Peter:

Amy and I are going to tackle the construction/renovation process, broken down into six components:

1. Building Assessment

2. Contractor Selection

3. Project Scoping

4. Project Documentation

5. Implementation/Construction

6. Commissioning/Homeowner Education

Keep in mind that each of these will be presented from the green building context we laid out in our last blog: emphasis on overall resource efficiency, process not just products, and maintaining if not improving the health and safety of occupants.

The good and the bad news with existing buildings is that they already work; maybe not necessarily well, but they have a history. We need to honor the aspects of the building that are working well, identify when and where it is not, and understand the difference between the two.

Standard building assessments by home inspectors focus on code compliance: Is the structure sound? Are the electrical and plumbing systems safe? What are the ages and service lives of major building components (the roof, chimney, furnace, water heater, etc.)?

Green building assessments broaden the evaluation of performance to include energy efficiency and water efficiency, and to dig deeper into durability and human health issues.

Two of the most important pieces of information we can get from existing buildings are recent utility bills and blower door test results. They can tell us a lot about the relative energy and water efficiency of an existing home. And then programs such as The Home Energy Saver, the EPA Home Energy Yardstick, and the H2OUSE Water Use Calculator can help us evaluate improvement strategies.

Probably the best way to explain how green building assessment works is to give you a really good example of a green building assessment form, including a section at the end that explains each line item. So, have at the attached. If any particular line item needs further explanation, we can tackle that in a Q&A on this blog. If we get enough concerns or questions on a particular line item, well, we will just write a whole bloody new blog on it!

Amy:

As a rehab specialist or developer, at this point in the ball game you have determined the budget for rehabilitating your chosen property. You may have also realized that you underestimated the back-of-the envelope construction budget you initially created for the property. Admit it — we have all been there.

So now you might ask, “Why invest in green building techniques and materials when I have such a tight budget?” Other than the obvious increase in the marketability of the property, there are other benefits that should be considered. Enterprise Green Communities recently released Incremental Costs, Measurable Savings: Enterprise Green Communities Criteria. It is an analysis of true costs and benefits, based on data from 27 affordable housing developments (multifamily and single family) across the country that used the Enterprise Green Communities Criteria. The study gives evidentiary support, showing that with a small investment upfront, the property will yield reduced operating costs, as well as health, economic, and environmental benefits.

But, one of my favorite parts… “The incremental cost for incorporating the Enterprise Green Communities Criteria was lowest among moderate rehab projects – a fact that we attribute to the Criteria’s ability to adapt to the realities of partially rehabbed single and multifamily homes. The predicted lifetime savings is two times the reported incremental costs of complying with the Criteria.” From what I have seen of NSP programs out there and considering this finding, in my opinion, the majority of properties being bought and rehabbed using NSP funds could see savings that are double the initial expense of implementing the Criteria.

Check out the study at the Enterprise Green Communities website.

REGREEN Home Assessment Form.pdf