Kris Hunter, Battery & Solar Expert joins GHI Board of Directors in 2018

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Kris Hunter is an owner of two West Michigan based companies—Hunter Energy Resources LLC, a solar PV system design and installation firm and Global Battery Solutions LLC, an advanced chemistry battery solutions provider. She has been an active advocate for the advancement of energy efficiency and the use of renewable energy for over 10 years and has participated in many grassroots efforts to educate community members—leading seminars for faith-based organizations, educational institutions and local youth groups. Kris has been involved with the Midwest Renewable Energy Association, GreenMichigan.org, and has served as a member of the Board of Directors for the Great Lakes Renewable Energy Association (glrea.org).

Members Tom Bassett-Dilley Architect & Habitat for Humanity Kent County featured in USGBC LEED Homes Awards

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Claudia Mattison becomes LEED Green Rater and moves the market forward

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Welcome aboard our new LEED for Homes Green Rater!

Claudia is a licensed Professional Engineer and LEED Accredited Professional who provides sustainability consulting and project management at dbHMS. As a LEED AP BD+C, Claudia assists project teams in developing strategies for LEED certification both for MEP-related credits and general consulting. This work is complemented by her experience with dbHMS conducting MEP and general reviews of LEED projects submitted to the USGBC for certification. She has overseen projects ranging from core and shell developments to large-scale, multi-family housing. Claudia brings a broad knowledge base to implementing green techniques and strategies. Claudia volunteers with the USGBC Illinois Chapter’s Emerging Professionals group, Rebuilding Together Chicago, and Designs for Dignity.

She works at dbHMS which was founded in 2002 on the principles of integrated project delivery and sustainable design. A minority-owned business with 125 employees worldwide, and 85 based in Chicago, their project approach unites key stakeholders and creative design professionals, letting them work collaboratively to deliver innovative engineering solutions. Their team of consultants provides a full range of services including mechanical, electrical, plumbing and fire protection, lighting, and information technology design. The specialize in energy modeling, building commissioning, LEED/ sustainability consulting, computational fluid dynamics (CFD), and daylighting studies. dbHMS has been recognized as a LEED® Proven Provider™ for the Building Design and Construction rating system family by Green Building Certification Inc.

Contact Claudia today to make your next project, Better!

Claudia Mattison
P.E., LEED AP BD+C
Sustainability Planning Studio
db|HMS
m 610.248.0479 | www.dbhms.com
cmattison@dbhms.com

Gramata Rowhome Renovation – LEED Platinum Single Family

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New LEED Green Rater Courtney Royal takes her own house LEED and Zero Energy in NY!

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Welcome our brand new credentialed LEED green rater who is serving the Upstate New York Region and behind to help people (re)build healthier and greener buildings.

Courtney has provided consulting services for a wide range of buildings, including commercial and multifamily projects. She currently provides consulting and technical support to project teams on sustainable building design and manages the LEED certification process from project inception through certification. Courtney specializes in LEED-NC, -EBOM, and -CS rating systems. Courtney holds a BA in Business Management from Western Michigan University and a MS in Energy Management from the New York Institute of Technology. She also holds a Certificate in Green Building Design from Cooper Union in New York City. Courtney became a LEED AP in 2008 and a LEED for Homes Green Rater in 2017.

Taitem Engineering, PC, is a consulting engineering firm focused on energy efficiency, green building design, and renewable energy.  Our team of MEPS engineers, energy analysts and sustainability consultants help buildings perform better, and help local and NYS energy programs deliver savings. Taitem’s award-winning solar division has installed hundreds of solar photovoltaic systems for homes and businesses. Additional services include Aeroseal duct sealing, commissioning, LEED certification, research and training.  In 2013, Taitem earned B-Corporation status, meeting rigorous standards of social and environmental performance, accountability, and transparency. “Taitem” stands for “technology as if the Earth mattered,” reflecting the firm’s commitment to the environment.

Courtney is taking her own home in Ithica through the LEED for Homes process and aiming for Platinum along with the Zero Energy Capable Certification. 

 

Below are the highlights and features of her home the Hemsin House.

  • Located in Ithaca, New York
  • Hemsin is the name of the region Umit is from in Turkey, it means “always fun”
  • 2,240 sqft single family home, two-floors, new construction
  • Zero Energy Building, LEED for Homes Platinum certification pending
  • WaterSense and Indoor AirPLUS certification pending
  • Energy Star certified
  • 1.8 ACH 50
  • HERS score 8
  • R-45 mineral wool cavity exterior wall insulation, R-60 ceiling blown-in cellulose insulation, R-16 underslab insulation, R-16 vertical slab insulation at 4 inch length.
  • Advanced framing methods applied; for instance, 24 inch OC for exterior walls
  • Slab on grade
  • 14-15% Window to Wall Ratio (WWR)
  • Half of the house windows are R-5 and other half are R-3.5
  • DHW will be provided by an air-source heat pump
  • One mini-split air source heat pump provides heating
  • Supplemental electric resistance baseboards are installed in the bedrooms, but should only if space temperature goes down to 64°F
  • Energy Star appliances throughout
  • Energy Star-certified metal roof
  • Heat Pump Clothes Dryer
  • 6.9 kw solar pv array
  • Achieved lots of daylighting by using a wedged wall around the windows and highly reflective surfaces and paints throughout
  • Low-VOC paints, coatings, sealants, and adhesives
  • Incorporated local hardwood and local reclaimed hardwood
  • No invasive and native landscaping
  • Stormwater management design features swales that feed a pond on-site
  • 100% post-consumer recycled paper and petroleum-free resin kitchen countertops

Make sure you contact Courtney before your next new or residential renovation to ensure it is cerified and built, BETTER.

A ventilation system that monitors the air for toxins when they are present?

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Build it tight, ventilate it right is now the mantra of the green building industry. With codes, programs and just general awareness new and existing home renovations are making homes tighter and saving energy. Because of these, things like ventilation are made mandatory and necessary to maintain health. Studies showing supply or exhaust ventilation only may not be healthiest and that even general balanced systems can waste energy for the trade off of the importance of fresh air. Cue the growth of Energy or Heat Recovery Ventilator, a system that acts as the lungs in the places we live but also captures 75% to 95 +% of the lost heat energy. These systems are good at saving energy and ensuring health but can over ventilate when not needed or not exhaust enough pollutants when they are introduced to the house!

The solution? 

Build Equinox manufactures the CERV (pronounced “serve”) smart ventilation system. On-board CO2 and VOC sensors combined with heat pump energy recovery make the CERV the most capable air quality management system for high-performance homes. Real-time monitoring of the home’s air quality along with temperature and humidity give control and peace of mind to homeowners that their house is being kept healthy and comfortable. Designed and built in the United States, the CERV is UL Listed and assembled in a 100% solar powered facility located in Urbana, Illinois. Live Healthier, Live Longer. Live Better with a CERV.cerv

The CERV is a fresh air ventilator for residences that automatically maintains excellent indoor air quality by active control of carbon dioxide and Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs). A heat pump is used to exchange energy between fresh air and exhaust air streams when energy exchange is beneficial. Online monitoring capability, local exhaust boost mode, Geo-Boost heat exchanger, and zone dampers (multi-family) are some of the CERV’s options.
Follow them and learn more!
Twitter: @buildequinox

LEED is changing. Are you ready?

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So here we are, October 2016.

Those of us in the green building world know this is a big month.

The universe’s largest green building certification program is about to do an upgrade. You knew it was coming for a long time, similar to a Windows upgrade; you know you need to do it, but you just have been so busy and pushing the “upgrade later” button. In 2014 you collectively pushed it for the last time and instead opted for a small upgrade that didn’t require a restart. But now, here we are in 2016 and the upgrade is coming and it has to come and so you might be scrambling the last min to make the preparations and make sure you are ready even though you don’t feel like you are!

The construction market is back up; green building is trending as a 80 billion dollar industry (soon), and now there is 400 ppm of CO2 in the atmosphere with no end in sight. Asthma and poor indoor air quality are on the rise and some cities Like Grand Rapids, MI where I am from, construction waste is reported to make up the largest portion of landfill waste.

LEED cannot solve all our environmental problems but can serve as a guide and standard when the time to act is now. Buildings and homes account for a majority of energy sources; their location can influence driving, and they have a big impact on our health.

The new version of LEED is going to be more difficult in many ways, more energy efficiency requirements (especially for rural or less connected projects), more thought will need to go into where you source materials from, where they are going at the end of their life and if your no VOC paint is certified to be so. For multifamily buildings we need to make sure apt units are communicating less to ensure occupant health and comfort, water pressure is being tested to reduce leaks and ensure flow rates work.

These changes are different, but they are good. The good news is for Homes projects; you will see a reduction in paperwork, no more chasing subs for signatures, no more durability plans required as it is all done in energy stare and just 1 signed workbook plus a few photos and energy reports. Another bonus is water performance calculations that allow the client to decide what is more important to them, similar to energy modeling and reduce in those areas (outside, kitchen etc)

If you aren’t ready yet that is ok, we are here to help you clear off your desktop before the upgrade restarts you construction process on 10/31.

Submit your project inquiry now, and we can help you get registered asap under v2008/2009. You won’t have to pay for 90 days, giving you time to secure funds or back out in Mid January if you cannot. No commitment.

Ready to take the plunge?

On November 2nd we are hosting 2 back to two back free CEU (APH) webinars on this topic.

The first webinar is a basic understanding of LEED for Homes and how it works(updated for V4) and the 2nd session 30 minutes after is a comparison on the differences of V2008 VS V4 for homes Home, multifamily and Mid to high rise mixed use buildings.

Sign up now as space is limited!

Finally, if you want to get the full education, check out our recently launched understanding LEED for Homes V4 on demand series where we take a deep dive in each of the categories (energy, EQ etc) and compare the differences of 2008 vs. v4

Thank you for your commitment in marking homes healthier and more sustainable! 

GreenStar Homes Certification Program Update

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July 2016 GreenStar Homes Certification Program Update 
Ext

Summary of changes 

  1. New construction home size adjuster removed
  2. Home size credited expanded
  3. No changes to square feet credit removed
  4. Numbering is fixed!
  5. Updates made to drought tolerant / adaptive or native plants
  6. WaterSense water budget tool for outdoor water performance added.
  7. GreenStar Qualification requirement education opportunity.

These changes may have impacted your existing project workbook, if your project was registered or you plan to register it soon, AND you were impacted negatively, please let us know so we can just adjust your points. You must register by the end of July.

Catch the 30 min webinar here 
Download the slide handouts 

New Construction Home Size Adjuster removed 

We have removed the new construction home size adjuster and instead created a New Construction credit. Now, just like when selecting the project (remodel, addition, etc. Project cert project level, you can simply select new construction and desired certification level. This remains in section 1 but has been moved to the over prerequisite category.

Home size credit moved and updated. New added square feet credit removed

The Home Size credit has been updated to rewarded smaller homes all the way down to “tiny home” size starting 750. We also removed all health and water credits associated with this since those have little to do with home size.  This credit now also applies to new homes since the home size adjuster was removed. Note this credit had its category along with with the credit that rewarded for not increasing square feet in a remodel.  It has now been moved right into the 2.2 Design section.   Also, we have updated the language to reflect how to measure a home which now under ANSI Standard Z765-2003.  Multifamily projects will use average unit size for this credit.

Numbering is fixed!

It has been a long time but yes, the numbering is finally all matched up. Also, several sections have now changed what their numbers use to be. If you create alternative documents, it always best to name the credits too, just so that you can reference it if the number changes. Section 1 is now overall prerequisites (use to be section 2) and section 2 is now preconstruction design strategies (formally Section 3) and so on.  Also, Air leakage reduction has been moved in section 2 and some sections in finishes and materials have been moved to lower numbers, properly ordering that section.

 WaterSense water budget tool & drought tolerant plants 

Drought tolerant / Native plantings have been moved out of Irrigation and moved to Plantings/trees section.  Also, this section was updated to award Land (place) points for these categories, and the section was expanded to rewarded for 30% of the landscape incorporating these plant types.   – 3.3.6 Plantings have been removed because of this Water sense water budget tool has been incorporated into the program.We have been altered to the fact that in some cases greenstar rewards more for irrigation system vs having a landscape plan that does not require irrigation. This is one of the efforts to fix that issue.  You can now collect more points for achieving 60% or more of a reduction below the baseline of your project type. This already rewards for Land (place) points at higher levels since those will require native/adaptive plantings.

 Greenstar Qualification opportunity update

We have updated the online on-demand education to become Greenstar qualified. The idea is that anyone looking to certify a project should have a very basic understanding of the residential green building. The course you need to take is called The Basics of Residential Green (Re) Building & introduction to GreenStar Homes certification. These two courses total 4 hours of education and two open note quizzes that you can take at your own speed. Use coupon code GSHqualified to get 75% of the course(s) costs. Both of these courses can count toward your GreenHome Associates, which can get you more credit in the system. Remember this is just of the four ways to get qualified.

PS: Radon only needs to be tested on homes without systems. Currently, you do not need to test homes with passive systems but it is highly recommended. Here is a very neat resource on Radon for your clients. 

Learn more about GreenStar Here