Green House Materials

This new home has been designed to be exceptionally energy efficient and environmentally friendly. It will also provide a healthier living environment than conventional homes – special care has been taken to provide pristine indoor air quality and to avoid materials with toxic ingredients. In short, this house is green.

Below are some of the features that go into making this house green.

(click on each item for more details)

Insulated foundation by Superior WallsTM provides a totally waterproof basement while using less concrete (reducing CO2 emissions)
Engineered lumber provides great structurally integrity while conserving old-growth forests.
The exterior is constructed of extremely durable, low-maintenance materials.
This Old House brand exterior print carries the manufacturer’s lifetime guarantee -- the home’s exterior will never need re-painting.

Sprayed foam insulation provides high R-values and perfect air sealing, for increased comfort and dramatically reduced heating and cooling loads.
Fully insulated attic eliminates heat loss and optimizes the efficiency of the HVAC system, as all ductwork runs through insulated spaces.
High-performance Marvin windows with argon-gas filled, insulated, Low-E glass complete the energy-efficient building envelope.
High-performance Marvin™ windows with argon-gas filled, Low-E insulated glass.
Elk Prestique Cool-Color™ roofing shingles are coated with granules that deflect the sun’s heat, reducing the amount of energy needed for cooling.
Solar orientation calculated to maximize daylight, admit the sun’s warmth in winter, and prevent unwanted solar gain in summer.
Geothermal heating and cooling system burns no fossil fuels while providing outstanding comfort year-round, with zero CO2 emissions.
All joints in ductwork are tightly sealed to eliminate air leakage and increase efficiency.
All hot and cold water lines are fully insulated to save energy.
An on-demand hot water recirculating system, activated by motion sensors in each bath room, provides hot water where you need it, when you need it, without the high energy consumption of continuously running conventional recirculating systems.
Dual-flush toilets and efficient plumbing design conserve thousands of gallons of water per year.
EnergyStar lighting and appliances further increase the home’s energy efficiency.
The electricity for this house is purchased from Sterling Planet (www.sterlingplanet.com), a provider of clean, renewable energy, under the CT CleanEnergyOptions program. The power comes from equal parts wind, small-scale hydro, and organic bioenergy (landfill gas).

An energy-recovery ventilation system provides excellent indoor air quality by introducing a steady supply of filtered fresh air into the house while capturing 70% - 80% of the energy from the stale air as it is removed.
The AprilAire model 5000 electronic air cleaners are 95% efficient at removing bacteria as small as 0.35 micron. They are also 80% efficient at trapping virus-sized particles and over 99% efficient on pollen and spores.
Special attention to the elimination of unwanted moisture inside house will prevent the growth of mold and mildew – a leading cause of asthma and allergies, especially in children.
The central vacuum system effectively removes dust, dirt, and a host of allergens without spewing particulates back into the air like most vacuum cleaners, resulting in cleaner house with cleaner air.
Indoor air quality is further enhanced by the use of low VOC paints and finishes that do not off-gas toxic fumes.


	BARRY KATZ HOMEBUILDING
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