Green Built Specifications

The most important work you and I will ever do will be within the walls of our own homes. Harold B. Lee

Village Homes is proud to be a Green Built provider. These Green Built Specifications allow ALL Village Homes to be certified as Green Built Homes™ and meet the requirements of the Green Built Home checklist, one of the most comprehensive guides for green building in the U.S.  Certification is granted based on the assumption that the following checklist items will be incorporated in all homes.  Homes must meet a set of Basic Requirements and incorporate items from other checklist categories as listed below to qualify.

The Basic Requirements Village Homes will meet are (17 points):

• Wisconsin ENERGY STAR Home—Home complies with the standards regarding energy efficiency, ventilation, combustion safety and indoor air quality
• All Appliances provided by the builder are ENERGY STAR rated or each appliance performs in the top 50% of its Energy Guide rating or a list of ENERGY STAR appliances has been provided
• An erosion control plan checklist has been or an erosion control plan has been submitted as required by local building regulations
• Cardboard must be recycled as required by state law and at least one recycled-content material (minimum 50% recycled content) is used
• No uncertified Luan or other tropical hardwoods are used
• Green Built Homeowner Handbook, certification plaque, and Green Guide Label must be provided to the homeowner
• No mercury thermostats have been permanently installed.  All thermostats must be programmable set-back models with an “on” switch for furnace fan to circulate air
• Home meets the minimum requirements for Landscape Conservation and Stormwater Management
• Home meets the minimum requirements for Materials selection
• Home meets the minimum requirements for incorporating Indoor Air Quality
• The builder has met the minimum requirements for Waste Reduction, Recycling and Disposal practices

Landscape Conservation and Storm Water Management (5 points)

• All site topsoil reused
• Concrete trucks washed out on slab or pavement sub-base areas
• Establish and maintain a single stabilized construction entrance
• A list of native, non-invasive plants provided to homeowner
• Information provided to homeowner on how to minimize fertilizer and pesticide use

Energy Efficiency (16 points)

• Energy heels of 7” or more on trusses
• Gaps between exhaust fans housings and drywall caulked
• All penetrations to the exterior are sealed both inside and outside
• (2 points) Can lights in insulated ceilings are sealed and insulated
• Windows throughout are ENERGY STAR or have a U value < 0.35
• No metal framed windows used in house, including basement
• West facing glass has NFRC label solar heat gain coefficient (SHGC) less than 0.40
• East facing glass NFRC label solar heat gain coefficient (SHGC) less than 0.40
• 90% or higher energy efficiency furnace installed
• No ductwork located in unconditioned space or exterior walls or ductwork in unconditioned space or exterior walls insulated to R-13
• High efficiency fireplace installed or no fireplace included
• Light colored interior walls, ceiling and soffit.  Mid tone to light color flooring
• Duct design complies with Manual D or equivalent
• (2 points) Airflow for each duct run measured and balanced to within 15 CFM of design value

Materials Selection (16 points)

• Reusable foundation forms used to reduce waste
• Reusable foundation bracing not constructed of framing lumber used
• Low toxicity form release agents used on concrete form work
• Provide weather protection for stored materials
• Engineered lumber products used for beams, joists and headers
• Trusses or “I” joists used for roofs
• Optimum Value Engineering framing techniques used
• Continuous drainage plane behind siding
• Insulated sheathing used
• High strength ½ inch drywall substituted for 5/8 inch on ceilings
• Flexible, self adhering rubber flashing installed around windows
• Minimum 25% recycled content insulation
• Recycled content carpet pad (100% of pad used)
• Domestically grown interior wood panel doors
• Domestic hardwood trim
• Foundation insulated with a minimum of 1” of foam

Indoor Air Quality (11 points)

• Garage separated from house by a weather-sealed door to reduce carbon monoxide infiltration
• Foundation drainage system tied to sealed sump pit for potential radon mitigation
• Washed stone installed under basement slab for potential radon mitigation
• Rough in venting provided for potential radon mitigation
• Furnace filters are pleated paper filters
• Quiet spot exhaust fans used
• Clean ducts and furnace thoroughly just before the homeowner moves in
• (2 points) Formaldehyde free insulation
• (1 point each) Low VOC paints used throughout (interior primer/finish).

Waste Reduction, Recycling and Disposal (6 points)

• Posted job site recycling plan
• Recycle or reuse job site waste
• Reuse or recycle concrete rubble
• (2 points) Require subcontractors to participate in waste reduction efforts
• Participate in recycling pilot project with the City of Fitchburg

Builder Operations (5 points)

• At least 80% of homes built to Green Built Home standards annually
• At least one recent action taken to visibly market Green Built Home
• Conduct homebuyer orientation
• At least one recent training event conducted for realtors and/or sales staff
• Provide homeowner with information and enrollment materials for the local utility’s renewable energy program

To receive Green Built certification a home must earn at least 60 points from the Green Built Checklist. Incorporating all of the checklist items listed above will result in a home that earns 76 points.  This provides a suitable margin of error to ensure that all homes will meet the minimum standards established in the checklist.  If a home is built that significantly differs from this document reasonable attempts must be made to ensure that minimum Green Built Home standards are still met.

Green Built Home and/or its partners will randomly check Green Built homes to maintain quality control and program credibility.  At least 10% of registered homes will be checked.  Verification may include testing and require that the builder provide information such as: copies of plans, rating certificates, spec sheets, Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS) as documentation.  Builders may also request a site visit of any of their Green Built homes at any time.