, 

such as cotton or wool, which are untreated and free of toxins, such as pesticides or 

chemical cleaners. 

7. Ask for flooring products made from rapidly renewable resources, such as bamboo and 

linoleum. Bamboo is one of the fastest growing plants in the world, requiring no replanting 

and little fertilization or pesticides. Linoleum is made from wood flour, linseed oil, and 

rosins, and comes in a variety of colors and patterns. 

8. Switch to compact fluorescent light bulbs to save money and energy on your lighting needs. 

Changing five of the most frequently used incandescent light bulbs in your home can save 

you $100 per year on electric bills! Pasadena Water and Power provides rebates for 

compact fluorescent light bulbs. Visit www.PWPweb.com. 



9. Plant a shade tree on the south-facing side of your house to reduce your cooling load. 

Pasadena Water and Power provides rebates for 37 different species of shade trees. Visit 

www.PWPweb.com. 

10. Landscape with native, drought-tolerant plants to reduce irrigation needs. If you must 

irrigate, install a system that minimizes water lost to evaporation, including drip irrigation, 

or ollas (clay pots that allow water to seep into the ground). Also consider collecting 

rainwater or gray water (water from sinks, showers, and washers) for irrigation to reduce 

use of potable water. Path to Freedom has more information on ollas, gray water systems, 

and rain barrels. Visit www.pathtofreedom.com. Also visit the Metropolitan Water 

District of Southern California website at www.bewaterwise.com. 


LEED-NC Version 2.2 Registered Project Checklist 

> 

> 

Yes ? No 

Sustainable Sites 

14 Points 

Y Prereq 1 Construction Activity Pollution Prevention Required 

Credit 1 Site Selection 1 

Credit 2 Development Density & Community Connectivity 1 

Credit 3 Brownfield Redevelopment 1 

Credit 4.1 Alternative Transportation, Public Transportation Access 1 

Credit 4.2 Alternative Transportation, Bicycle Storage & Changing Rooms 1 

Credit 4.3 Alternative Transportation, Low-Emitting and Fuel-Efficient Vehicles 1 

Credit 4.4 Alternative Transportation, Parking Capacity 1 

Credit 5.1 Site Development, Protect of Restore Habitat 1 

Credit 5.2 Site Development, Maximize Open Space 1 

Credit 6.1 Stormwater Design, Quantity Control 1 

Credit 6.2 Stormwater Design, Quality Control 1 

Credit 7.1 Heat Island Effect, Non-Roof 1 

Credit 7.2 Heat Island Effect, Roof 1 

Credit 8 Light Pollution Reduction 1 

Yes ? No 

Water Efficiency 

5 Points 

Credit 1.1 Water Efficient Landscaping, Reduce by 50% 1 

Credit 1.2 Water Efficient Landscaping, No Potable Use or No Irrigation 1 

Credit 2 Innovative Wastewater Technologies 1 

Credit 3.1 Water Use Reduction, 20% Reduction 1 

Credit 3.2 Water Use Reduction, 30% Reduction 1 

Yes ? No 

Energy & Atmosphere 

17 Points 

Y Prereq 1 Fundamental Commissioning of the Building Energy Systems Required 

Y Prereq 2 Minimum Energy Performance Required 

Y Prereq 3 Fundamental Refrigerant Management Required 

Credit 1 Optimize Energy Performance 1 to 10 

Credit 2 On-Site Renewable Energy 1 to 3 

Credit 3 Enhanced Commissioning 1 

Credit 4 Enhanced Refrigerant Management 1 

Credit 5 Measurement & Verification 1 

Credit 6 Green Power 1 

continued…

Yes ? No 

Materials & Resources 

13 Points 

Y Prereq 1 Storage & Collection of Recyclables Required 

Credit 1.1 Building Reuse, Maintain 75% of Existing Walls, Floors & Roof 1 

Credit 1.2 Building Reuse, Maintain 100% of Existing Walls, Floors & Roof 1 

Credit 1.3 Building Reuse, Maintain 50% of Interior Non-Structural Elements 1 

Credit 2.1 Construction Waste Management, Divert 50% from Disposal 1 

Credit 2.2 Construction Waste Management, Divert 75% from Disposal 1 

Credit 3.1 Materials Reuse, 5% 1 

Credit 3.2 Materials Reuse,10% 1 

Credit 4.1 Recycled Content, 10% (post-consumer + ½ pre-consumer) 1 

Credit 4.2 Recycled Content, 20% (post-consumer + ½ pre-consumer) 1 

Credit 5.1 Regional Materials, 10% Extracted, Processed & Manufactured Regionally 1 

Credit 5.2 Regional Materials, 20% Extracted, Processed & Manufactured Regionally 1 

Credit 6 Rapidly Renewable Materials 1 

Credit 7 Certified Wood 1 

Yes ? No 

Indoor Environmental Quality 

15 Points 

Y Prereq 1 Minimum IAQ Performance Required 

Y Prereq 2 Environmental Tobacco Smoke (ETS) Control Required 

Credit 1 Outdoor Air Delivery Monitoring 1 

Credit 2 Increased Ventilation 1 

Credit 3.1 Construction IAQ Management Plan, During Construction 1 

Credit 3.2 Construction IAQ Management Plan, Before Occupancy 1 

Credit 4.1 Low-Emitting Materials, Adhesives & Sealants 1 

Credit 4.2 Low-Emitting Materials, Paints & Coatings 1 

Credit 4.3 Low-Emitting Materials, Carpet Systems 1 

Credit 4.4 Low-Emitting Materials, Composite Wood & Agrifiber Products 1 

Credit 5 Indoor Chemical & Pollutant Source Control 1 

Credit 6.1 Controllability of Systems, Lighting 1 

Credit 6.2 Controllability of Systems, Thermal Comfort 1 

Credit 7.1 Thermal Comfort, Design 1 

Credit 7.2 Thermal Comfort, Verification 1 

Credit 8.1 Daylight & Views, Daylight 75% of Spaces 1 

Credit 8.2 Daylight & Views, Views for 90% of Spaces 1 

Yes ? No 

Innovation & Design Process 

5 Points 

Credit 1.1 Innovation in Design: Provide Specific Title 1 




Credit 2 LEED ® Accredited Professional 1 

Yes ? No 

Project Totals (pre-certification estimates) 

69 Points 

Certified 26-32 points Silver 33-38 points Gold 39-51 points Platinum 52-69 points

Pasadena Green Building Program February 2007 

Introduction to 

Green Building For the 

Homeowner 

Thursday, February 1, 2007 7:00 p.m. 

The Neighborhood Church 

1 

Agenda 

10 minutes I. Pasadena Green Building Program and Market Support 

30 minutes II. Conventional “Stick Frame” Green Building Technologies 

» Sites 

» Foundation 

» Structural Frame 

» Exterior Finish 

» Plumbing, Electrical & Appliances 

» Insulation & Windows 

» Heating and Cooling 

» Indoor Air Quality & Finishes 

» Flooring & Interior Finishes 

10 minutes III. Unconventional Green Building Technologies 

» Straw Bale 

» Rammed Earth 

» Earth Bag 

10 minutes IV. Virtual Tour of Green Residences 

Q&A 

2 

RBF Consulting 

& Marie Jones Consulting 1


25,000+ certified green homes 

26 green building programs 

Residential 

Green Building Programs 

Examples: 

• Built Green Colorado (1995) has 111 builders and over 9,600 certified homes 

• Austin Energy’s Green Building Program (1990) has 111 builders and over 2,500 

certified homes 

Home Builders Association Programs 

– States: Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Florida, New Mexico, Southwest 

Washington, Georgia, Michigan, New York, Texas 

– Counties: King, Snohomish, Kitsup Counties, 

– Cities: Atlanta, Kansas City, Hudson Valley, Schenectady 

3 

Residential 

Green Building Programs 

• Local Government 

Programs 

– Boulder CO 

– Chula Vista, CA 

– Austin TX 

– Frisco, TX 

– Grand Rapids, MI 

– Memphis TN 

– Portland OR 

– Scottsdale, AZ 

– Alameda County, CA 

– Arlington County VA 

– Clark County, WA 

• State Programs 

– North Caroline Healthy Built 

Homes 

– New Jersey Affordable 

Green Program 

– Vermont 

• Federal Programs 

– Building America Partner 

Program 

– Energy Star Homes 

4 




City of Pasadena 

Sustainability Action Plan 

• Pasadena approved a comprehensive action plan that 

adheres to the U.N. Green Cities Declaration and Urban 

Environmental Accords (UEA). 

• The UEA are a series of goals adopted at the city level to 

achieve urban sustainability, promote healthy economies, 

advance social equity and protect the world’s ecosystem. 

• New Environmental Advisory Commission will monitor the 

City’s sustainability initiatives. 

5 



• Of the 21 Actions, the City has already achieved 

the following: 

• #1 Renewable Energy 

• #6 Consumer Waste 

• #7 Green Building 

• #8 Urban Planning 

• #9 Environmental Jobs 

• #12 Habitat Protection 

• #13 Public Transportation 

6 






• Of the 21 Accords Actions, the City has already achieved 7 

actions, and anticipates achieving 10 more actions by 2012. 

Sample Accords actions include: 

– Ensuring park access or recreational open space within ½ 

kilometer of all residents 

– Reducing car trips by solo drives by 10% 

– Eliminating the use of identified substances that pose a risk to 

human health 

7 


Green Building Ordinance 

• UEA Action #7 – Green Building: “Adopt a policy that mandates a 

green building rating system that applies to all new municipal 

buildings.” 

• On April 15, 2006, Pasadena Municipal Code Chapter 14.90 – Green 

Building Practices Ordinance went into effect. 

• Adopts by reference the United States Green Building Council’s 

(USGBC) Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) 

green building rating system. 

8 




Leadership in Energy and 

Environmental Design (LEED) 

• LEED is a nationally recognized rating system for 

assessing a building’s “greenness” and is used by 

federal agencies, states across the nation, local 

jurisdiction, agencies, and the international 

community. 

• A project can strive for one of the following four 

LEED award levels: Certified, Silver, Gold or 

Platinum. 

9 

Leadership in Energy and 

Environmental Design (LEED) 

• LEED awards points to buildings based on five 

main categories: 

– Sustainable Sites 

– Water Efficiency 

– Energy and Atmosphere 

– Materials and Resources 

– Indoor Environmental Quality 

• Projects can also achieve up to 5 points for 

Innovation in Design 

10 





Green Building Ordinance 

• The Green Building Ordinance requires that the following projects 

meet the requirements of a LEED Certified building: 

– Municipal buildings with 5,000 square feet or more of new construction; 

– Non-residential buildings with 25,000 square feet or more of new 

construction; 

– Tenant improvements of 25,000 square feet or more of construction and 

requiring a building permit; 

– Mixed-use and multi-family residential buildings of four stories in height or 

more. 

• While all of the above projects must register with USGBC, only 

municipal buildings are required to complete the certification process 

11 

Pasadena Water and Power (PWP) 

Energy Efficiency Programs 

‣ Go Green! Green Power Program – PWP customers can choose from 

three different options: $5.00 per month (200 kWh), $10.00 per month (400 

kWh) or ALL GREEN, meaning an additional charge of 2.5¢ per kilowatt 

hour of actual usage. 

‣ Energy Star Rebate Program (up to $200 per Energy Star appliance or 

lighting product) 

‣ Cool Trees Program (up to $50 per tree – up to ten trees per year) 

‣ Efficient Cooling Home Incentive Program (central/room air 

conditioners, dual glazed windows/doors, solar powered attic/roof fan, 

window sun shades/screens, skylights or sun tubes) 

12 





Energy Efficiency Programs 

‣ All-Electric Household Rebate Program (up to $650 for energy 

efficient products) 

‣ Refrigerator (local purchase), extra incentive for green power 

customer 

‣ Insert table 

‣ Refrigerator Recycling Program ($25 for old refrigerators or $35 for 

old freezers) 

‣ Residential Solar Power Program ($3.50 per watt installed up to a 

maximum of $8,000, in addition to net metering) 

13 


Water Conservation Programs 

‣ High-Efficiency Washer Rebate Program ($530 rebate) 

‣ Ultra-low Flush and Dual Flush High Efficiency Toilet 

Rebate Program ($135-$265 rebate) 

‣ Low-Flow Flushometer Valve System Rebate ($325 rebate) 

14 





C & D Waste Ordinance 

‣ Up-front deposit of 3% of project value or $30,000 is returned once 

compliance is met 

‣ Threshold 1,000 SF for Construction, Demolition, Remodeling 

‣ Tenant improvement 3,000 SF 

‣ Requirement to recycle 50%, by weight 

‣ Resources for contractors, developers, for salvage and deconstruction 

‣ Recycling Centers 

‣ Reporting requirement 

15 

Additional Resources 

‣ Low income program, free refrigerator exchange program for folks 

on low-income rates. 

‣ Self audit program to identify how characteristics of your home’s 

energy consumption would change for proposed remodeling and 

new appliances. 

16 




Green Building Market 

Most desired overall home 

features include: 

96% of surveyed consumers 

are willing to pay for green 

home options. 

• 20% would pay $10,000 more 



Most readily accepted green 

features offer additional 

advantages over conventional 

counterparts 

17 

II. Green Building Practices 

Framework 

• Design & construction practices that benefit 

the environment & occupants 

• Whole building approach 

• Build for the long term 

• Conserve natural resources, increase energy 

efficiency, & improve indoor air quality 

18 




Design 

Design Considerations 

• Design for local conditions: earthquake, wind patterns, rainfall, 

humidity, high & low temperatures, pests (termites) 

• Design for community: orient living rooms and porches to streets and 

public spaces, avoid snout garage/driveways 

• Design for diverse family types, with attention to universal design 

• Size: is a 3,500 or 7,000 sq. ft green house an oxymoron? 

• Design to stock lengths 

– Design rooms so that sawn lumber and other products (drywall, 

OSB, Plywood, Carpet, tile) require minimal cutting and produce 

minimal waste. 

– Rooms that come in 16’ 12’ & 8’ dimensions are better than rooms 

of 9’, 11’ and 15’ dimensions. 

– Lower material and labor costs per square foot 

• Integrated design: better window choices can allow for a smaller 

heating/cooling system 

19 

Design For Local Environment 

Passive Solar 

• Orient long edge of homes on an 

east/west axis for solar gain during 

winter months 

• Balance thermal mass 

– For solar glazing of less than 

7% of total heated floor space, 

drywall and framing lumber will 

provide enough thermal mass. 

– When glazing is between 7 to 

12% of sq ft, additional mass is 

required. Tile, bricks, and 

concrete should be evenly 

distributed throughout a house. 

The more mass in direct contact 

with sunlight the better. 

– Don’t over glaze, don’t oversize 

heating and cooling systems 

20 




Site Selection 

Urban Design & Site Selection 

• Urban Infill & Transit Oriented Development 

(TOD) 

– Within 1 Mile of Public Transit Hub 

– Higher density, minimize parking 

• Livable Communities 

– Develop mixed-use, 

residential/commercial, walkable 

communities 

– Provide for “granny flats” above garages 

– Minimize street widths 

• Do not build on 

– prime farmland 

– within100 year flood 

– on habitat of threatened or endangered 

species 

– within 100 feet of a wetlands, or 

– on former public park land. 

21 

Site Landscaping 

Reduce water use 

– Landscape with xeriscape and native plants 

– Install drip irrigation, mulch plant beds 

– Consider using rain water cistern for irrigation. 

Reduce materials use 

– Conserve & reuse site soil & mature trees 

– Use recycled plastic content decking -- does 

not require staining or maintenance, long life 

span, no splinters, non-toxic 

Use non- chromium/arsenic treated wood 

for decking, fencing, sill plates 

– Alkaline Copper Quatenary (ACQ) and 

Wolman Natural Select do not contain 

chromium – a heavy metal – and arsenic. 

22 




Site Landscaping 

Stormwater Management 

– Use permeable pavers/surfacing for 

sidewalks, patios and driveway. 

Manage heat/cold absorption 

– Landscape with evergreen trees on northfacing 

walls 

– Landscaping with deciduous trees on southfacing 

walls 

– Use light color roofing 

23 

Reuse form boards or use Aluminum forms 

• Aluminum forms can be reused many times 

for a smoother finish 

Use ICFs – rigid foam insulated concrete 

forms 

• Rigid foam forming systems hold concrete in 

place during curing and provide long-term 

thermal insulation for concrete walls. 

Foundation 

Use recycled aggregate and 

incorporate flyash into concrete. 

15%-50% of cement can be 

replaced with flyash. 

Benefits 

• Higher compressive strength over time 

• More durable & less permeable 

• Less shrinkage & creep 

• Lower heat of hydration 

• Better pump-ability 

• Costs less 

• Saves energy required for making cement 

and reduces the emission of global 

warming gasses. 

• Usefully employs a waste product 

Drawbacks 

• Slower rate of compressive strength gain 

• It is one more product to control at the 

point of batching 

• Consumer acceptability 

24 




Use engineered lumber 

• Made of fast growing farm trees and 

of as little as 50% wood fiber. 

• Perform the same structural 

functions 

• Typically stronger, straighter and 

lighter than sawn lumber 

– Floors & Ceiling: use wood I- 

joists which can span longer 

distances 

– Substitute smaller dimension 

lumber for non-load bearing 

headers: a 4x6 can be 

replaced with two 2x6s 

– Use engineered studs for 

vertical applications 

– Use finger-jointed studs for 

non-structural applications 

– Use steel studs for noninsulated 

interior walls. 

Steel is 75%+ recycled 

content. 

Structural Frame 

Apply advanced framing techniques 

• Replace 16" on center framing with 

24" on-center. Reduces wood use 

and increase insulation value of walls 

Use energy heals on trusses 

• Increase insulation in roof and 

reduces energy costs 

25 

Structural Frame 

• Subflooring and sheathing 

– Use zero-formaldehyde OSB as it does not 

require old growth trees 

• Use Structural Insulated Panels (SIPs) for floors, 

walls and/or roof 

– Twice as strong as a 2x4 wall, SIPs offer R-values 

up to 25 in a standard 4½" wall thickness. 

– SIPs are rigid enough to span up to 8' in roof 

applications, saving the cost of additional support 

members, and allowing for more open, 

aesthetically pleasing spaces. 

– Labor saving 

– Stronger than traditional stud framing 

– Some insect and rodent boring concerns 

• Recycled and/or recovered content gypsum 

wallboard 

• Reclaimed lumber from old buildings reduces 

landfill deposits and is often of higher quality 

than new lumber. 

26 




Exterior Finish & Roofing 

Exterior Finishes 

• Fiber-cement siding and trim (Hardiplank) 

– Looks, paints, and nails like wood 

– More durable, termite resistant, 

noncombustible 

– Requires carbide blade and dust 

protection 

• Indigenous stone or locally produced brick – 

durable local materials 

• Wood siding from 3 rd party certified 

sustainably harvested sources 

• Recycled or recovered-content siding 

Roofing 

– Minimum 30 year roofing material: 

clay: $19/psf 

standing seam metal $14/psf 

slate $18/psf 

cement tile $10.50psf 

(asphalt shingle = $10/psf) 

– Recycled-content roofing material 

– Self-adhering roof under layment on 

eves, valleys and roof penetrations 

27 

Plumbing & Water 

Water Conservation 

– Flow reducers cut water use of faucets and showers 

by 40% 

– Ultra low flush/dual flush toilets reduce water use by 

30-50% 

– Insulate hot-water pipes 

– Tankless hot water heater saves 15% on heating 

costs, unlimited hot water, smaller footprint, does 

not cause damage in earthquake. 

– Point of use hot water for fixtures further than 25 

feet from hot water heater. Eliminates hot water line. 

Tankless Hot Water Heater 

Wastewater 

– Collect & reuse grey water for landscaping irrigation 

– Pre-plumb for grey-water conversion 

– Composting toilet for rural applications, reduces size 

of septic field and tank 

28 




Energy: Appliances & Lighting 

• Upgrade to Energy Star 

– Refrigerators reduce electric bill by 10%. 

– Front loading washing machine use 40% 

less water and 50% less energy 

– Dishwashers use internal water heater to 

boost temperatures and save $$ 

• Increase reflected light in house 

– Light-colored interior walls, ceilings & soffits, 

carpets and floors 

• Skylights & Sun Tunnels 

– For north facing rooms 

– Heat loss is 2-3X higher in horizontally 

installed glazing. Use skylights with an R- 

value of 5 to 10. 

– Sun Tunnel is 95% efficient in transferring 

daylight; great for hallways, kitchens, 

bathrooms 

• Use fluorescent light bulbs 

29 

Energy: Insulation & Windows 

• Advanced sealing and caulking to reduce 

drafts 

• 2x6 wall framing with increased insulation 

• Blown Cellulous Insulation 

– Increased fire resistance (25-50% over fiberglass) 

improved safety from smoke 

– Higher insulation value & coverage 

– Recycled material, no VOCs 

– Higher cost 

• Cotton batt insulation 

• Double glazed/ low-E windows 

– Windows can account for as much as 25% of heat 

loss in winter 

– Low–E windows reflect heat, making the home more 

comfortable on cold and hot days. Purchase climate 

specific shading coefficient and Insulating value. 

– Comparable cost to conventional mid-range windows 

30 




Heating ventilation air conditioning 

• Right-size the AC and the furnace 

– most are oversized, which reduces efficiency and increases cost 

– Use natural ventilation to reduce size of air conditioner 

– Whole house fan 

– Install AC and furnace in central location and conditioned space. 

– Consider zoning with 2+ thermostats, programmable thermostats 

– All ductwork sized & installed in room-by-room load calculations, joints 

insulated and sealed with low toxic mastic 

• Use high efficiency furnace with sealed combustion air 

– gets oxygen for combustion from outside the house instead of robbing it 

from the air you breathe. 

• Air conditioner with non HCFC refrigerant 

• In-floor (radiant floor) heating system 

– May not be cost effective in warm/hot climate 

31 

Air Quality 

• Exhaust fan in garage, detached 

garage 

• Zero formaldehyde 

– particle board/MDF for cabinets, shelving, 

counter tops 

– OSB for sheathing 

– insulation 

• No or Low-VOC 

– paints (green seal) 

– wood finishes 

– adhesives 

• Natural linoleum instead of vinyl 

flooring 

• FSC-certified wood or bamboo flooring 

instead of carpet or tropical hardwoods 

32 




Interior & Exterior Finishes 

Sustainably Harvested Materials 

Specify rapidly renewable building materials 

• Floor coverings: bamboo, cork, linoleum flooring, wool carpet, 

recycled-content carpet, carpet tiles 

• Cabinetry: straw board, sunflower seed board 

Use sustainably harvested wood 

• Forest Stewardship Council certified, reclaimed wood flooring (e.g. 

from salvaged barns, etc.) 

Materials Reuse 

Use salvaged, refurbished, reused materials 

• Flooring, doors, windows, cabinetry, decorative architectural items 

Use building materials with recycled content 

• Carpet, metals, concrete, masonry, acoustic tile, carpet, 

ceramic tile, decking and insulation. 

Local Materials 

Use locally manufactured materials to reduce transportation 

costs & environmental impacts 

33 

Examples: Rapidly Renewable 

Resources 

Linoleum 

Has been around for 100 years 

• Made from linseed oil, rosins, and wood flour, on 

a natural jute backing. 

• Tough, visually striking, highly resistant to heavy 

rolling loads and foot traffic. 

• Performance enhanced by time, as exposure to 

air hardens and increases durability. 

• Low VOC 

• Rapidly renewable resource 

Bamboo Flooring 

30 year finish 

• Rapidly renewable resource 

• Low VOC 

• Variety of colors 

34 




Waste Management 

Construction Waste Management 

• Divert construction, demolition and land 

clearing waste from landfill 

Encourage Recycling 

• Built in kitchen recycling center for 

segregation of waste streams 

35 

Unconventional Green Techniques 

Straw Bale * Rammed Earth * Dirt Bag * Adobe 

* Cob * Log and cordwood * Papercrete 

• Lower materials costs 

• Requires less skilled labor, but more of it 

• Most techniques are suitable for building off the grid 

• More suitable to some climates and locations 

• Techniques have been around for 1000s of years, some of 

the oldest buildings on earth are rammed earth structures 

36 




Straw Bale Construction 

Uses dry baled straw from rice, wheat, oats, barley, rye 

and others in walls covered by stucco. Straw is highly 

stable, does not attract termites, has an R- value of 30 

to 45. 

Bales can be structural and support the roof (inexpensive) 

or as infill with timber frame construction (expensive but 

more readily received by building officials). 

Bales are anchored to each other by stakes of wood 

(1x2x36), rebar (#3 or #4) or bamboo that penetrate at 

least two bales. A new method uses 4" wide circular 

columns of concrete bored through the entire height of 

the wall. 

Windows and doors are typically accentuated towards the 

interior or exterior of the opening creating a deep well. 

Avoid water entering or collecting in these areas. 

37 

Straw Bale Construction 

People have built homes using straw throughout history. 

– European houses built of straw or reed are now over two hundred years old. 

– In the US the invention of the hay/straw baler (1890) resulted in many 2-3 

storey straw bale homes in the plains states which are still standing 

– California UBC allows for straw bale 

Benefits 

• Simple construction, low costs 

– Houses have been constructed for as low as $10.00 per sq. ft to $100/sq ft 

for high end homes. 

– Significant sweat equity and barn-raising to lower costs. 

• Conversion of an agricultural waste into a valued building material. 

– U.S. Department of Agriculture estimates that America's farmers annually 

harvest enough straw to build about four million, 2,000 square-foot homes 

each year, 4 times the number of new houses constructed each year 

– Two hundred million tons of straw are burned annually in the US. 

38 




Rammed Earth 

Rammed earth walls are built in 

forms similar to those for 

foundations. 

A skid loader is used to dump 

soil in lifts of 7"- 8" into forms. 

The soil (65% sand, 25% clay, 3% 

Portland cement, 6-10% moisture) is 

tamped down to 4"- 5" with pneumatic 

tampers. 

Forms are stripped away immediately upon wall 

completion for rapid curing. 

39 

Rammed Earth Construction 

• Electrical conduits, steel ladder reinforcement, window block outs, plumbing vents, 

anchors and steal reinforcing can be rammed into the wall during the construction 

process. All wiring must be in conduit and all fixtures must be rated for integration with 

masonry assemblies. 

• Exterior walls are protected from moisture damage with hard plaster or stucco finishes. 

• Most codes for earthen wall construction are designed for adobe not rammed earth. 

– Some building departments approve rammed earth construction with professional 

certification from a registered engineer or architect. 

– Some states have modified codes for earthen wall methods. 

Advantages 

– Insulation value is R-0.25 per inch, or R-4.5 for a typical 18-inch wall. Energy 

efficiency lies not in insulation value, but in the massive structure's ability to reduce 

interior temperature swings. 

– Use local sustainable materials. 

Cost 

– About $60 per linear foot for a 9-foot high wall. Cost depends on the ratio of wall 

area to floor area and exterior and interior finishes. Stabilized rammed earth does 

not require interior or exterior finishes which reduces costs. Overall cost is similar to 

conventional construction 

40 




Dirt Bag or Earth Bag Construction 

• Uses "reject sand" from gravel yards a byproduct 

of the process that separates sand 

and "clay fines" from gravel. The reject 

material has the best ratio of clay to sand 

(25% clay to 75% sand) for earth 

construction. it is dirt cheap @ $1.00 per ton 

plus delivery. 

• Uses woven polypropylene "misprint” bags 

• Dirt bags are stabilized with rows of barbed 

wire interwoven between bags and rebar. 

• Utilities are laid between bag layers 

• Exterior and interior finishes: natural adobe, 

stabilized earth, lime/cement stucco. 

Benefits 

• Earthen walls have absorbent mass that 

stores warmth (or cold) and returns it to the 

living space. Known as the thermal flywheel 

effect (K-value). 

• Cost $6 to $50 / square foot floor area 

• Flexible form, round walls are easy 

41 

Web-site Resources 

Austin Green Building Sourcebook 

– www.greenbuilder.com/sourcebook 

BuiltGreen 

– King County: www.builtgreen.net 

– North West: www.builtgreennw.org 

– Colorado: www.builtgreen.org 

Environmental Building News 

– http://www.buildinggreen.com 

Oikos Green Building Sources 

– http://oikos.com 

Advanced Building Systems 

– http://www.advancedbuildings.org 

42 




Books Resources 

• A Primer on Sustainable Building 

Dianna Lopez & William D. Browning 

www.rmi.org/catalog/gds/htm 

Brief, comprehensive and readable 

introduction to green building 

• The Not So Big House 

A Blueprint for the Way We Really Live 

Sarah Susanka, Kira Obolensky 

The Taunton Press 

• Before You Build 

A Preconstruction Guide 

Robert Roskind, Owner Builder Center 

Ten Speed Press 

www.tenspeed.com 

• The Natural House 

Daniel D. Chiras 

Chelsea Green Publishing 

• A Pattern Language: Towns, Buildings, 

Construction 

Oxford University Press 1977 

• Buildings or Earth & Straw 

Bruce King 

Ecological design Press, 1996 

• Regional Guidelines for Passive Energy 

Conserving Homes 

AIA Research Corp. for US Department of 

Housing and Urban Development 

July 1980 HUD-PDR-355(2) 

• Heating, Cooling, Lighting 

Design Methods for Architects 

Norbert Lechner 

John Wiley & Sons 

ISBN 0-471-62887-5 

• The Healthy House 

Healthy House Building 

John Bower 

The Healthy House Institute 

7471 N. Shiloh Road 

Unionville, IN 47468 

• The Natural House Book 

The Natural House Catalog 

David Pearson 

Simon & Schuster/Fireside 

Rockefeller Center 

1230 Avenue of the Americas 

New York, NY 10020 

43 

Upcoming Residential Workshops 

Greening Your House Part 1: Do It Yourself 

Thursday, March 1 

7:00 – 9:00 p.m. 

The Neighborhood Church 

Greening Your House Part 2: The Bigger Picture 

Thursday, April 5 

7:00 – 9:00 p.m. 

Art Center College of Design South Campus 

Exterior Green – Landscaping for the Environment 

Thursday, May 3 

7:00 – 9:00 p.m. 

Art Center College of Design South Campus 

44 




Green Buildings Tour 

June 2, 2007 

9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. 

Meet at Pasadena City Hall 

Space is limited! 

Call Alice Sterling at (626) 744-3726 

or Sandra Robles (626) 744-6646 

to reserve a seat 

45 

For More Information, visit 

www.cityofpasadena.net 

or www.PWPweb.com 

46 





Green Building 

Outreach & 

Educ ation 

Program 

2007 

WORKSHOP 1 

Introduction to Residential Green Building 

For the Homeowner

Green Building for the Homeowner - City of Pasadena

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