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This is part of a series of video blog posts about green architecture and construction leading up to Greenbuild, the U.S. Green Building Council's annual conference. Planet Green is a Silver sponsor of this year's event, which will be held in Boston November 19-21.
I'm sitting on our future dual-flush toilet by Caroma, one of the most water efficient models on the market. Overall, they average less than one gallon per flush.
The gorgeous and spacious recycled-steel bathtub by Kohler isn't naturally water-efficient, but we make up some by using the super-efficient showerhead, and capturing the water in numerous rain-hogs [a.k.a. rain barrels ] for our landscaping. The water is heated by three solar hot-water panels on the roof. The recycled steel Kohler sink will have an aerator in the faucet. Blending air with water doesn't effect the wetness, and it meets the highest level of LEED.
We install attractive Syndecrete tile with abalone shell on the wall and surrounding the tub. The Oceanside Glass tile flooring has high recycled-content tile with around 75 percent recycled content, and is also very beautiful. We will use only no-VOC paint by Mythic on all the walls and throughout the house.
We used three types of insulation throughout the house: Here in bathroom we gutted and pulled out the old plaster, and we'll spray in cellulose insulation, which has an R-value at 3.5. Cellulose is great—it's inert, and uses old, recycled newspaper. It's blown in tightly between the wood beams. Above, the attic rafters will have sprayed in closed-cell foam insulation with the highest R-value, around 6.5 per square inch. The crawlspace below has batt insulation. The envelope is further improved by nearly 30 super-efficient, double-paned windows by Marvin.
In green building it's extremely important that we start with envelope of structure and make it as tight as possible. Now, if I can just get the women in the family to take short showers instead of baths.
David Gottfried started Regenerative Ventures and its consulting arm, WorldBuild in 1995, after founding the U.S. Green Building Council in 1993. He is the author of Greed to Green, and is internationally acknowledged as one of the foremost founders of the global green building movement.
Read more in this series:
USGBC Founder David Gottfried's LEED Home Renovation: Intro (Video)
David Gottfried's Home Renovation: Success Is Based on Teamwork (Video)
David Gottfried: Walkable Neighborhoods Are a Greener Choice (Video)
David Gottfried Home Renovation: A Family Affair (Video)
David Gottfried's Home Renovation: Building a Office Lifepod (Video)
David Gottfried: Green Renovation and Historic Choices (Video)
Home Renovation: David Gottfried on Green Framing (Video)
Kitchen Design: David Gottfried's LEED Home Renovation
Green Home Renovation: In the Yard (Video)
LEED Home Renovation: Solar Realization (Video)
Green Home Renovation: Water Strategy (Video)
Green Home Renovation: Ponder the Growth of the Green Movement (Video)
Read more about green building:
How to Go Green: Home Renovation
Learning about Labels: Energy Star vs EPEAT
Know Your Green Home Technologies: Radiant Heat
Green Glossary: Sick Building Syndrome
Keep Your Home Green and Dry: 5 Easy Waterproofing Tips
Know Your Green Building Materials: 3 Cutting Edge Insulations
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