Green Building
Additional Reference Materials
FEMA Documents
Coastal Construction Manual(144M): This manual is intended to help
design professionals, state and local officials, and builders mitigate natural
hazards to residential buildings in coastal areas. The manual presents state-of-the-art engineering techniques
for siting, design, construction, and maintenance. These recommendations are
aimed at reducing damage from natural hazard events, including hurricanes,
northeasters, and other coastal storms.
For additional information, please refer to the following website: http://www.fema.gov/rebuild/mat/mat_trans.shtm.
Homebuilder's Guide to Coastal Construction(13M): FEMA
has produced a series of 31 illustrated fact sheets that provide technical
guidance and recommendations concerning the construction of coastal residential
buildings. The fact sheets, intended primarily for building contractors working
in coastal areas, present information aimed at improving the performance of
buildings subject to flood and wind forces in coastal environments. The fact
sheets make extensive use of photographs and drawings to illustrate National
Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) regulatory requirements, the proper siting of
coastal buildings, and recommended design and construction practices. These
practices address structural connections, the building envelope, utilities, and
accessory structures. For
additional information, please refer to the following website: http://www.fema.gov/rebuild/mat/mat_trans.shtm.
Homeowner's Guide to Retrofitting: Six Ways to Protect Your House From Flooding(6.5M): If your house has been flooded, or if you know that your house is in a flood hazard area, you should take action to avoid future flood damage. As a homeowner, you need clear information about methods you can use to reduce flood damage to your home, and you need straightforward guidance on selecting the method that is best for you. FEMA's Homeowner's Guide to Retrofitting explains the damage-reduction methods that are available, discusses the degree to which they work, and helps you decide whether they meet your needs. This publication is for readers who have little or no knowledge of flood protection methods or building construction techniques. For additional information, please refer to the following website: http://www.fema.gov/rebuild/mat/mat_trans.shtm.
Sowing Green Collaborative
Sowing Green (www.sowinggreen.org) is an Atlanta-based nonprofit collaborative of sustainable building
practitioners who provide information and education about sustainable building
practices. This organization
partnered with the Grand Bay NERR's Coastal Training Program to conduct the
workshop, Green Building is Storm Resistant. Sowing Green
staff used the term "passive survivability" to illustrate storm
resistance. Passive survivability
is defined as a building's ability to maintain
livable conditions in the event of extended power outages, interruptions of
fuel supply, or loss of water and sewer services. Storm resistant construction means that not only should
buildings utilize materials that withstand high winds and water damage and be
placed in low impact areas, they should also be livable in conditions where
access to local infrastructure is limited or temporarily non-existent, such as
after a hurricane. Solar power,
natural ventilation, and rainwater collection strategies are just a few
examples of sustainable, passive survivability features. For more information about
passive survivability, please refer to the article, Passive
Survivability: A New Design
Criterion for Buildings.
Links
Energy Savers:
Energy Savers (www.energysavers.gov
) is sponsored by the U.S. Department of Energy and is
a tool for homeowners, contractors and builders, building managers, realtors,
state agencies, and industry managers.
The website provides a comprehensive list of links to resources including
(but not limited to) energy saving products and practices for homes and
businesses, tax credit information, building toolboxes, energy solutions for
buildings, and energy efficient mortgages.
Energy Star:
Energy Star (www.energystar.gov
) is a joint program of the U.S. Environmental
Protection Agency and the U.S. Department of Energy that provides product
information to people to help them save money and protect the environment. Consult this website (http://www.energystar.gov/index.cfm?fuseaction=find_a_product) for Energy Star rated home and business products and
appliances. The site also includes
information about purchasing and local distributors.
Residential
Energy Services Network (RESNET): The Residential Energy Services Network (www.natresnet.org) was created to develop a national
market for home energy rating systems and energy efficient mortgages. The organization's activities are
guided by a steering committee composed of leading national mortgage executives. Home energy ratings are recognized tools
in the mortgage industry.
According to the organization's website, an energy mortgage is a
mortgage that credits a home's energy efficiency in the home loan. For an energy efficient home, it could
mean giving the home buyer the ability to buy a higher quality home because of
the lower monthly energy bills associated with the home. For homes in which energy efficiency
can be improved, the money saved in utility bills can be used to finance energy
improvements. For more information
about energy ratings and mortgages, please consult this website: http://www.natresnet.org/ratings.
U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC): The U.S. Green Building Council www.usgbc.org is a coalition of building industry leaders who work
to promote buildings that are environmentally responsible, profitable, and
healthy places to live and work.
USGBC offers information about Leadership in Energy and Environmental
Design (LEED) Green Building Rating System and provides resources for training
and certification. The USGBC
offers LEED workshops and on-line training modules. For additional information about training opportunities,
please visit the USGBC's training website: http://www.usgbc.org/DisplayPage.aspx?CMSPageID=283&.