Tips For Building Green With Modular Buildings - A Guide For the Average Person

By Brandon Alexander

As most people know, the latest trend in construction is ‘GREEN’ or environmentally friendly buildings. As energy prices continue to soar and global warming attracts more attention, the GREEN construction trend is likely to escalate. The goal of this paper is to provide a brief overview of the benefits of GREEN construction and illustrate how Off-Site Construction & modular buildings complement GREEN construction.

Over the last several years, various GREEN projects have been designed and constructed, therefore customers and contractors are familiar with the concept. Many users are initially interested in obtaining the US Green Building Council’s LEED Certification (usgbc.org/LEED), however there are numerous other tangible benefits which can be obtained by using GREEN construction:

1. Reduction in energy/utility consumption.
2. Use of reclaimed/environmentally conscious materials for sustainable construction.
3. Reduced/easier maintenance.
4. Reduced Energy and Utility Consumption.
5. Energy/utility consumption can be reduced directly and indirectly through improved energy efficiency.

Direct reduction techniques include:

• Rainwater harvesting for use on landscaping.
• Day lighting (large windows, tubular skylights) to decrease the need for artificial lighting.
• Photovoltaic panels for supplemental electricity generation.
• High R value insulation at the building envelope to decrease HVAC loads.
• Operable windows to allow natural ventilation on temperate days.
• Cool roof systems to reduce heat transfer and reduce HVAC loads.
• Door/window HVAC interlocks which shut off HVAC system when doors/windows open for extended periods of time.
• Deciduous shade trees to prevent heat gain during summer months.
• Dual pane windows with low E coating to reduce infrared radiation transfer and HVAC load.
• Cool operating fluorescent bulbs to reduce HVAC loads.
• Indirect energy consumption focuses on using energy/utilities more effectively and reducing waste.

Improvements in efficiency include:

• Energy management systems (motion sensors, timers, programmable thermostats, integrated home systems).
• High efficiency appliances (Energy Star rated) & HVAC systems.
• Dishwashers and clothes washers which consume less water per load.
• Compact fluorescent light bulbs.
• Lighter colors to reflect more light within building.
• Hanging pendant light fixtures combined with high reflectance ceiling covering.

Each aspect has numerous components and can be utilized in conjunction with one another. It is important to keep in mind the prerequisites must be met if LEED certification is the goal. The time required to recover the initial cost depends on size and location of the structure and individual consumption patterns, as well as materials incorporated.

Superior Interior Environment

In addition to reducing energy costs, GREEN construction should also provide a superior interior environment. Materials such as carpet, cabinetry adhesives, paint and other wall coverings with no or low levels of Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) will release less gas and improve the indoor air quality. HVAC systems with noise dampening ducting and isolation systems will reduce the interior noise. Day lighting can also improve the interior quality by boosting the occupant’s mood with natural light.

Use of Sustainable Resources

The use of recycled/reused materials helps to ensure the sustainability of resources. If virgin raw materials are used for every new building project, these materials will eventually be exhausted. As raw materials become scarce, the prices will rise and/or the materials will no longer be available. This trend has already begun as some raw material such as clear heart Redwood is no longer available and must be obtained recycled from existing projects. Recycling/reusing helps ensure that materials will be available for future projects.

Reduced Building Maintenance

The final aspect of GREEN construction is reduced/easier maintenance. Reducing maintenance activities such as painting saves the materials needed but also the waste and environmental impact of the painting such as VOC gas release and water used in cleanup. New, longer lasting materials are now available which need less frequent maintenance. Such materials include cement based exterior siding which does not require painting and recycled composite decking which resembles wood. Other products facilitate repair and replacement such as carpet tiles which allow individual sections to be exchanged without having to replace the entire floor surface. Carpet tiles also reduce waste during the installation process.

Off-Site Construction is GREEN

In parallel to this greater acceptance of GREEN is the growth in the Off-Site Construction process and improved perception of modular buildings. Modular buildings and Off-Site construction are similar but Off-Site Construction commonly refers specifically to permanent buildings verses modular buildings which can be either permanent or re-locatable. Green features are available in all modular buildings but are considerably more common in Off-Site Construction due to the permanent nature. In recent years, Off-Site Construction has advanced and numerous innovations are now available. Such innovations include more efficient production facilities, superior transport systems, creative architectural designs and new engineering technologies providing greater flexibility.

Off-Site Construction merges well with the concept of GREEN construction for a variety of reasons. The centralized construction location allows for much greater reuse and recycling of material as a set collection schedule and policies can be established. Material waste due to weather damage is decreased as the construction process occurs in weather protected facilities. Waste water is easier to control and collect as production facilities are paved and sloped to a collection area. Traffic and air pollution is reduced as workers drive shorter distances to the factory verses traveling to various job sites. As materials for multiple jobs can be purchased in bulk quantities and delivered to a central location, the cost of materials and number of deliveries can be minimized. Off-Site Construction uses the same materials and designs as site built construction allowing for easy incorporation of GREEN materials and designs.

Progressive builders and architects view Off-Site Construction to be an integral part of the GREEN construction movement and the interest in GREEN Off-Site Construction has grown tremendously as GREEN is integrated into more diverse buildings.

Green Modular Home

Check Out thihs great video on How To build Green Modular Home;

Green Alternative Building Materials For Homes

By Jennie Kyle

The majority of homes today are built using wood frames, the traditional Building Material and the material of choice for many. However building a wood framed house requires a very carefully designed plan and a construction crew with much experience and skill. Building a home with a wood frame will generally result in a reliable and secure structure, however it is also susceptible to premature failure when small details are left unchecked or is made with a poor quality wood product. Wood frames also have the ability to rot and attract infestation and construction costs associated with building such frames are also a detriment.

Today the home owner has the opportunity to choose from alternative Green Building Materials and make a difference.

Insulated Concrete Forms: These preformed blocks are made with expanded polystyrene (EPS) and metal rebar which can be stacked to build your frame. They are then filled with concrete to create an insulated and exceptionally strong wall!

The Benefits of Building a Home with Insulated Concrete Forms

Ease of Use - These building blocks are very easy to use. They require much less crew and take significantly less time to build than a traditional home

Energy Efficiency - The insulation properties of polystyrene and the high thermal mass of the concrete help to reduce the internal temperature fluctuations to create a more efficient and comfortable indoor environment.

Noise Reduction - Insulated Concrete form walls make an enormous difference in the reduction of noise transmission.

Fire-resistance - This product is highly rated for fire-resistance and has been proven in some products to have a four hour resistance rating!

Strength - These walls are exceptionally strong and can be built to hurricane/seismic standards.

Mildew/Rot - These walls will not support the growth of mildew and mold.

This Alternative Building Material is an excellent home structural choice for those living in areas where their homes are exposed to severe weather such as hurricanes and tornadoes. These blocks are made using concrete which does raise some environmental concerns. Concrete depends on cement and the production of cement is an enormous environmental hazard! However there is now in existence Cement Substitutes which are being implemented into Green Build Design.If you are interested in building a home using these blocks insist that your builder uses a concrete with a high concentration of fly-ash.

Structural Insulated Panels

SIP’s are high performance building panels that are used to form and build walls, floors and roofs both for commercial and residential purposes. They are made by sandwiching foam insulation between Oriented Strand Board (OSB). OSB is an engineered wood product that is formed with wax and resins and compressed.

This building material has all the same benefits of ICF’s however they do not compete with insulated concrete forms for fire resistance although they do meet fire testing standards. So if you are ready to take on the challenge of building your own home, try Building Green and consider your house framing options!

Green Building Material

Check out this video on Green Building Materials;

So Many Benefits in Building a Green House

By Al Zan

Energy and cost efficiency are two perks of building using Green Architecture and design. At first the cost of Building Green may seem steep compared to a standard home, but the savings on utility bills can compensate handsomely. In Green House Design, electricity is used more efficiently.

Alternative Energy Sources can be used to actually save money. Using Wind Turbines can be one way to create electricity in Green Homes. Solar Panels are an additional way to power electricity in a Green House. With the cost of gas and coal powered utilities soaring, an investment in Green Technologies is likely to offset or even eliminate dependency on these limited resources for those Building A Green House. Installation and materials are the only aspects of solar and Wind Power that cost the builder anything. Both abundant and constantly renewable, the resources of sunlight and wind are free! Building green houses with wind turbines and solar panels can be both environmentally friendly and economical as sources of power.

Another design concept that can be used is the gray water system. Gray Water Systems are more efficient because they use water from one area of household and Recycle it elsewhere in the dwelling. For instance, using a gray water system could allow Green Home residents to collect water used while showering for watering a garden or flushing toilets! Unnecessary water waste is decreased in recycling water throughout the home from day to day. Reducing the carbon footprint of a home and saving money on water utilities are two benefits afforded by using state of the art gray water system technologies.

Building materials used and design of the dwelling are also key factors to consider when building a green house. Recycled or salvaged materials are an option in building a green house. From insulation to roofing and even flooring, it is possible to use recycled or salvaged materials for nearly every surface in green house designs! Recycled and salvaged materials have the double benefit of being both more cost effective and in many cases, more durable than other kinds of building materials. Using locally salvaged building materials can reduce the carbon footprint of a home even more if they are locally obtained. Since it does not require as much energy to manufacture and transport locally salvaged building materials, less pollution is created building a green house.

Different kinds of architecture can be used in building a green house in order to regulate indoor temperatures. Design which increases exposure to sunlight and heat retention is possible with Green Architecture and would benefit those building in cold climates. In warmer climates, a comparable principle of design can be used in building a green house. In warm places, residents can minimize sun exposure and harness naturally cooler biomasses beneath the surface of the Earth. The ways to reduce carbon footprints while saving money are truly endless when building a green house!

Check out this video on Green Houses;