The National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) has established Model GREEN
Building Guidelines for the “mainstream builder” to serve as
a tool kit for home builder associations to create new Green Building Programs
in their areas.
Much like LEED criteria, these guidelines incorporate environmental considerations
into every phase of the building process. According to the NAHB, “That
means that during the design, construction, and operation of a home, energy
and water efficiency, lot development, resource efficient building design
and materials, indoor environmental air quality, homeowner maintenance,
and the home’s overall impact on the environment are all taken into
account.”
The Green Building program has eight guiding principles.
• Lot
Design, Preparation, and Development—Saving trees, construction
of onsite storm water retention/infiltration, orienting houses to maximize
passive solar heating and cooling.
• Resource Efficiency—Using resource-efficient
materials, reducing jobsite waste, basing the selection of materials
on environmental impact.
• Energy Efficiency—Adopting a “whole
systems” approach to maximized energy performance: heating and
cooling, windows, building envelope, duct sealing, and proper placement
of air and vapor barriers.
• Water Efficiency—Using efficient water
delivery systems.
• Indoor Environmental Quality—Controlling,
diluting, and capturing the effects of potential indoor contaminants,
especially chemicals that can off-gas from building materials.
• Operation, Maintenance, and Homeowner Education—Providing
homeowners with a manual that explains proper operation and maintenance
procedures, offering alternatives to toxic cleaning products and lawn
and garden chemicals, and pointing out water-saving practices.
• Global Impact—Avoiding items that are
a by-product of home construction, like paints that have high volatile
organic compounds (VOC).
• Site Planning and Land Development—Considering
the entire community and existing infrastructure in addition to the
additional building(s)
Green
Building with Vinyl Siding, Polymer Siding, and Trim
Builders who practice Green Building techniques can earn points,
much in the same way as the LEED point system. Qualifying buildings can
earn three different Green Building ratings: Bronze (237 points), Silver
(311 points), or Gold (395 points). Click
here for a list of CertainTeed products that can earn NAHB Green Building
points.
Builders who use CertainTeed siding and trim may qualify for Green Building
points in four categories.
• Resource
Efficiency—Our vinyl and polymer products are typically
made using some recycled products, and some of our products contain
as much as 80% recycled material. Using recycled material protects
our environment by finding a use for material that would otherwise
be landfilled. In addition, our manufacturing plants regrind and recycle
products that do not meet our rigid manufacturing specifications.
This regrind is then incorporated into the manufacturing process.
In fact, one of our plants has achieved nearly 100% recycling of all
plant waste. |
|
|
CertainTeed
siding and trim require no on-site finishing, which minimizes the environmental
impact of painting or staining siding materials and reduces installation
costs for the builder. They never need scraping and painting and can be
cleaned with a mild soap and water.
• Energy Efficiency—Properly installed, vinyl
and polymer siding form a complete building envelope that does not conduct
heat or cold. Also, Triple 3-1/3" InvisiVent Ventilated Soffit delivers
the ASHRAE-prescribed amount of ventilation to attic areas.
• Locally Available Indigenous Materials—CertainTeed’s
vinyl and polymer building products are shipped from one of three manufacturing
facilities, ensuring that you are rarely more than 300 miles from a factory
location. In addition, we ship the majority of our prducts by rail. This
reduces the carbon footprint for transportation of our raw materials compared
to materials shipped exclusively by truck.
• Operation, Maintenance, and Homeowner Education—CertainTeed
makes maintenance and cleaning instructions available to every homeowner.
These important instructions are included with the printed warranty builders
leave at the end of every job.
CertainTeed vinyl and polymer building products that are extracted,
processed, and manufactured within 300 miles of the jobsite can earn
NAHB Green Building points for your project. The areas indicated on
this map qualify for NAHB points under Locally Available, Indigenous
Materials
For More Information
For more information on the NAHB’s Model Green Home Building guidelines,
call 800-368-5242 x8290 or visit www.nahb.org/gbg.
For information about earning LEED and NAHB points with specific CertainTeed
products, call our Sales Support Group at 800-233-8990.
|
