Technical Checklists Archives | Green Built Alliance

Regenerative Design: Green Built Homes Certification Evolves with Updated Checklist

Regenerative Design: Green Built Homes Certification Evolves with Updated Checklist Cari Barcas Green Built Homes is updating its statewide certification program this year to incentivize builders to incorporate elements of regenerative design in their projects. Formerly known as NC Healthy Built Homes, the Green Built Homes program has certified...

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Sustainable Academia: Appalachian State University Leads the Way

Sustainable Academia: Appalachian State University Leads the Way Garret K. Woodward Though Appalachian State University has always been at the forefront of sustainability, the academic institution took another step forward with its latest P3 project. A public-private partnership (P3), the project will develop energy-efficient housing on its campus in...

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Maggie Leslie: Indoor Air Quality Checklist

Indoor Air Quality Checklist Maggie Leslie Ensuring healthy indoor air quality in a home starts with the very foundation. Many simple building techniques, from radon-resistant construction to drainage planes, can prevent unwanted air-quality problems in the future. To prevent unwanted moisture and contaminants from entering, it is very important...

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Maggie Leslie: Insulation 101

Insulation 101 Maggie Leslie There are many types of insulation. The most common type of insulation is batt or blanket type insulation (typically fiberglass) which is the least expensive, but requires more careful installation to ensure 100 percent coverage. Blown types such as fiberglass, cellulose (recycled newspaper) and foams...

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Maggie Leslie: A Checklist for Ducted Heating and Cooling Equipment

A Checklist for Ducted Heating and Cooling Equipment Maggie Leslie Your home can be heated or cooled using electricity, gas, geothermal energy, solar energy or a combination of each. Radiant floor heating systems are an inherently efficient way to heat because there is no heat lost through duct work....

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Maggie Leslie: Air Sealing Checklist

Air Sealing Checklist Maggie Leslie Air sealing is a crucial part of building a healthy, energy efficient home. Below is a checklist of items to make sure to seal when building or renovating a conventional stick frame home. A leaky home will decrease the r-value of your insulation effectiveness,...

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Checklist: Choosing a green builder

Checklist: Choosing a green builder By Hans Doellgast on 03/22/2010 As people become educated about the benefits of building and owning a green-built home, more builders are advertising themselves as "green" builders. For the most part, this is a good thing. For those of us who have preached environmentally sensitive building...

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Top 10 signs of greenwashing

Top 10 signs of greenwashing By on 03/22/2010 Fluffy language: Words or terms with no clear meaning (e.g. "eco-friendly"). Green product vs. dirty company: Such as efficient light bulbs made in a factory that pollutes rivers. Suggestive pictures: Green images that indicate an unjustified green impact (e.g. flowers blooming from exhaust pipes). Irrelevant claims: Emphasizing...

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Technologies explained

Technologies explained By Elizabeth Koenig on 03/22/2010 What are carbon offsets? First calculate your "carbon footprint" by using one of the many online tools (simply perform a search for "carbon offsets" using any search engine). To get an accurate number, you will need to know your utility usage and fuel consumption....

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Green-building glossary

Green-building glossary By Maggie Leslie on 03/22/2010 Advanced Framing: Framing techniques that use less lumber, thereby reducing material cost and use of natural resources, and increasing the level of insulation as a result. Also known as Optimum Value Engineering. (9) Air Barrier: A rigid material installed around a building frame to prevent or...

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