First NAHB Green Certified Alabama Home Constructed with
AdvanTech® Flooring and ZIP System® Roof and Wall Sheathing
In early 2009, custom homebuilder, Jeremy Friedman, of Kaloosa Builders broke new ground with the first green-certified home in Alabama under the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) National Green Building Program™. The 3,600-square foot spec home in Fairhope, Ala. not only received a gold rating, it became only the 173rd home nationwide to qualify for any rating since the NAHB National Green Building Program was created in 2005.
The NAHB National Green Building Program uses a points system to certify green building and remodeling residential projects as bronze, silver or gold based on energy, water and resource efficiency, lot and site development, indoor environmental quality, home owner education, and global impact. Friedman used a variety of building practices and products including AdvanTech® flooring and ZIP System® roof and wall sheathing to earn 439 points and a gold rating for the build.
“There was no precedent for building a home in Alabama that was rated by the NAHB National Green Building Program,” said Friedman. “However, we worked closely with both the Baldwin County and National Association of Home Builders to clearly understand the guidelines necessary to earn green certification. An important factor in the rating process was energy efficiency and indoor air quality, which led us to use the ZIP System roof and wall sheathing. I believed it was the right decision after a blower test showed .11 air-change per hour, far exceeding the .25 air-change per hour that is the widely accepted industry standard.”
ZIP System roof and wall sheathing eliminate the need for housewrap and felt. ZIP System structural roof and wall panels have built-in protective barriers. When used with ZIP System™ tape, the ZIP System wall sheathing provides a code recognized, water resistive barrier and air barrier all-in-one for superior moisture protection and enhanced energy efficiency. The combination of these factors allowed Friedman to control air flow and air quality in the home, ultimately benefitting the homeowner. The ZIP System wall and roof panels did not require felt or housewrap and were easily installed with the ZIP System tape, providing a 120-day rough dry-in.
The decision for Friedman to use AdvanTech flooring on the project was three-fold, that is, he needed a subfloor that provided superior moisture resistance, superior strength and stiffness and high quality and service, resulting in a quiet, stiff floor for the homeowners. AdvanTech flooring has a greater water resistance, design bending strength and stiffness than commodity OSB and plywood, providing superior quality and the best warranty in the business-a limited 50 year transferable warranty and a 300-day no-sanding guarantee. Furthermore, Advantech flooring diminishes floor squeaks, bounce and moisture-related construction delays, resulting in a quality build and a satisfied homeowner.
“I believe AdvanTech flooring is very stiff and features clear fastening guides, which allowed installation to go smoothly,” said Friedman. “In my opinion, there were no issues with cupping, delamination or swelling, and I’m confident the homeowner will enjoy quiet floors for many years. In addition, AdvanTech flooring, like ZIP System® products, is certified as a sustainable product.”
Huber’s environmental commitment at the manufacturing level was pivotal in Friedman’s selection of AdvanTech flooring and ZIP System roof and wall sheathing. All of Huber’s mills are certified by the Sustainable Forestry Initiative (SFI), promoting sustainable forestry practices through procurement programs and research initiatives, as well as logger and landowner outreach. In addition, each Huber plant employs state-of-the-art environmental control equipment and maintains strict control standards to ensure that the manufacturing of Huber products has a minimal impact on the environment.
More than building the first home in Alabama certified by the NAHB National Green Building Program, Friedman takes pleasure in helping expose the local building community to more building practices that can allow others to earn points. Visit www.nahbgreen.org, www.fairhopegreenhome.com and, www.advantechperforms.com and www.zipsystem.comfor more information on the home and the products critical to its green building certification.