When Dave Porter and his wife Anna agreed to reduce the environmental impact their lifestyle was having on the planet they started with trading their Jaguar for a Prius, sold their large home and moved into a condo in a green community.

In 2006, Dave and Anna Porter decided to renovate their 100-year old beachfront property they now call Going Green At The Beach (GGATB) home. Located on a 30-foot-wide waterfront parcel at Warm Beach in Snohomish County, Washington, this ramshackle house was transformed into an energy-efficient, environmentally responsible home that would meet the strictest green home building guidelines while providing a beautiful, affordable and comfortable living space.

Challenge

The old home, originally constructed in 1907, was experiencing significant wood rot, poor energy efficiency and vermiculite ceiling insulation. These were only few of the factors that inspired the Porters to re-build their home during its centennial year.

“Being huge green building advocates ourselves, we couldn't even consider building our new dream home with anything but the greenest of building products possible,” explain Dave and Anna Porter. They planned to build a ‘Deep Green' demonstration home that was an example of environmental stewardship, meeting or exceeding the requirements set forth by 5 major Green Building Programs: Built Green^™, ENERGY STAR^® Home, American Lung Association^® Health House^®, Environments for Living^® and LEED^® for Homes.

Solution

Builder Chaffey Homes carefully planned every detail in the house so that materials could enhance the comfort level of the home and offer long-term environmental and cost benefits. To achieve these objectives, Chaffey Homes selected a variety of building products such as low VOC paints, vegetated green roof, dual flush toilets, Compact Fluorescent Lighting, and more. They also selected Icynene^®, a proven insulation and air-barrier system widely known for its energy-efficient and environmentally-friendly benefits.

Dave and Anna even consulted Diane Glenn, green consultant of Construction Consultants of Washington, to see how Icynene^® insulation contributes to the certifications they were aiming for. According to Diane, “Icynene^® was most suitable for the project because of its great air-sealing properties, consistent application in the walls and “green” features such as no harmful toxins for the installers, homeowners or the environment.”

Icynene Licensed Dealer, Progressive Insulation Company, sprayed Icynene^® in the walls at 5.5” thickness providing an R-value of R-20. The ceilings were insulated at R-36 and the garage ceiling was sprayed at 3.5” providing thermal value of R-13.

Icynene^® helped contribute points to five Green Building Programs:

Built Green^™ Program

• Energy Efficiency: Icynene^® expands to 100 times its initial volume to fill every nook and cranny creating an effective air-seal for a tight building envelope. As a qualified air barrier, Icynene^® does not allow random air-leakage helping in the rightsizing of the mechanical system that will save building owners up to 50% in heating and cooling costs.
• Indoor Air Quality: Icynene^® is 100 percent water-blown and contains no ozone-depleting substances, PBDEs or formaldehyde. Icynene^® reduces the intrusion of outdoor allergens, odors, pollutants and provides better indoor air quality.
• Icynene^® also minimizes moisture intrusion especially in a beachfront home where indoor relative humidity levels will be higher than normal. Combined with proper mechanical ventilation, Icynene^® helps maintain the indoor relative humidity between 35% and 50% - a level at which the growth of mildew, mold and other allergens can be minimized.

LEED^® for Homes Program

• Minimized construction waste: As an open-celled material, Icynene^® is easily compacted, dramatically reducing the waste volume in comparison to other insulation materials. Icynene^® also provides a significant barrier to airflow without the need for additional sealing materials.

• Locally manufactured: Icynene^® foam is Dealer manufactured, in the exact volume required, right on the job site.

American Lung Association^® Health House^® Guidelines

• Minimizes the intrusion of outdoor allergens and pollutants: Icynene^® spray foam expands to 100 times its initial volume, curing within seconds. Unlike fiber glass batts, the foam seeps into every gap and crevice creating a superior air-seal.
  
• Delivers advanced moisture management: Icynene^® is an open-cell foam, which allows it to minimize moisture build-up and related problems, such as mold growth or sick building syndrome.
  
• Reduces environmental impact: In its cured form, Icynene^® neither off-gas nor loses its R-value providing longevity and upholding the principle of sustainable construction.

Environments For Living^® Program

Icynene^® was applied as per the Environments For Living^® Program and in accordance with the Building Science rules for a comfortable and durable home.

ENERGY STAR^®

This home is Northwest ENERGY STAR qualified. 70% of lights installed in the GGATB home are Compact Fluorescent Lights. In addition, the tight building envelope helps in stopping energy robbing air leakage.

The Porters say, “We initially chose Icynene^® for its environmentally-friendly composition but we were pleasantly surprised to learn that Icynene^® can help us reduce our energy consumption by up to 50% which is better for our environment and our pocketbooks too.”

Results

Dave and Anna's new home, “Going Green at the Beach,” is the first, in the area, to meet the requirements of five residential green building certification programs: Built Green^™, ENERGY STAR^® Home, American Lung Association^® Health House^®, Environments for Living^® and LEED^® for Homes. The home is applying also for certification with NAHB's National Green Building Standards.

Construction of this “Deep Green” home was completed in September of 2007 when it opened its doors as a demonstration home for green designs, systems and materials to help others experience its benefits. The GGATB home is nominated for “The Golden Nugget Award” for the Pacific Coast Builder Show; the National Association of Home Builders “Green Building Award”; and the American Institute of Architects “What Makes It Green” Award with more to follow.

Homeowners Dave and Anna Porter say “We're looking forward to years of sustainable living with the help of Icynene^®.” They are so happy with the results from Icynene^® that they recommend it to everyone who cares for healthy indoor air quality and superior air-seal and insulation—both issues that green building projects must overcome.

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