RDI's Commitment to Green Building Technology
Green Building
Features
• Advisory team of green building experts
• Sustainable site selection and development
• Water conserving plumbing fixtures and dishwashers
• Material efficient framing
• Environmentally preferable materials:
- - Bamboo Flooring is installed
when grant funds are available. Bamboo matures in 3 years
- - -
- making it a renewable resource unlike hardwoods.
- - Cement based siding, which
is more environmentally friendly than vinyl, is installed
when - - - grant funds are
available.
• Recycled and locally made building components are
utilized when feasible.
• Recycled or minimized construction waste
• Energy Star Homes
Energy
Star Homes Program
All houses built by RDI’s Home Ownership Program
since the year 2000 have earned the Energy Star. The homes
are less expensive to heat and light, healthier to live
in, and better for the environment than conventionally built
homes.
Energy
Star Homes is a program of U.S. Environmental Protection
Agency (EPA). The EPA’s initiative is supported in
our region by the National Grid and the Western Massachusetts
Electric Company. Energy Star qualified homes are five-star
rated and nationally recognized for greater value, lower
operating costs, and increased durability, comfort, and
safety. The program requires that homes be 30% more efficient
in heating, cooling, and hot water than the building code
requires.
• The HERS (Home Energy Rating System) score must
be at least 86 (which is 30% above the code at 80). RDI
houses rate from 88.5 to 91.5.
RDI works with the Conservation
Services Group (CSG), an administrator of the Energy
Star Homes program in the Northeast.
Energy
Star Features
• Indirect hot water
tanks: In all RDI homes, the water is heated in the boiler
and then flows to a super insulated storage tank. In a typical
hot water tank the water is heated and then is re-heated
each time it cools down. With an indirect hot water tank
the water is heated one time. Combined with a high efficiency
boiler this is one of the least expensive ways to heat water.
• Increased insulation: RDI uses dense pack blown-in
dry cellulose insulation in its houses. Cellulose is manufactured
locally from recycled newspapers. The dense pack R 19 in
the walls and R 38 in the ceilings reduces air flow and
sound transference. R values measure resistance to heat
flow. The higher the R-value, the more insulating performance.
• Mechanical ventilation: The Energy Star Homes motto
is BUILD TIGHT, VENTILATE RIGHT! A house that is built tight
requires ventilation to keep the indoor air quality healthy.
A continuous quiet exhaust fan mounted in the bathroom draws
outdoor air into the house and exhausts stale air in a controlled
manner.
• Controlling air flow in the unconditioned basement
by: sealing the sill plate, piping air to the boiler, weather
stripping the basement door, insulating interior bulk head
doors
• Insulating heat and hot water pipes, orienting
houses for maximum solar gain, & installing windows
with Low e argon glazing & triple weather stripping
with U-value of 0.28.
Photovoltaic
Systems
In 2005 RDI began installing photovoltaic (solar electric)
systems on houses with appropriate southern exposure using
grants from the Massachusetts Technology Collaborative in
cooperation with the Conservation Services Group.
LEED for Homes
The Rural Development, Inc. Home Ownership Program is participating
in a pilot program of the LEED® (Leadership in Energy
and Environmental Design) Green Building Rating SystemTM
which is a voluntary, consensus-based national standard
for developing high-performance, sustainable buildings.
Members of the U.S. Green Building Council representing
all segments of the building industry developed LEED and
continue to contribute to its evolution. The U.S. Green
Building Council is the nation’s foremost coalition
of leaders from across the building industry working to
promote buildings that are environmentally responsible,
profitable, and healthy places to live and work. RDI is
participating in the pilot program that is developing national
standards for residences. In addition, This rating system
includes seven categories, 1) Location, 2) Sustainable sites,
3) Water efficiency, 4) Indoor environmental quality, 5)
Materials and Resources, 6) Energy and Atmosphere, and 7)
Home owner education. RDI is serving on the LEED for Homes
Affordable Housing Working Group.
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