Design
Patterns and Recommendations
14.
Interior
–
Finishing first in efficiency
Interior finishes and details offer tremendous opportunity for resource
efficiency. Perhaps the most
resource-efficient measure is to avoid the use of materials altogether. For example, drywall wrap details offer an
attractive finish without the use of window trim. Some
structural materials can serve as both structure and finish, offering material, and thus
cost, savings. Numerous interior finish
materials contain recycled content, ranging from carpet and tile to wallboard and paint. Reused building materials such as doors, flooring,
and hardware are especially resource-efficient choices.
 The realm of interior finishes also is an area where indoor air quality
concerns come strongly into play. Although
especially sensitive people will need to test their compatibility with specific materials
individually, some general principles of material selection can help promote indoor air
quality.
Recommendations:
§ Specify interior finishes made from recycled material, or use structural
materials as finishes.
§ Consider salvaged materials for interiors, such as doors, wood flooring, or
salvaged wood stair treads.
§ Choose low-VOC or zero-VOC finish products, including water-based paint.
§ Select composite and laminated materials with formaldehyde-free adhesives.
§ Minimize carpeted area in favor of hard-surface flooring to promote indoor
air quality.
Reference:
§ American Lung Association: Indoor Air Quality
§ Health
Canada web page: Indoor Air Quality
§ Guide to Resource-Efficient Building Elements
§ Paint--A Factsheet from Austin Energy’s Green Building Program
Applied in Case
Studies:
§ Casa
Verde Builders
§ Casas de Don Juan
§ Emeryville Resourceful Building Project
§ GreenHOME I
§ Metro Denver HFH “Green” Program
§ O’Brien –
Cunningham Home
§
The
Vista at Kensington Park
Additional Examples:
§ Carl Franklin Homes
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