City of Lowell Green Building and Renovation

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City of LowellGreen Building and Renovation

• Promoting Healthy Homes

Source www.sensiblehouse.org/images/sensmain.jpg

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Presentation Outline

• Defining green building and its components
• Local case studies
• Why green building is important
• Toxins found in the home
• Problem areas and green solutions for each room
  in your home
• What you can do tomorrow

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Defining Green Building

• What is Green Building?
• A method of building that
• Reduces the ecological footprint the amount of
  resources needed to produce energy, water, and
  materials used to construct and operate
  buildings.
• Provides economic benefits and a healthier
  environment both inside and outside the building.

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Green building standards

• LEED standards
• Sustainable site development
• Water savings
• Energy efficiency
• Materials selection
• Indoor environmental quality

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Green building standards
Indoor Air Quality
Water Savings
Sustainable Site Development
Materials Selection
Energy Efficiency
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What does green mean?

• East Cambridge
• Super-insulated
• High efficiency Energy Star windows, doors,
  appliances, lighting and water heating systems

Source http//bostongreenbuilding.com/
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What does green mean?

• Winter Hill in Somerville
• Historic preservation
• 92 efficient central heating and cooling
• High performance insulation
• Energy Star windows, doors, appliances

Source http//bostongreenbuilding.com/
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What does green mean?

• Prospect Hill in Somerville
• VOC-free paints
• Energy Star rated
• FSC framing lumber
• Bamboo flooring
• Recycled content decking and railings

Source http//bostongreenbuilding.com/
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Why is this important?

• Climate Change
• 38 of CO2 emissions
• High energy costs and need to reduce dependence
  on foreign oil.
• Over 1/5 of Americas energy
• Toxic interiors
• 90 of our lives are spent indoors
• Dwindling water supplies
• Green choices are becoming more and more
  affordable

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What are causing toxic interiors?

• Lead
• Mercury
• Asbestos
• Mold
• Nitrogen dioxide
• Volatile organic carbons
• Formaldehyde
• Radon
• Others (household cleaners, pesticides)

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Description of the house
Source http//data.getafreelancer.com/project/64
745/housediagram.jpg
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The Kitchen
Cabinets
Countertops

• Flooring

• Recycle

• Cleaners

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Homemade cleaners

• BAKING SODA
• All-purpose, non-toxic cleaner.
• BORAX
• Deodorizes, removes stains and
• boosts the cleaning power of soap.
• PURE SOAP
• cleans everything.
• WASHING SODA
• Cuts grease and disinfects.
• VINEGAR
• Removes mildew, stains, grease and wax build-up.
• LEMON JUICE
• Cuts through grease and stains on aluminum and
  porcelain.
• CORNSTARCH
• Cleans and deodorizes carpets and rugs.
• TABLE SALT
• Mild disinfectant and makes an abrasive, but
  gentle scouring.

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The Living Room
Paint

• Upholstered furniture

• Hardwood flooring

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The Bedroom
Wallpaper
Windows
Mattress

• Carpeting

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The Bathroom
Plumbing

• Flooring

Delta Water-Amplifying Shower Head (13 at Home
Depot 36 water savings)
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The addition
Suspended ceiling tiles
Adhesives

• Drywall, lumber, insulation

NOTE Homeowner Give a material-specific list
to your builder Builder List ALL materials that
you want, no changes or substitutions.
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The Basement

• Walls

Heating
Test for Radon
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The Exterior
Roofing

• Doors

• Walls

Lawn care
Compost Bins retail for between 60 and 100,
but are available to residents of communities
that receive grants at subsidized prices of
between 25 and 35 each.
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What can I do tomorrow?
Green homes need green people

• Recycle (and buy recycled)
• Do not automatically disinfect, and use green
  cleaning products
• Let in the fresh air
• Look for VOC-free, Formaldehyde-free paints and
  building products
• Control moisture to prevent mold
• Use sustainable wood products

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Thank you!

• For more information from the Lowell Green
  Building Commission
• Visit http//greenbuilding.lowellma.gov/
• Contact Aaron Clausen, City of Lowell
• Phone [phone] ext.1422
• Email AClausen_at_lowellma.gov
• For more information on toxics and TURI
• Visit www.turi.org/community
• Contact Joy Onasch , TURI
• Phone [phone]
• Email joy_at_turi.org