Showing posts with label LEED. Show all posts
Showing posts with label LEED. Show all posts

November 14, 2008

Bora-care, the Solution for Durability


A primary concern in building a LEED (USGBC’s Green Building Program) home, is creating one that is durable. Wood, while being a renewable material, is subject to decay by mold and wood-eating insects.
After much research on solutions for eco-friendly ways to prevent decay in this manner, we came across Bora-Care. “Bora-Care”, Nisus Corporation's amazing Green Solution for termites, is a non-toxic wood treatment that protects wood with a borate mineral salt (which has a low mammalian toxicity, but is still deadly to insect pests). Borate is a natural occuring mineral that is found in many fruits and vegetables that are commonly consumed.
This treatment is an amazing preventative solution, as it lasts for decades. It's perfect for new construction because it can be easily applied when the rough frame is exposed. It is recommended by LEED that the bottom 3 feet of wood around the entire structure be sprayed. To ensure the extreme durability of our sustainable home, we're spraying the entire structure bottom to top, to add an extra layer of protection from pests and fungus and to insure that the home will not need to be fumigated at any point in its life. To achieve this level of protection without sending streams of poison into the air and water is Bora-Care's guarantee.
The most effective Green pest management solution is a preventative one, and Go Green highly recommends considering Bora-Care spray for all new construction.

June 8, 2007

DESIGN: Feldman Residence

LOCATION: Los Angeles, CA
COMPLETION: Target 2008

GOAL: Creation of a LEED for Homes Silver certified residence that will incorporate the most thoughtful and innovative building materials, finishes, fixtures, HVAC and lighting systems to ensure that the environment inside the home promotes the comfort, health and well-being of its occupants.
SCOPE: Construction of a 3-story, 4,360 square foot single family residence with an indoor elevator designed for accessibility. This home is designed to minimize, and even eliminate altogether, the impact of the construction and operation of the home on the surrounding community and the environment in general.

SUSTAINABLE ATTRIBUTES

  • Passive solar design strategies
  • Heat sink via ground floor foundation/slab
  • Heat vent via operable skylight above stairwell
  • Energy Star-rated low-E glazing
  • Photovoltaic system for power generation
  • Electric car recharging station in garage
  • Tankless water heating
  • LED and compact fluorescent lighting
  • Low-flow plumbing fixtures, including dual-flush toilets
  • Energy Star-rated appliances
  • Graywater recycling system
  • Landscape consisting of drought-tolerant, native plants
  • Fly-ash content in concrete foundation
  • Re-use of existing cement driveway
  • “Living Wall” on NW façade of building
  • Permeable paving and hardscape elements
  • Recycled or sustainable hardscape elements
  • FSC-certified lumber
  • Wood framing 24” on center
  • Engineered truss system
  • Insulated wall panels, polyurethane foam or organic fiber insulation
  • Formaldehyde-free sheathing, subflooring, etc.
  • Low, Zero-VOC finishes & adhesives
  • Deconstruction and reuse/donation of existing structure materials