Our Green Homes- What we do to make our homes efficient, environmentally friendly and healthy.
It is simple, we must follow the established principles (see our page here) that define what it is that makes a person - or a house - green.
Let us first examine what goes into a H2O in each of the five major areas that work together to define greenness. Note that all the green features and other special benefits of the H2O home are highlighted in GREEN.
Design and layout– this is about planning and preparation. It covers the choice of the location, the layout and orientation of the house, construction materials, accessibility features, choice of appliances and systems.
- H2O has carefully selected homes to invest in. These are not just homes taken from a list, but chosen from those available because they meet specific standards that facilitate transforming these homes in green homes. Upon purchase, H2O homes must meet these conditions: two car garage, no pools or jacuzzis, CMU fencing only, no flat roofs, and no wood window frames
- Additionally H2O homes should present north / south facing or adequately shaded windows or have less than 3 windows on east or west facing wall.
- Home to be free of lead-paint and other toxic substances
- All Homes are to receive an energy audit at the time of purchase
- All these contribute to making the home layout and existing structure suitable for adding other green features.
- Replace central A/C system to 15 SEER system, +80 AFU Furnace/Heat Pump.
- Seal all ductwork with mastic sealant, FAU joints to (+/-) 4% air leakage.
- Install Energy Star bath & hanging fixtures. Bath switches to be motion shut off.
- Hanging lights to be on dimmers. All other fixtures to be CFL bulbs
- Install Energy Star Fridge with ice/water filter. Eliminate wasteful RO system.
- Install Energy Star Dishwasher
- Range and microwave to be replaced with high efficiency models.
- Install High efficiency washer (less 19g /load) & dryer (40% less dry time).
- Replace garbage disposal where necessary
- These measure seek to reduces the use of energy in the home, while maintaining or even improving comfort levels. Less energy means lower month bills.
Conservation of resources - includes indoor and outdoor water. It also includes materials and technology that reduce the need for additional energy.
- Replace toilets with dual flush 0.8g/1.6g low water use
- Replace all shower fixtures (<1.5g) and bath fixtures (<1.3g) with low-flow types.
- R-38 Upgrade to recycled blown in cellulose, remove batt insulation. Replace / Upgrade attic ducting to R-6 insulated. Solid cap drops, chases, & seal all attic penetrations with air barrier foam. Install solar gable fan to cool attic space & keep moisture out in winter
- Dual pane windows to have low-e film added. Single panes to be evaluated to for removal and upgrade to low-e, dual pane
- All exposed east / west windows to have sunscreens added
- Remove all flooring and install new carpet in bedrooms & GR. Install tile all other areas
- Satellite watering system to be installed for landscaping reduce 60% water use along with updating the landscaping to add shade trees & low water use desert / native landscaping.
- Rework landscape drainage to maximize water to plant areas, remove grass in front yards.
- All of these measures conserve resources (water, heat, cold) or reduce the level of energy consumption needed to maintain comfort levels in the home (see above comments on Energy Performance).
- Exterior/Interior to be repainted with Low-VOC, non toxic paint to enhance home value/appeal per HOA or neighborhood guidelines. Lo-gloss or satin walls easier maintenance
- Install/update exhaust fans in baths & utilities 50/100 cfm to best room size
- Install jump ducts to non-return rooms to be (+/-) 3 degrees for circulation, temperature distribution and air pressure comfort
- Install Digital Programmable Thermostat w/ automatic circulation fan
- CO/Smoke detectors to be updated, new with 10 yr lithium batteries
- Any flooring, wood and carpet to be Low-VOC, non toxic and allergy-free.
- A well designed, well-balanced home, built with the proper materials and containing the proper equipment, can deliver the high level of indoor air qualities needed for healthy living.
- These same materials also deliver other benefits that contribute to environmental quality maintaining ideal levels of temperature and humitity, as well as superior sound insulation and effective natural lighting.,
- Items to Habit Re-store, old appliances, etc.
- Recycle all removed items where possible
- Housing Counselor/Realtor discussions with homebuyers:
- Proximity to transit (1/2 mile from home) if applicable
- Location of home in relationship to work, schools, social centers, & family
- Needs of the family in relation house size & costs to operate
- Finding the right house in the right place for the right money is important to conserve resources and enhance financial security.
- Use of environmentally friendly, renewable, non-toxic, and long-lasting durable materials. The choice of building materials is important for sustainable homebuilding because of the extensive network of extraction, processing and transportation they require. Activities to produce building materials may pollute the air and water, destroy natural habitats and deplete natural resources. In fact, refurbishing of older buildings, because less materials are needed and because they generate less waste, are among the most positive and ecofriendly of green building initiatives.
- Less energy use can also mean that the utility company will need to produce less electricity or gas, which in term may reduce use of exhautable, poluting fossil fuels.
Although not strickly part of the green movement, H2O homes will include Acessibility Features to meet specific disabilitiy needs.
- Identify/Expand access to one bathroom for handicap access
- Install color matched grab bars at shower & toilet
- Widen doorway to be 36 and opening outwards
- Add permanent seating outside of entryway & entry mats
- Rework hallways to be 42 wide (if necessary)
- Change out all hardware to have lever handles
- Update front doors to steel/fiberglass (safety & durability)
- Replace entry section of concrete to provide zero profile access
- Federal tax credit given to homebuyer
- Any Energy Star and product rebates to be given to homebuyer
- Utility rebates that can be applied will be given to the homebuyer.
- H2O is committed to helping potential buyers realize their dream. H2O offers homebuyer classes that include financial counseling, credit repair and guidance and possible down-payment assistance when available. One-on-one meetings with qualified experts to discuss all these issues are an integral part of our mission, just like building green homes, because a green home without a homeowner is just another building.
We will also look at how H2O homes reflect the standards symbolized by the 3 R's of conservation: Reduce, Reuse and Recycle.
Reduce – Use less, waste less. H2O tries to match the right home to the right family. Size is important and a home must fit the financial condition and family needs of the buyer. By incorporating extensive green features that promote energy efficiency and conservation, H2O homes reduce the burden on the environment. A smaller carbon footprint means a cleaner, greener world.
Reuse – As much as possible, H2O homes make use of existing materials and structure. Compared to a traditional building process, a H2O homes is 900% more environmentally friendly. Those parts of the house to be replaced will be selected (toilets, shower-heads, faucets, HVAC systems, insulation, etc.) because they produce an large and immediate positive impact on the environment.
Recycle - Any items removed from our homes will be carefully evaluated for environmental impact. Old, non-efficient appliances will be recycled for metal content, not resold to be re-installed in other homes (this would negate any overall savings!). Wood materials, wiring and certain types of plastic can be reused. H2O is working with contractors so they are aware of our policy regarding reduction, reuse and recycling of used materials removed from homes during the rehab process.
H2O is doing its part to build environmentally-friendly homes and promote the virtues of green living. We both conserve natural resources and provide a significant savings to the homebuyer by intalling many green, energy saving features in the home. We also work to reduce waste, by reusing materials and recycling. For all these reasons, H2O builds green homes.
NSP Rehabilitation Standards and Requirements
HUD requirements mandate that Green features be incorporated in every home. Note the quote below from following legislation:
Requirements for Emergency Assistance for Redevelopment of Abandoned and Foreclosed Homes Grantees Under the Housing and Economic Recovery Act, 2008(Federal Register, Vol. 73, No. 194, page 58338 - Monday, October 6, 2008)
HERA provides that any NSP-assisted rehabilitation of a foreclosed-upon home or residential property shall be to the extent necessary to comply with applicable laws, codes, and other requirements relating to housing safety, quality, and habitability, in order to sell, rent, or redevelop such homes and properties. This imposes a requirement that does not exist in the CDBG program. This means that each grantee must describe or reference in its NSP action plan amendment what rehabilitation standards it will apply for NSP-assisted rehabilitation. HUD will monitor to ensure the standards are implemented.
HERA defines rehabilitation to include improvements to increase the energy efficiency or conservation of such homes and properties or to provide a renewable energy source or sources for such homes and properties. Such improvements are also eligible under the regular CDBG program. HUD strongly encourages grantees to use NSP funds not only to stabilize neighborhoods in the short-term, but to strategically incorporate modern, green building and energy-efficiency improvements in all NSP activities to provide for long-term affordability and increased sustainability and attractiveness of housing.
