Mark your calendar for February 17, 2009. The Jackson Association of Home Builders is offering a Certified Green Professional – CGP course for home builders.
The designation requires 24 hours of NAHB-approved training, and additional continuing education every two years. Subjects covered in training discuss how green homes provide buyers with lower energy costs and higher value, and will include strategies for incorporating green-building principles into homes without driving up the cost of construction.
When: 2/17/2009 – 2/18/2009
8:30AM – 4:30PM
Where: Ridgeland , MS
HBA of Jackson
195 Charmant Drive
Other Locations & Times: View All
NAHB Member Fee: $275
Non-member Fee: $350
Contact Information:
Spence Tribble
HBA of Jackson
195 Charmant Drive
Ridgeland, MS 39157
Phone: 601-362-6501
Fax: 601-982-7684
E-Mail Address: spence@hbajackson.com
Instructor(s): Thomas Gotschall
Sponsoring HBA: HBA of Jackson
The National Park Service (NPS) has joined with the U.S. Department of the Interior (DOI) and the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) to establish an innovative partnership called Energy SmartPARKS. This partnership will showcase sustainable energy practices in national parks and inspire a green energy future for America.
See a list of the Energy SmartPARKS proposed projects here.
The Energy SmartPARKS program will include such efforts as conducting energy audits, retrofitting lighting, replacing windows and furnaces, upgrading meters and thermostats, purchasing electric utility vehicles, and studying the feasibility of installing wind power.
In his second visit to Jackson, Purdue University educator Dale Koehler shared his expertise in a Green Building Technology Seminar at the HBAJ education center. The 3 hour lecture covered the importance of maintaining a tight building envelope and as a Certified Green Professional he introduced some basic information about the NAHB Green Building Guidelines and introduced EPA’s Energy Star program. During the session a “builders only” drawing was won by contractors Chris Parrow, CPB and Justin Ewing, CPB of Ewing-Parrow Construction, Inc. The prize, a one hour onsite building inspection and review, allowed the builder to go one-on-one with Dale at their jobsite.
Pictured: left to right, Chris Parrow, Dale Koehler, Justin Ewing.
If you are considering buying an older home or you currently live in one it only takes a few minutes to seal those drafty cracks and save on your energy bills.
Hidden air leaks cause some of the largest heat losses in older homes. Common air leakage sites include:
* Plumbing penetrations through insulated floors and ceilings
* Chimney penetrations through insulated ceilings and exterior walls
* Fireplace dampers
* Attic access hatches
* Recessed lights and fans in insulated ceilings
* Wiring penetrations through insulated floors, ceilings, and walls
* Missing plaster
* Electrical outlets and switches, especially on exterior walls
* Window, door, and baseboard moldings
* Dropped ceilings above bathtubs and cabinets
The best material for sealing these hidden air leaks depends on the size of the gaps and where they are located. Caulk is best for cracks and gaps less than about 1/4″ wide.
Expanding foam sealant is an excellent material to use for sealing larger cracks and holes that are protected from sunlight and moisture. Today’s products are safe for atmospheric ozone. Backer rod or crack filler is a flexible foam material, usually round in cross-section (1/4″ to 1″ in diameter), and sold in long coils. Use it for sealing large cracks and to provide a backing in very deep cracks that are to be sealed with caulk.
Use rigid foam insulation for sealing very large openings such as plumbing chases and attic hatch covers. Fiberglass insulation can also be used for sealing large holes, but it will work better if wrapped in plastic or stuffed in plastic bags, because air can leak through exposed fiberglass. Specialized materials such as metal flashing and high-temperature silicone sealants may be required for sealing around chimneys and flue pipes. Check with me if you’re unsure about fire-safe details in these locations.
We provide comprehensive energy efficiency inspections.
There are more reasons to living in a energy efficient environment than saving money. Unfortunately, we’re mostly motivated by the dollar. So, when we talk about going green it would be smart to focus on showing how building smart can help you save through homeowner education, awareness and participation. The challenge will lie, like it so often does, in change.
Change is hard and in more times than not comes slowly. The barometer for the most savings when building green will be in the hands of the homeowner. If we build new and improved features, designs and components and the homeowner fails to maintain a conscience effort to enforce good habits the dollars they expect and the benefits we promote will be dramatically reduced.
We live in a world of absolutes and instant information. We want it now and we want hard cold facts. Green Building and saving energy is going to be largely dependent on the person responsible for keeping the doors and windows shut, the home caulked, the water turned off, the thermostat correctly set, and a host of other operational devices.
Yes, it is true that the building will perform better without much homeowner participation. But, to get the highest and best use of the money spent “successful” green building will largely be defendant on how well we stay focused. At least focused long enough to change our “old” habits into becoming new ways of living. Green building then will have become green living and the savings we realize will be a nice by-product.
