Austin Energy Green Building Seminar Notes Archive

December 2007
Construction Waste Management
Because construction waste constitutes 40% of material landfilled each year, the construction industry is positioned to help achieve zero-waste. As new options for diverting and reusing materials become available, the amount of landfill waste will be reduced.

Green Building employee Katie Jensen presented an overview of Austin Energy Green Building’s construction waste management requirements. Then, a panel discussied construction waste management topics, including the development and execution of a Construction Waste Management Plan and re-use opportunities. The panel comprised:

• Jerry Acuna, TRI Recycling
• Ryan Biel, Recon Services
• Casey Covington, Endeavor Real Estate Group
• Eric Ryan, Harvey-Cleary Builders

Local Resources for Construction Waste Management

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October 2007
Networking Event
Every October, Austin Energy Green Building™ hosts a networking event for building professionals.  The networking event takes the place of our regular monthly lunchtime seminar. This event is an opportunity for our participants to share information, catch up on new projects, and meet other green building professionals in a relaxed atmosphere. This year, we had a special guest: David Eisenberg from Tucson, Arizona’s Development Center for Appropriate Technology, or DCAT, stopped by on his way to the Natural Building Colloquium in Kerrville.

To ensure we include your company in next year’s presentation, e-mail your project photos to us anytime.

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September 2007
Natural Building
With the Natural Building Colloquium right around the corner, this seminar covered the basics of natural building. Our main speaker, Architect Gayle Borst of Stewardship, Inc., is one of Austin’s most active natural building proponents.  

A founding member of Design~Build~Live (formerly Sustainable Building Coalition), Gayle has been in involved with natural building in Austin for over 15 years. Our panel consisted of Kindra Welch, Bill Moore, Susan Barnett, Branson Fustes, and Frank Meyer. 

Gayle’s presentation provided an overview of various natural building techniques. Susan and Branson discussed the realities of living in rammed earth homes.  Frank, whose workshop has an earthen floor, talked about the durability and lasting beauty of the floor.  Bill and Kindra both fielded technical questions about natural building and using natural finishes.

View the presentation (pdf)

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August 2007
Inside Green Interiors
Using one of his handmade cabinets as a model, custom woodworker Jeff Mitzel walked us through his personal green process, from design to construction to finishing.  One of Jeff’s main concerns is the off-gassing that occurs from wood glues, paints, and finishes.

Off-gassing happens when the finishing chemicals are exposed to air and begin to dry.  Jeff has extensively researched non-toxic materials made from linseed oil, soy-based glues, and UV finished wood. Texas, unfortunately, has nothing similar to Proposition 65, the California Safe Drinking Water and Toxic Enforcement Act of 1986, which requires the governor’s office to publish, at least annually, a list of chemicals (pdf) known to the State to cause cancer or reproductive toxicity.

Jeff passed around samples of wood and other board materials that were treated with a variety of different finishes, such as magnesium oxide. He’s even found a beautiful board made of reclaimed and compressed sorghum fibers.
FYI - Jeff stocks Plyboo (at about $250 a sheet) and wheatboard in his East Austin shop, GreenAward Custom Woodworking (512-323-6633).

View the presentation (pdf)

Resources
Terra Mai for reclaimed wood
Intersource for local commercial custom furniture

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July 2007
Global Warming, Peak Oil, and the Future of Energy Technology
Roger Duncan, Deputy General Manager of Austin Energy, addressed the relationship between global warming, peak oil, the transportation sector, and renewable energy.

Mr. Duncan has been a leader in energy conservation and environmental policy for over 20 years. Since joining the City of Austin as an employee in 1989, he has overseen the development, implementation, and operation of water and air quality programs, environmental reviews, energy and water conservation programs, hazardous spill response, and home chemical collection. Previously, he served four years as a City Council Member.

Mr. Duncan shared a strategy designed to address the energy needs of the future.

View the presentation (pdf)

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June 2007
The Power of Life Cycle Assessment
Joep Meijer is President of The Right Environment Ltd.Co., an Austin-based sustainability and growth consultancy. Previously, he worked as an environmental engineer in Europe, where he spent over 10 years in the building industry.

Mr. Meijer introduced the Life Cycle Assessment (LCA), a tool designed to quantify the environmental performance of a product, process, or service based on material and energy flows. LCA aims to facilitate environmentally-sound decision making. It also helps avoid undesirable impacts and trade-offs by considering a product, process, or service’s performance over its entire life cycle.

Resources
EPA Life Cycle Assessment Research
Life Cycle Assessment Links
National Renewable Energy Laboratory

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May 2007
The Aesthetics of Green Architecture

When I am working on a problem, I never think about beauty, but when I have finished, if the solution is not beautiful, I know it is wrong.
                                                                       R. Buckminster Fuller

Rich MacMath presented "The Aesthetics of Green Architecture." He discussed the tension between beauty and functionality, and argued both for and against the existence of a green aesthetic. For him, building green comprises many components, including daylighting, sun and shade, materiality, nature, and landscape. He presented case studies for each component and focused on how the functionality of each translated into beauty.

Tom McConnell and Patrick Wong, both experts in architectural photography, participated as panelists. They discussed everything from the inherent “coldness” of commercial buildings, through the affordability of beauty and function, to the growing tendency of “point chasing” in green rating systems.

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April 2007
Highest Rated Home in Austin
Z Works Design/Build owner Khair Zaman presented a case study of the Benavides home, which at the time of its rating, was the highest rated home in Austin.

Homeowner Willow Benavides was on hand to explain how she and her husband met Zaman on the 2003 Cool House Tour. Zaman had a 3-star rated ICF (Insulated Concrete Form) house built around a courtyard on the tour—the style and construction fit well with the Benavides's vision and goals for their own home.

After a long search, the Benavides's found an infill lot in northeast Austin that would work for their U-shaped, courtyard home.

The long, narrow site had few trees, perfect for solar PVs!

Zaman created a rough massing model to explore the light, siting, and volume of the home on the site.

This model helped determine a roof line appropriate for the solar PV system.

The Benavides's had specific needs for their home including:

• Mother-in-law unit
• Study/library
• Office/future bedroom
• Main room open to a courtyard
• Master unit and kid’s bed & bath

They wanted all this to fit into a small home that would feel big and support entertaining and family gatherings.

Durability and low maintenance were important considerations for all the materials, including the ICF walls. Zaman used “Perform Wall” which has 86% recycled content.  The blocks also have a high thermal mass and a 4 hour fire rating. Although they are very durable, the blocks are easy to work with conventional tools and finishing can be directly applied.

Mechanical subcontractor, Buddy Chavers of Minyard services, spoke about how working with Zaman on several projects had changed his outlook about sizing mechanical systems. He also commented on how the tight thermal envelope created by the ICFs affects fresh air intake and exhaust venting.
Read the case study

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Tom Fitzpatrick of the Texas Energy Systems Laboratory (ESL) at Texas A&M University provided an overview of the ESL and an analysis of the 2006 IECC.

The ESL is a unique state of Texas agency that focuses on energy efficiency and emissions reduction. They conduct energy-related research, develop technology, provide technical assistance to state and local government, develop emissions reduction calculations, and implement Continuous Commissioning®. In 2001, Senate Bill 5 (SB 5), assigned ESL an important role in the implementation of state energy standards. They are responsible for:

• Providing energy code support & certification training
• Determining if local energy code amendments are equal to, less than or greater than state standard
• Creating energy-related emissions calculations for codes, and calculating emissions reduction benefits from energy efficiency and renewable energy initiatives

In their analysis of the 2006 IECC, the ESL focused on two major differences:

• Removal of window area impact in a prescriptive approach
• Changes in climate area designations

ESL also ran residential performance analysis based on a standard house to check if and where the 2006 IECC is more or less stringent than 2000/2001IECC.

Shelly Comer and John Umphress of the Austin Energy Green Building program covered local amendments to the code affecting commercial and residential construction and how these changes will affect the Green Building programs.

Resources

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According to the Texas Water Development Board, nine aquifers supply about 97 percent of the groundwater used in Texas. The major aquifers have different annual pumping rates, recharge rates, and projected safe annual availability rates. The other three percent is drawn from 20 minor aquifers. Texans use between 8 and 9 billion gallons of water per day. The aquifers are recharged at a rate of 4 to 5 billion gallons per day. It's easy to see why water is viewed by many as the single most important conservation issue in Texas.

Certainly, water conservation is an essential facet of any long-term water supply strategy. Conservation is the easiest and cheapest way to make our water use sustainable. Water conservation is also a significant factor in energy conservation—it takes energy to produce water so conserving water also saves energy.

A breakdown of energy use by department shows that the Austin Water Utility uses 60% of the total amount of energy used by the City of Austin. Treatment of water and wastewater make up the bulk of the energy use. Nationwide, 8% of all energy is used to pump, treat, and heat water according to the EPA.

Resources

Task Force Water Conservation Recommendations
2007 State Water Plan

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January 2007
Green Building...Austin and Beyond: 2006 in Review by Green Building Program Staff
Our first speaker was Rich MacMath, a registered architect and Residential Program Specialist with our program. His work includes rating and inspecting single-family homes, consulting with architects and builders, conducting workshops on green building for homeowners, and coordinating design and construction of residences for the Zero Energy Homes project.

Rich presented a lot of illuminating information, including the fact that 83% of the world's land surface is under human influence. The effects of humankind's influence on the planet can be seen in the radical increase of carbon dioxide emissions, a leading cause of global warming.

The presentation addressed the concept of "ecological footprints" and the impact on the planet of affluence and our reliance on fossil fuel based technologies. An ecological footprint is defined as the total area of productive land and sea required to provide the resources for, and assimilate the waste of, a defined population (e.g., a nation) at a particular level of consumption. Rich pointed out that the U.S., Canada, and Australia have the biggest ecological feet, yet the U.S. and Australia are the only nations who have declined to ratify the Kyoto Protocol, the global commitment to reduce carbon dioxide emissions.

Since buildings account for 70% of our country's energy usage, Austin Energy and The Green Building Program are helping to reduce energy use in a number of ways, including offering conservation programs, renewable energy options, and rebates.

Our second speaker, Richard Morgan, Manager of the Green Building Program, stressed that our goal is market transformation: we want the construction industry's standard practices to be green. To do that, we work with the leaders in the building industry. We continually raise the bar at the top of the market and then use the building code to bring the rest of the industry with us. Richard also shared local green building highlights from 2006, including:

• The AISD Green Building Initiative, a 2-phase package that will complete five new schools and make improvements to nine existing schools
• The inclusion of green building rating requirements for the residential and commercial components of the Mueller Redevelopment
• The development of new and improved single- and multi-family rating tools
• Nearly 500 people attended Green by Design
• Austin hosted two successful related conferences: Affordable Comfort and Engineering Green Buildings
• PBS' This Old House came to Austin to film its first sustainable remodeling project; the first episode will air February 10 at 5pm on KLRU

Among other notable accomplishments for the year:

• Our Commercial group assisted with several high profile LEED rated projects, including Austin City Hall, Lowes, and the Circle C Fire Station
• We rated 1,049 family homes, or 21% of all home starts

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• Active, walkable, streets
• Building intensity and scale
• Careful transit integration

Considering that Austin’s population is expected to be near 1 million by 2020, with the population in the five county area expected to top 2 million, Austin desperately needs solutions for managing traffic and air quality. Austin is using TOD to guide where and how the city grows in relation to our future commuter rail service. Austin’s City Council adopted the TOD Ordinance, which includes interim development guides for nine TOD districts located around future transit stations, in 2005. TOD will help the city accommodate for and encourage new development and redevelopment around the transit stations in a way that creates active, pedestrian-oriented areas and promotes the use of public transit. Hopefully, using TOD will slow suburban sprawl by creating diverse and lively urban environments where residents can access their daily needs without the use of a car. View Sonya’s Powerpoint Presentation

Molly’s presentation centered around the on-going master planning effort for the North Burnet/Gateway district. This area includes IBM, some University of Texas property, and The Domain development, among others. Diverse stakeholders such as developers, cyclist groups, Capital Metro, elected officials, and home and property owners were interviewed to get a sense of how the community wanted the area to be developed. A week-long charette allowed community representatives to participate in a visioning process to determine future development in the area. Key findings of the interviews and charette process included a strong interest in mixed-use buildings with more residential and green space, along with an urban-style design focus. View Sonya’s Powerpoint Presentation

Resources

City of Austin Transit-Oriented Development
North Burnet/Gateway Project

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November 2006
Marketing Green Building
Our first presenter was John Stovall, Vice President of Business Development for EcoBroker International. EcoBroker offers a certification designation for licensed realtors who complete the EcoBroker curriculum: EcoBroker Environmental Advantage(TM), EcoBroker Energy Advantage(TM), and EcoBroker Green Market Advantage(TM).

Ecobroker International is actively forming partnerships with real estate organizations around the country, including the Austin Board of Realtors. Currently, there are two EcoBroker-certified realtors in Austin: Steve Gardner and Marjory Gentsch. John discussed the advantages of working with a realtor who is knowledgeable about green building and energy efficiency. The builder benefits by having an educated realtor working with buyers and the buyers benefit from the realtor’s familiarity with green and energy efficient home features.

Pat Goolsby, our second presenter, is President of Criterion Mortgage, a mortgage broker with offices in Houston and San Antonio that specializes energy efficient mortgages. Pat is a Licensed Mortgage Broker with 25 years experience and is currently President-Elect of the San Antonio Chapter of the Texas Association of Mortgage Brokers.

Pat’s presentation covered the history and advantages of the energy efficient mortgage program. Energy efficiency improvements raise the appraisal value of the house, which may allow the builder to recapture any costs associated with installing energy efficient features. Homeowners interested in buying an energy efficiency-rated house may qualify for a higher mortgage because the broker considers the energy savings inherent in the home and, based on the monthly energy cost savings, allows homebuyers to obtain a higher mortgage. View Pat’s Powerpoint Presentation.

Resources

Austin EcoBrokers
EcoBrokers International
Energy Efficient Mortgages
Fannie Mae Energy Efficient Mortgages
Energy Efficient Mortgage Home Owner Guide

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October 2006
Green Building Program Networking Party
Once again, the Networking Party was a great success. The brief rain just before 6:00 p.m. made traffic hell but cooled things off pretty nicely. We had a lot green-builders-in-training (kids) at the party this year, which was a departure from recent years, but fun just the same. Thanks to everybody who came out! We hope you had a chance to make some new contacts. Be sure your company is represented in the presentation next year— e-mail those project photos to us any time!

Photos from the 2006 Green Building Program Networking Party

Susan Barnett, LEED AP, and GBP staff Russell Shaver try to get Bill Moore's autograph -- Bill is working with This Old House on a series of shows about a green Austin home remodel.		Richard Huffman of Huffman Homes and Rich MacMath, GBP staff member, discuss deep green ideas. Richard is set to break ground on Austin's first co-housing project in 2007.
Khair Zaman of Z Works Design/Build with daughter, Sara, wife Tuulikki Ylostalo, and new baby, Zoe. Z Works recently completed a 5-star home that is in the running for the most points ever earned in a rated single family project. Stay tuned!		Wanki Kim, AIA, from Eckols & Associates with GBP staff Liana Kallivoka, AIA, and architect Bill Vandersteel. Eckols & Associates is seeking a LEED Platinum rating for Austin's new Ronald McDonald House located near the Dell Childrens Hospital.
JD Holt with baby Riley and long-time green building advocate, Bill Christianson of Sustainable Sources. JD was recently featured in Mainstream Green, an article from ProSales.		Steve Gardner of Steve Gardner Properties with wife Ann. Steve is a Realtor who recently completed the EcoBroker training. He is one of only four EcoBrokers registered in Texas.
Bobby Zirkel and Adam Lucas of Shelter Design and Construction keep Bobby's grandson Sam occupied while discussing business with Amy Jameson of Jameson Interiors.		Smith Holt, AIA, tells fellow architect and GBP staff Shelly Comer, about the amazing 5-star addition to his 1950's house. Read all about it in our new Case Study.
One of the Green Building Program's first members, Ben Obregon, Architect hangs on to kids Kaleb and Maya and catches up with GBP staff Mary McLeod.		[L to R]Russ Shaver, Rich MacMath, John Umphress, Dick Peterson, Mary McLeod. Front row: Toye Goodson, Katie Jensen, Maureen Scanlon, Jaya Jackson and Lisa Nutt.

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