Materials. Here’s where dealers can really sink their teeth into the guidelines, though they might be a bit discouraged (or perhaps enlightened) to learn that Holt, for one, bypassed the option of combining several structural components in favor of structural insulated panels (SIPs). “If I would have gone with a standard-framed house … I think it would have been more difficult to get finger-jointed studs,” he says, naming one of the framing component options offered. That’s because, in part, he knew of only a few local sources for the alternative wall studs.
Holt purchased his SIPs package for the roof and walls of his home directly from a manufacturer. Had he chosen a more conventional system, he would have been required to specify not only the finger-jointed studs, but also at least half of his lumber and plywood as FSC-certified material. In addition, he would have been unable to use 2×10 or larger-dimension sawn lumber for the roof or floor frame (replaced instead by I-joists and engineered beams), and would have had to employ some sort of advanced framing technique, such as Optimum Value Engineering or 24-inch on-center framing, to earn not only points, but also to achieve the tight shell he needed to maintain his desired energy rating.
Among Holt’s other material choices were a composite decking material, engineered interior trim, and bamboo and cork flooring finishes throughout the house. What little lumber he did need to supplement the SIPs system he bought as recycled stock from a local Habitat for Humanity ReStore outlet.
Had he elected to also earn points for interior doors and cabinets, Holt would have been looking for sources, ideally local, that could supply those products featuring wood that was reused, FSC-certified, or from a local timber species.
Water. Among the 17 choices afforded Austin green builders in this category, few concern dealers that have turned their focus to LBM and millwork products and allowed specialty outlets and big box home centers to fill the void. “Most of the old lumberyards have narrowed their focus and have limited stock, if also lower prices,” says Holt, who sourced LBM products from a local 84 Lumber operation and The Home Depot, and other products from local specialty shops and directly over the Internet. “The DIY building supply houses had more range and tended to stock, rather than special-order, green-qualified products.”
84 Lumber’s Austin location focuses mostly on lumber, doors, and windows, but is ready (within that scope) to supply the products green builders need. “Those looking to build green have done their homework and know what they need [to comply],” says sales associate Tim McPherron. “The questions we get are ‘Can you get it?’ and ‘How long will it take?’”
For pro dealers delving in major appliances and plumbing fixtures, the Austin program guidelines require dishwashers that use less than 7 gallons of water per load or are Energy Star–qualified, while toilets must meet a local water utility’s standard for water use. The category also awards points for on-demand hot water recirculation systems and gutter systems that effectively direct rainwater away from the home’s foundation.
Health & Safety. For the most part, this category’s six subsections and 25 overall specification options focus on indoor air quality, humidity control, and pest management—areas that typically bypass what an LBM dealer stocks … until you take a closer look. For example, the category includes construction adhesives and paints, both of which must contain no volatile organic compounds (VOCs) or must be be low-VOC to earn points for the builder. Insulation, meanwhile, must be formaldehyde free, as do the structural and finish components of the cabinets. For pest control, wood framing up to 3 feet from grade must be treated with borates or substituted for a non-wood alternative, among other options.
As further evidence that green building as a concept is also about improving comfort and livability around the home, Austin green builders can earn a point each for installing lever handles (rather than knobs) on doors, and grab bars and anti-scald devices in tubs and showers, as part of an aging-in-place subcategory—presenting another opportunity (albeit small) for dealers to help their green-minded builders make the grade.
Community. The Austin program’s final category for compliance deals with quality-of-life issues and stemming urban sprawl, awarding points for features such as a covered front porch of at least 100 square feet, a home office with a dedicated entry, the use of water-pervious driveway and walkway materials, and down-lit exterior light fixtures, among other line items. A savvy dealer can find sales opportunities in all of these examples, whether the yard keeps the products in stock or knows where and how to source them quickly and affordably. “Part of our job is to offer choices and options to our customers to earn points [for green building],” says McPherron, such as composite decking instead of treated lumber for those porch points.