Green Home by Callidora Homes, LLC
Residences

Featuring homes with Austin Energy’s Green Building Program 5-Star Rating and the U.S. Green Building Council’s LEED for Homes Gold Certification.

Green is more than skin-deep at Bella Vita. Before the first shovel went in the ground, years of planning resulted in a site plan and home designs unrivaled for conservation, energy efficiency, and livability. From the first site sketch to the last construction detail, everything about Bella Vita has been designed to enhance health, comfort and economy for you and your neighbors. Sustainable construction practices — including recycling nearly 100% of the native materials on-site and 80% of construction waste— have been employed throughout, resulting in a truly green community that is not only environmentally responsible, but also healthier and more economical. Green building lowers heating and cooling costs, conserves water, and reduces Home Owner Association fees.

Upon completion, each unit will apply for certification under the U.S. Green Building Council’s Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED®) Program. (LEED® is a registered trademark of the U.S. Green Building Council). In addition, each home will be inspected and certified by Austin’s Green Building Program. As of May 2008, all completed Bella Vita units have received a 5-star Rating and Gold Certification. All future construction will be dedicated to the highest green building standards.

Here are the green features and practices, taken directly from the Green Building Program checklist, that make a Bella Vita home healthier, more comfortable and less expensive to operate.

Basic Requirements For All Ratings:

  • Home design allows a minimum of 500 sq. ft. of living space per ton of cooling, calculated by correct Manual J, based on actual site orientation, plans and specifications
  • Cooling equipment specified and installed matches sizing as determined by Manual J
  • Cooling equipment minimum efficiency: 14.0 SEER for split systems
  • Duct leakage no greater than 10%, as verified by a direct-pressure test, performed by approved 3rd party
  • Pleated –media filters installed in heating and cooling system
  • No unvented gas logs, fireplaces, or heaters installed
  • Air barriers installed on attic side of knee-wall insulation and on interior side of insulation behind tubs, showers and fireplaces located on exterior walls
  • Fluorescent lights (compact or tube) installed in a minimum of 5 light fixtures
  • Ceiling fans: minimum of 2 installed
  • Low VOC interior wall and ceiling paint: maximum VOC level of 150 grams per liter
  • Minimum of 2 toilets selected from current Austin Water Conservation Program Rebate list
  • Current City of Austin IRC, IECC Codes and Amendments must be met, regardless of project location (including prohibition of electric water heaters)

Choice Measures for Points:

Site Selection

  • GBP Green by Design workshop attended by homeowner +/or builder staff
  • Lot size is less than 5,750 sq. ft
  • Public transit stop is within a ¼ mile radius
  • Grocery store is within a ½ mile radius
  • Public hike and bike trail, green belt, or park is within a ½ mile radius

Home Design

  • Documented design team meetings held in design / planning stage
  • Lot has more than one dwelling unit
  • Home design allows for a minimum of 600 square feet of living space per ton of cooling if home is 500 square feet or larger
  • Indoor heating and cooling equipment is located within the thermal enclosure OR home has no interior H+C equipment
  • All duct work is located within the thermal enclosure OR home has no ductwork
  • All water heaters are located within 20 piped feet of appliances and or fixtures they serve
  • Covered, usable porch other than the front porch (minimum: side 6 feet , minimum area: 100 square feet)
  • Raised – heel roof trusses OR sealed attic: un-vented, spray-foam-insulated at rafters, any gas equipment is sealed-combustion
  • Living area is protected by buffer spaces on at least 50 percent of west and south-west walls
  • Glazing on east and west walls combined does not exceed 25 percent of total house glazing area and glazing on west wall does not exceed 20 percent of west wall, likewise for east wall
  • No sky lights into conditioned space

Construction Waste Management

  • Existing home removed from site is reused (whether deconstructed and recycled or moved)
  • Construction waste plan includes minimum 25 percent-by-volume waste used on-site (e.g. mulched)
  • Approved construction waste plan includes three of the following: lumber longer than 2 feet is used/recycled; AND/OR stone, concrete and masonry rubble used/recycled

Building Structure and Enclosure

  • Fill-dirt bags in slab foundation are plastic
  • Slab foundation finish level is at least 12 inches above soil on all sides
  • All exterior wood-to-concrete connections are separated by metal or plastic fasteners/dividers
  • Finger-jointed studs/lumber used for minimum 50 percent wall construction
  • Floor framing system: engineered trusses or materials such as I-joists, truss-joists, LVLs

Thermal and Moisture Control

  • Energy Star windows
  • Energy Star Thermal Bypass Inspection Checklist met; inspected by certified HERS rater
  • “Total fill” insulation in walls (e.g. spray foam)
  • Insulation has no added urea-formaldehyde
  • Attic is within thermal enclosure: un-vented, sealed, spray-foam-insulated at rafters, gas equipment is sealed-combustion
  • Gutter and down spout system direct storm water away from foundation to landscaping

Plumbing and Appliances

  • PEX piping
  • All hot water piping located outside the thermal enclosure OR in/under slab is insulated
  • Gas water heater is sealed-combustion/direct vent model
  • Gas water heater is tank-less/on demand
  • All toilets selected from current CoA water conservation program toilet rebate list
  • Duel-flush OR high-efficiency toilet from current CoA toilet rebate list
  • All bathroom faucets have built-in aerators or restrictors which cannot be removed
  • Dish washer is Energy Star model

Mechanical

  • Cooling system refrigerant is non-R-22
  • R-8 duct insulation
  • Ducts are cut to exact length; original diameter maintained
  • No change in direction in any single duct greater than 180 degrees and no single return greater than 90 degrees
  • Ductwork in attic is placed on attic floor (except in walkway to equipment)
  • Supply-air register location: high on walls or in ceiling; ceiling registers are curved-blade type
  • Pressure-relief for all bedrooms by means of jump ducts, transfer grills, or ducted returns
  • Return-air grille size: minimum face dimension of 200 square inches per ton of cooling; return-air duct size to match air-flow
  • HVAC filter: greater than or equal to 4 inch pleated-media, OR electronic; easily accessed (HVAC system designed for filter type)
  • Mechanical ventilation with damper brings outside air into return air plenum
  • Duct work system is masked/sealed at supplies and returns during construction

Third Party Performance Testing

  • Blower door test performed; results are less than or equal to 0.50 space ACH
  • Air duct system air-flow, static pressure, return-air sizing test performed and standard met
  • House passes combustion safety/back test or test is not required

Electrical

  • Ceiling fans in all main rooms and bedrooms (not required in dining areas)
  • Exhaust fans for cooktop/stoves in any rooms with a tub or shower are vented to exterior
  • Recessed-can lighting fixtures do not break through the thermal enclosure
  • At least five Energy Star electrical fixtures installed
  • Exterior light fixtures are designed to reduce up-lighting/light pollution, or locations are shielded from above

Interior Construction and Finishes

  • Interior molding is finger jointed or MDF
  • At least 75 percent of all cabinet faces are reused; locally milled local species; or FSC-certified wood
  • At least 75 percent are reused; locally milled local species; or FSC-certified wood
  • Finish flooring is durable material or a minimum of 50 percent of all floor area (e.g. ceramic tile, concrete, wood)
  • Flooring is rapidly renewable or reused material for a minimum of 25 percent of all floor area
  • Carpet, carpet padding and flooring adhesives have the CRI green label
  • Interior wall and ceiling paint has a maximum VOC level of 100 grams per liter
  • Doors have leaver handles
  • Carbon monoxide detector installed

Site work and Landscaping

  • Porch decking material is re-cycled-plastic/composite lumber +/ patios are concrete or masonry
  • Turfgrass/lawn area does not exceed 50 percent of pervious cover area
  • Turfgrass/lawn in full sun is GBP-approved low-water variety
  • New plants from current Grow Green plant or Waterwise lists (minimum 90 percent all plants; greater than or equal to 7 plants)
  • Plant-based mulch covers all planting beds to a 2 inch minimum depth
  • All new plants, shrubs and trees have trunk, base or stem located at least 36 inches from foundation
  • Trees are protected with fencing at the drip line; or a tree protection plan by professional arborists is followed

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*Taken directly from the Green Building Program Single Family Rating Submittal & Inspections Form.