BUILT GREEN BUILT BETTER

KEM Homes Green Built Checklist:

RESNET-accredited HERS Rating of 85 points or less

A Home Energy Rating is perhaps the most telling metric of the overall energy efficiency performance of a home, allowing the homeowner to see their energy savings, and thus cost savings, over a new built-to-code home. This analysis, rated on a scale from 1 to 100, allows consumers to compare the efficiencies of new homes. An 85 point Home Energy Rating score is 15% above the energy efficiency of a home built to code. Therefore, Green Built Homes have a 15% better energy performance than homes built to code.

Raised heels of 6" or more on trusses to provide for full-height insulation over top wall plate

A raised top plate increases the height for insulation, ensuring a consistent R-Value throughout the attic, thereby making the home more comfortable, and reducing the possibility of the formation of dangerous icicles.

Advanced Insulation Package: =/> R38 in all attics/ceilings, including vaulted ceilings

Increased levels of insulation, beyond minimum building code requirements, is a critical element in designing an energy efficient and comfortable home.

Insulation quality control - Insulation is inspected by a third-party during pre-drywall inspection

Improperly installed insulation is counter to the goal of saving energy and money. Verification of proper insulation installation is key to ensuring products deliver their rated R-values.

Advanced sealing package

A tighter home means less air is exchanged between the outside and indoor environments through uncontrolled leaks in the envelope, minimizing drafts and uncomfortable spots in the home. Additionally, openings at the top of the house draw heat up and out (like the stack effect created by a "chimney"!) Properly air sealing these critical attic areas will greatly increase your energy savings and comfort.

All recessed can lights, including between all floors, are air tight and insulation contact rated

Recessed fixtures can be some of the worst locations for heat loss, and can also be sources of moisture problems, and cold drafts. Installing "air tight" can lights can guard against these negative aspects of recessed lighting while saving money, increasing comfort and preventing unwanted moisture in the attic.

Low-E, National Fenestration Rating Council (NFRC) rated window and glass doors comprise =/>90% of total above-grade glass area - U=0.35 or lower

In climates with a significant heating season, windows have represented a major source of unwanted heat loss, discomfort, and condensation problems. In recent years, windows have undergone a technological revolution. It is now possible to have lower heat loss, less air leakage, and warmer window surfaces (allowing more useable space for the homeowner) that improve comfort and minimize condensation AND less floor, furniture and drapery fading. Significant heating and cooling costs can be prevented with energy efficient windows.

House to garage door insulated to R-5 or greater

Choosing an energy efficient door and installing it properly can greatly decrease drafts in a house, keeping the conditioned air in.

HVAC equipment sized according to ACCA Manual J room by room heat load calculation

Only rarely are new homes in Colorado equipped with HVAC systems whose capacities are appropriately matched to loads, i.e., the conditioned air that they are required to deliver. Heating systems are routinely over sized by at least 50 percent, and air conditioners are often double what they need to be. This raises the cost of a new dwelling, increases the energy bills for the lifetime of the home, and decreases the life of the equipment. It also increases the electric demand of homes on the hottest days of the summer, thereby contributing the need for expensive new power plants.

ENERGY STAR® qualified furance with sealed combustion air: =>92% AFUE

ENERGY STAR® qualified furnaces have an annual fuel utilization efficiency (AFUE) rating of 90% or greater, making them about 15% more efficient than standard models. High efficiency or "condensing" furnaces are designed to extract the most heat out of every heating dollar. For every dollar you spend on energy, it produces 88 to 97 cents worth of heat. You could save up to 24% (97 AFUE - 78 AFUE) in energy and related energy costs. Its high-efficiency will also help to insulate you from increasing energy prices. Additionally, a "sealed combustion" unit prevents the potential for back drafting flue gases into the living space, resulting in better indoor air quality and safety.

Central air conditioner => 13 SEER

An air conditioner's SEER (seasonal energy efficiency ratio) rating is determined by its total cooling output divided by its total energy consumption. More simply, SEER is akin to the miles per gallon rating for automobiles: the more efficient the air conditioning equipment, the higher the SEER rating and the less it costs to operate.

ENERGY STAR® programmable thermostat

Programmable thermostats automatically adjust your home's temperature settings, allowing you to save energy while you're away or sleeping. They are more convenient and accurate than manual thermostats and improve your home's comfort; contain no mercury; save energy and save money on utility bills - when used properly, about $100/year; are better for the environment, since using less energy helps reduce greenhouse gas emissions associated with energy production. Programmable thermostats typically have payback periods under one year.

Ducts sized and installed in accordance with room-by-room load calculations for sizing ductwork using Air Conditioning Contractors of America (ACCA) Manual D

The goal for a Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning (HVAC) system is to provide proper air flow, heating, and cooling to each room. By properly sizing and installing these components, they are sure to achieve correct air flows to each room, keeping the occupant comfortable with minimal effort and less energy.

No panned joist spaces or building cavities used for return air; i.e., fully ducted return systems are required

Not only does using the building cavity increase the energy required to heat or cool a home, it may contribute to the depressurization of the home hereby potentially increasing the circulation of ozone and carbon monoxide, unhealthy indoor pollutants. Utilizing ducted returns reduces the chance of comfort problems, poor equipment efficiency and performance, excessive equipment wear and tear and larger than necessary utility bills.

All duct work joints and penetrations sealed with low toxic mastic

As much as 20% of energy consumed by HVAC systems can be contributed to duct leakage in poorly installed systems, and furthermore, leaky ducts can lead to pressure imbalances which can in turn lead to compromised indoor air quality. Duct tape may be good for a multitude of uses; however, it doesn't do a very good job of sealing ducts over the long term. Using mastic or sealant is a better alternative.

Provide pressure relief to all rooms having a door other than baths, kitchens, closets and pantries by using means other than door undercuts

Proper HVAC zone pressure relief ensures that the system is operating efficiently and also ensures that harmful gasses will not be pulled into the home by the air handler.

Gas fireplace is direct vent and must have an electronic ignition

Fireplaces are a wonderful addition to any home, both for their aesthetics and for heating purposes. However, gas fireplaces can come with some indoor and outdoor air quality issues. Sealed-combustion on any heating device is crucial to preventing back-drafting of carbon monoxide and other by-products of the combustion process into the conditioned space, thereby enhancing indoor air quality. Emission controls for solid-fuel burning units is equally important, and the EPA standards met by these units ensures outside air quality standards are also met.

Passive radon mitigation

U.S. Surgeon General Health Advisory: "Indoor radon gas is the second-leading cause of lung cancer in the United States and breathing it over prolonged periods can present a significant health risk to families all over the country. It's important to know that this threat is completely preventable. Radon can be detected with a simple test and fixed through well-established venting techniques."

Provide kitchen range hood or downdraft cooktop vented to the exterior

Direct ventilation to the exterior, as opposed to a recirculating fan, is a far superior option for true ventilation purposes, and is a key component of an effective ventilation strategy. There are many benefits for the home and the homeowner. First and foremost, a direct ventilating fan will rid the kitchen of dangerous smoke (and smells) that can build up from burned food, and will also mitigate the grease and mod-promoting moisture that build up on walls, ceilings and cabinetry.

Install hardwired carbon monoxide detector outside main sleeping areas

Carbon monoxide is a colorless, odorless, tasteless and toxic gas produced as a by-product of combustion. Detectors are a human health safety precaution.

OSB produced with non-formaldehyde based adhesives used for sub floor and sheathing

Some people are very sensitive to formaldehyde while others may have no noticeable reaction at the same level of exposure. Sensitive people can experience systems at levels below 0.1 ppm. The World Health Organization recommends that exposure should not exceed 0.05 ppm.

Sill plate sealed with foam sill gasket to act as capillary break

Foam sill gaskets are durable and moisture-resistant and provide a tight seal so it will provide a tight, uniform fit for years to come. This provides a more airtight seal between the foundation and framing unit (wood) of the home, reducing cold drafts and potential pipe freezing and acts to reduce moisture transfer from concrete to wood, reducing the potential for moisture and rot.

Full exterior drainage plane integrated shingle-style with pan-flashed and face-flashed door and window openings, as designated in "EEBA's Water Management Guide"

A properly installed drainage plane is essential to the durability and maximum service life of a home's exterior sheathing and cladding. Even in Colorado, which only receives an average of 17 inches of precipitation a year, in the form of rain and snow, some of that moisture is wind driven, precipitating the possibility of that water to getting behind the protective cladding of your home and doing damage to the structure underneath.

Downspout extensions: Downspouts discharge at least 4-5 feet away from the foundation and tip-up hooks are removed prior to closing

Downspout extensions assure that rain water is able to drain clear of the backfill area around the building's perimeter, and thereby to reduce the moisture to which foundation and basement walls are exposed.

Dishwasher is an ENERGY STAR® labeled product

ENERGY STAR® dishwashers have payback periods between 5 and 5.5 years. ENERGY STAR® qualified dishwashers use 25% less energy than the federal minimum standard for energy consumption.

All gas kitchen appliances are equipped with electronic ignition

Many natural gas appliances now use electronic ignition systems (instead of a continuously burning pilot light, which wastes gas and costs the homeowner money).

Aluminum foundation forms used

Typical foundation forms are made from wood, and are only used one to three times. Reusing foundation forms minimizes the amount of construction waste, since aluminum forms can be used for years.

Dimensional or engineered lumber from third-party certified sustainably-harvest sources used for 100% of floor framing

Certified sustainably harvested lumber is not different in composition from standard lumber. However, through third party certification and a system of standards one can be sure that it was harvested in a way that will ensure availability for future generations. Engineered lumber products are an innovative alternative to the solid sawn lumber materials that have to be harvested in diminishing old growth forests.

Engineered alternative replaces large dimension solid lumber (2x10 or greater) in 90% or more of floor systems and roof structure

Smaller, fast-growing, tree species are used in engineered lumber, and there is little or no waste involved in the production and end use of the products. Engineered lumber products are an innovative alternative to the solid sawn lumber materials that have to be harvested in diminishing old growth forests.

Advanced framing techniques (OVE, optimum value engineering) employed to reduce/conserve structural framing and lumber

Fully implementing advanced framing techniques can result in: Materials cost savings of about $1000; Labor cost savings of between 3 and 5 percent; Annual heating and cooling cost savings of up to 5 percent.

Engineered lumber products used for >/50% beams and all plate and rim joist material

Wall studs are purported to not bow, warp, twist, or shrink once they are installed. They have few defects, such as cracking, splitting, knots, and wane which would result in material waste. The manufacturing process helps conserve our natural resources because the trees used are fast growing and most of the wood is converted to strands. Engineered wood material is a more uniform product than traditional lumber framing. Additionally, engineered wood material uses fast-growing, plentiful lumber species, reducing the amount of old-growth timber that is harvested. It also uses logs more efficiently than solid-sawn lumber.

Plywood or Oriented Strand Board (OSB) made from sustainably harvested sources for sub-flooring

OSB composed of fast growth tree species are an ecologically sustainable alternative to large dimensional lumber.

Asphalt composition shingle

Approximately 11 million tons of waste asphalt roofing shingles are generated in the U.S. per year. Re-roofing jobs account for 10 million tons, with another 1 million from manufacturing scrap. The longer the life of the roof, and by using materials which have the potential of being recycled, the less material goes to the landfill.

Installation of minimum #30 roofing felt on entire roof

The roof system is designed to keep water off and out of the building; the use of a heavier, more durable roofing felt will help ensure that the roof stays leak-free for years to come.

Minimize jobsite waste by utilizing a waste hauler with a solid waste management and recycling plan

Reduced job site waste garners a better public image. Furthermore, as tipping fees rise and landfills become less available, the economics of recycling become more attractive.