Testing Sustainable Building Materials and Practices during Gulf Coast Reconstruction
EPA Grant Number: R833347Title: Testing Sustainable Building Materials and Practices during Gulf Coast Reconstruction
Investigators: Geibig, Jack , Walsh, Bill , Wilt, Catherine
Institution: University of Tennessee’s Center for Clean Products and Clean Technologies and the Healthy Building Network
EPA Project Officer: Bauer, Diana
Project Period: February 1, 2007 through January 31, 2010
Project Amount: $295,970
RFA: Collaborative Science And Technology Network For Sustainability (2006)
Research Category: Pollution Prevention/Sustainable Development
Description:
Objective:In collaboration with architects and national green building experts, the University of Tennessee’s Center for Clean Products and Clean Technologies and the Healthy Building Network, will develop a list of environmentally preferred building materials and products for the building of modular and prefabricated housing. Materials will be evaluated using a set of environmental and health-based criteria to be developed by a small group of materials and building experts. Criteria will stress a precautionary type of approach. The materials list will then be used by at least one manufacturer to develop, manufacture, and build on-site one or more demonstration homes. Data will be collected on the types and quantities of materials used in the traditional and green modular housing units, as well as all manufacturing and installation processes. An environmental assessment will be conducted comparing the life-cycle environmental footprint of the traditional house with that of the newly designed and constructed house made of sustainable and more environmentally benign building materials. Projected environmental benefits associated with the full- scale production of the green building will be estimated.
Supplemental Keywords:Clean technologies, green building, environmentally conscious manufacturing, Southeast, EPA Region 4, EPA Region 6, Mississippi, Gulf Coast, sustainable industry/business, sustainable development, alternative materials, clean manufacturing, cleaner production, energy conservation, indoor air, health affects, human health, pollution prevention, alternatives, community-based decision making, green design, green process systems, life-cycle analysis,
Relevant Websites:
http://www.epa.gov/ncer/events/news/2007/07_24_07_awards.html