Starburst Construction
This project was a large remodel intended to increase the functionality and the living space of the home for this family of four. It came to us after the design and planning phase.
As many of the renovations involved a major portion of the building envelope and the building systems we knew this would be an opportunity to show that: A. Not only a new house can be GreenPoint Rated and B. Any home can improve its’ energy, health and efficiency.
The owners were on-board and right before demolition we began the rating process, deciding what points could be achieved. When all was said and done we had managed to get 50 points for the project and earned our clients approximately thirty thousand dollars in tax credits, showing that no matter how big or small a project is or at what point in the process you decide to apply green building techniques and materials, it will be beneficial to you, your family and the community.
Here is a breakdown of what we did and how we achieved the rating and the tax credits we did:
A. A. Terry Martin Architects and Associates, as the architect I came in and met with the rater and the contractor to decide what points we could achieve. I then prepared the planning documents as needed.
B. B. Items were deconstructed by Starburst Construction (certified deconstruction company), appraised and donated for re-use.
C. C.. Concrete slab foundation was poured using concrete with fly ash. Adequate venting was installed for Radon considering the slab foundation.
D. D. In framing paralams where we could. All wood was 100% caulked at the top and bottom plates, the exterior plywood seams, all corners, between the floors basically at every penetration. Termite shields were put in place to protect the integrity of the wood as well as OSB plywood sheeting with heat shield on the roofing.
E. E. ERT was called into perform the Asbestos and Lead pre-renovation/demolition survey report of this residence .
F. F. We did not base the insulation on the efficiency of the equipment, but based it on the efficiency of the home and the ducting distribution system. We provided the right amount of air to each room by installing the correct size ducting and balanced dampers. Valley Mechanical developed a strategy for the customer on how to minimize the consumption of the air conditioning by using an Airscape whole house fan that uses 90% less energy than air conditioning does.
G. G. Insulation was sprayed in spyder and batt insulation with an R-value of R-23 in the ceiling, R-19 in the walls and R-19 between the floors.
H. H. All new hot water pipes were insulated and a new tankless water heater was installed, as well as low flow fixtures in the bathroom.
I. The cabinet material used was a PureBond-Veneer Core which is a urea-formaldehyde-free resins product in the core and the lamination adhesives.
J. J. A new GAF composite cool roof was installed on the entire house.
K. K. All fans, appliances and windows are energy star products or have a high enough insulating (R) value to more than qualify for the green points and credits/incentives used.
L. L. The kitchen tops were Caesarstone, a man-made material.
M. M. All lighting installed was compliant to Title 24 and we used fluorescent lights wherever possible. A new attic fan was also installed to help with air circulation and keeping the house cool.
The final project is a beautiful, healthy, functional, efficient home for this family that they love. They can see how a touch of green can really save money, energy (their own and the world’s), resources and their health. Starburst Construction Company, Inc. recreating spaces with a touch of green.
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What Valley Mechanical Corp. is about:
Valley Mechanical has been servicing the entire Bay Area for over 14 years. Our goals have always been simple: provide exceptional customer service, inform our customers of the best solutions on how to improve Energy Savings, Indoor Air Quality and Comfort.
We do this by investing in technology, equipment and training. Our technicians are trained to help reveal any secrets that your HVAC units are keeping from you by using advanced technology and equipment.
At Valley Mechanical Corp., energy efficiency is not just the GREEN thing, it's our passion! Through our retro commissioning program and duct testing we can lower energy bills, reduce down time, decrease premature failure and increase comfort. It is the perfect complement to your routine maintenance. We provide measurable results.
What ERT, Inc. is about:
ERT, Inc is an Environmental & Energy Services Company Specializing in the following environmental safety and health issues all homeowners may face, these are Asbestos, Lead and Mold. We offer Testing of these hazardous materials, Training on the safe handling of these hazards as well as Project Design, Management and Safe Removal of these hazards.
