This presentation was given to my class by Quint Newcomer, the Director of UGA Costa Rica and the only single family LEED-certified home owner in the Athens area at the time of this presentation. The presentation serves as an introductory primer on what it means to "be green" as a home owner, and also details some of the steps that he took to make his own home LEED certified. Quint's wife, architect Lori Newcomer, designed the layout of the home as well.

1. Quint Newcomer, PhD
Director, UGA Costa Rica
2 August, 2011

2. NATURE :
An ideal model of sustainability
CANON OF LAWS
Nature runs on sunlight.
Nature uses only the energy it needs.
Nature fits form to function.
Nature recycles everything.
Nature rewards cooperation.
Nature banks on diversity.
Nature demands local expertise.
Nature curbs excesses from within.
Nature taps the power of limits.
From: Benyus, Janine. Biomimicry

3. INCREASING GAP BETWEEN CONSUMPTION
RATES & PRODUCTION RATES: Energy
• U.S. Department of Energy predicts that the U.S. energy
consumption will increase to approximately 130 quadrillion
Btu annually by 2020.
• By using the last decade’s production growth rates, the energy
shortage in 2020 will be approximately 55 quadrillion Btu.
(Our total energy consumption in 1980 was approximately 68 quadrillion
Btu. )
• Buildings annually consume more than 60% of the electricity
used in the U.S.
Source: USGBC New Construction & Major Renovation Reference Guide Version 2.2

4. GREEN BUILDING BENEFITS:
• Reduce operating costs
• enhance building
marketability
• enhance building durability
• reduce potential heath
hazards resulting from
indoor air quality problems
• Increased productivity in
workplace and schools
Source: USGBC New Construction & Major
Renovation Reference Guide Version 2.2
901 Cherry Offices by William McDonough + Partners, San Bruno, CA

5. LEED (Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design)
Source: www.usgbc.org

6. LEED for Homes
The LEED for Homes Rating System measures the overall
performance of a home in eight categories (a holistic approach to
sustainable design certification):
1. Innovation & Design Process (ID) – Special design methods, unique regional
credits, measures not currently addressed in the Rating System, & exemplary
performance levels.
2. Location & Linkages (LL) – The placement of homes in socially and
environmentally responsible ways in relation to the larger community.
3. Sustainable Sites (SS) – The use of the entire property so as to minimize the
project’s impact on the site.
4. Water Efficiency (WE) – Water-efficient practices, both indoor and outdoor.
5. Energy & Atmosphere (EA) – Energy efficiency, particularly in the building
envelope and heating and cooling design.

7. LEED for Homes
6. Materials & Resources (MR) – Efficient utilization of materials, selection
of environmentally preferable materials, and minimization of waste
during construction.
7. Indoor Environmental Quality (EQ) – Improvement of indoor air quality
by reducing the creation of and exposure to pollutants.
8. Awareness & Education (AE) – The education of the homeowner, tenant,
and/or building manager as well as taking measures to help bring
awareness to general public through marketing.
Source: USGBC LEED for Homes Rating System, January 2008

8. LEED for Homes Certification Levels:
Certified (45-59 points)
Silver (60-74 points)
Gold (75-89 points)
Platinum (90-136 points)

9. LOCATION & LINKAGES (LL)
1. LEED Neighborhood
Development
2. Site Selection
3. Preferred Locations (edge
development/infill/previously
developed)
4. Existing Infrastructure
5. Community Resources/Transit
6. Access to Open Space

10. Since sustainability is a cultural process, it
depends on the everyday actions of ordinary
people. … Bringing sustainability home is
about growing a culture of sustainability
that is suited to the particularities of place.
Sim van der Ryn and Stuart Cowan,
Ecological Design

11. SUSTAINABLE SITES (SS)
1. Site Stewardship
1.1 Erosion controls during
construction
1.2 Minimize disturbed area of site
2. Landscaping
2.1 No invasive plants
2.2 Basic landscape design (see list)
2.3 Limit conventional turf
2.4 Drought tolerant plants
2.5 Reduce overall irrigation demand
3. Local Heat Island Effects
a. Locate trees & plantings to shade
50% of hardscape
b. Install light-colored, high albedo
materials for at least 50% of
hardscape

12. SUSTAINABLE SITES (SS)
4. Surface Water Management
4.1 Permeable lot
4.2 Permanent erosion controls
4.3 Management of run-off from roof

13. SUSTAINABLE SITES (SS)
5. Nontoxic Pest Control
6. Compact Development

15. SUSTAINABLE SITES
• Reduce local heat island effects

16. WATER EFFICIENCY (WE)
1. Water Reuse
1.1 Rainwater Harvesting System
1.2 Graywater Reuse System
1.3 Use of Municipal Recycled
Water
2. Irrigation System
2.1 High Efficiency Irrigation
System
2.2 Third Party Inspection
2.3 Reduce Overall Irrigation
Demand by at Least 45%
(see water use calculator)

17. WATER EFFICIENCY (WE)
3. Indoor Water Use
3.1 High Efficiency Fixtures and Fittings (dual-flush toliets)
3.2 Very High Efficiency Fixtures and Fittings
a. The average flow rate for faucets are equal to or less than 1.5 gpm
(EPA WaterSense Certification)
b. The average flow rate for showerheads are equal to or less than 1.75 gpm

18. ENERGY & ATMOSPHERE (EA)
1. Optimize Energy Performance (beyond Energy Star Requirements)
2. Water Heating (efficient distribution and pipe insulation)
3. Refrigerant Management (use appropriate refrigerants & do charge test)

19. ENERGY & ATMOSPHERE
• Good insulation
– Caulk & Seal
– Spray-in icynene foam in
roofline
– Spray-in cellulose (recycled
fibers/newsprint) in 2x6 walls
– Ecobatts in interior walls for
acoustics

20. ENERGY & ATMOSPHERE
• Good Windows
– Energy Star windows
– Passive solar design

21. ENERGY & ATMOSPHERE
• Lighting
– Installed more than 7 ENERGY STAR labeled light fixtures or ENERGY
STAR labeled CFL bulbs
– LED lighting

22. MATERIALS & RESOURCES (MR)
1. Material-Efficient Framing
1.1 Framing order waste factor limit
(Prerequisite for LEED)
1.2 Detailed framing documents
1.3 Detailed cut list and lumber order
1.4 Framing efficiencies
1.5 Off-site fabrication

23. MATERIALS & RESOURCES (MR)
2. Environmentally
Preferable Products
– Flooring: Concrete (with fly
ash), reclaimed wood, and
recycled content carpeting
all sourced within 500 miles
(all finishes also meeting
low-VOC standards)

24. MATERIALS & RESOURCES
• Environmentally preferable products
– Paints & Stains:
• Mineral paints by San Marco USA on interior walls (zero VOCs, maintains wall
breathability, prevents mold growth, & pulls CO2 from the air in carbonization
process)
• Trim paints are zero VOC by Sherwin Williams
• Stains are all low-VOC

25. MATERIALS & RESOURCES
• Environmentally preferable products
– Reclaimed Barn Wood from Site

26. MATERIALS & RESOURCES
• Environmentally preferable products
– Interior Doors:
• Formaldehyde-free EccoDoors with 100% recycled content

27. MATERIALS & RESOURCES
• Environmentally preferable
products
– Cabinetry:
• Formaldehyde-free plywood
and low-VOC finishes
• FSC certified teak counter

28. MATERIALS & RESOURCES (MR)
3. Waste Management
• Diverted 68% of construction waste from landfill
– Recycled wood, sheetrock, metal, plastic, &
cardboard

29. INDOOR ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY (EQ)
1. Energy Star with IAP
2. Combustion Venting
– Wood burning stove, HearthStone, is
listed by a testing laboratory and EPA
certified for efficiency & emissions (88%
efficient & will heat up to 1500 ft2)
3. Moisture Control
4. Outdoor Air Ventilation
5. Local Exhaust
6. Distribution of Space Heating &
Cooling
7. Air Filtering
8. Contaminant Control
8.1 Indoor contaminant control during
construction
8.2 Indoor contaminant control (shoe
removal area)
8.3 Preoccupancy flush (run all fans with
windows open for 48 hours)

30. INDOOR ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY
9. Radon Protection

31. INDOOR ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY
9. Garage Pollutant Protection
10.1 No HVAC in garage
10.2 Minimize pollutants from garage
10.3 Exhaust fan in garage
10.4 Detached garage or no garage

32. EDUCATION & AWARENESS (AE)
1. Education of the Homeowner Tenant
1.1 Basic Operations Training
1.2 Enhanced Training
1.3 Public Awareness - (Website: Lori-Quint House on facebook.com)

33. Why Do This?
• Academics: engage intellectual resources
of faculty and students
• Community education: awareness,
understanding, motivation, behavior change
• Decision-making: support clear decisions,
set priorities, engage stakeholders
• Visibility: stimulate discussion through
media, promote green design business

34. Challenges For Appraisers
• Few green buildings actually change hands
• Other house features predominate
• Benefits of green building accrue solely to the occupier, not
necessarily the owner
• Lack of comparables
• Non-LEED “green” homes may be unnecessarily punished
• Current state of knowledge within valuation industry in
question