Typical green building rating system categories
Green building rating systems use different names for specific categories but normally focus on the following general categories:
- Site selection and environmental preservation
- Water use reduction and collection
- Energy use reduction
- Use of renewable, reclaimed, or recycled materials
- Higher indoor air quality Credit for innovative design, techniques, materials, or methods
Site Selection & Environmental Preservation
Careful consideration should be given to the surrounding environment before selecting a building site. Emphasis should be placed on reducing the impact on the environment during construction. Under LEED® rating systems, improper site selection may preclude certification. Open Range typically builds on a Client's lot, but encourages our Client's to allow us to aid in the site selection process. The following areas should be examined when selecting a building site.
- Impact on local waterways, wetlands and bodies of water
- Prime farmland preservation
- Threatened or endangered species habitat preservation
- Restoration of previously damage habitat
- Maximize open spaces
- Adherence to EPA guidelines for storm water runoff, pollution and control techniques
- Reducing heat island effect caused by roof and driveway surfaces
- Light pollution reduction
Water Use Reduction & Collection
Scarcity of water is a world-wide problem that is rapidly becoming an issue in the United States. Water reduction systems are normally designed into the mechanical systems of a house. Open Range Homes recommends owners consider the following water reduction strategies.
- Water efficient landscaping
- Wastewater recovery and reuse systems
- Water use reduction through efficient plumbing and appliances
Energy Use Reduction
Reducing energy usage lowers utility bills, reduces green house gas emissions, and provides a healthier and more comfortable home to live in. Advances in technology have resulted in renewable energy systems that are economical for use in some residential applications. Open Range carefully considers the following areas during the design and construction of your home.
- Optimize energy performance, reduce energy usage
- Select Energy Star appliances
- Use compact fluorescent (CFL) bulbs in lighting fixtures
- Use hydronic in-floor heating and high-velocity air handling systems
- Use renewable energy sources and/or green power
- Wind turbine
- Photovoltaic panels
- Solar water heating
- Windows that capture solar heating in cold environments
- Windows that reduce solar heating in hot environments
- Purchase green power if available from the local power company
- Zero use of CFC-based refrigerants
Renewable, reclaimed or recycled materials
Use of virgin lumber and construction waste sent to landfills are two of the largest impacts residential construction has on the environment Emphasis should be placed on waste reduction and use of reclaimed materials on all residential construction projects regardless if certification is desired or not.
- Storage and Collection of Recyclables
- Consider designing your home with a dedicated recyclable collection area
- Landfill reduction or elimination
- Open Range Home's recycles over 90% of construction waste
- Materials reuse
- Use of recycled materials
- Use of salvaged or reclaimed materials
- Open Range typically uses Trestlewood timbers, reclaimed flooring, antique doors, and reclaimed lumber as interior finish elements
- Regionally produced materials (reducing impact of transportation)
- Consider materials with a point of origin within 500-miles of jobsite
- Sustainable and Rapidly renewable materials
- Bamboo, wool, cotton insulation, agrifiber, linoleum, wheat board, strawboard and cork are all good examples of sustainable and rapidly renewable materials
- Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) Certified wood products
Open Range Homes was the first residential construction company in Teton Valley, ID to reduce landfill use by recycling 90% of construction waste.
Blending reclaimed building materials into the finish of a home reduces reliance on virgin lumber products and often results in a home with character and class.Indoor air quality
Air quality inside a house is directly impacted by the materials used during construction and ventilation systems that exchange inside air for outside air. All Open Range Homes are designed and constructed with the following items in mind.
- Efficient ventilation and air filtration systems
- Heat recovery ventilators (HRV) that reduce heat loss during the exchange
- Filtrations systems that remove irritants and contaminants
- Reduce indoor air contaminants that are odorous, irritating and/or harmful
- Low VOC adhesives, solvents, paints and coatings
- Carpet certified by the Carpet and Rug Institute's Green Label Plus program.
- Use non-added urea-formaldehyde resin products
- Smart Home systems
- Automatically reduce light usage when not needed
- Automatically adjusts heating and cooling systems to reduce energy
- Increase Daylight and Views
