Building Materials Options

Sustainable Building Review Guidelines. Building Materials Options dated 05/15/04, verified as current on 6/12/07. Items marked with an asterisk (*) were amended from the 11/04/03 version.

How to read this list#

• Preferred — Nothing is "required". Strongly encouraged and pre-approved.
• Conditional — Generally approved, relative to context and other alternatives.
• Prohibited — Not approved.

Foundations#

Preferred#

• "Faswall" (light weight dry-stack concrete and wood chip units)
• ICFs (Insulated Concrete Forms)
• "Superior Walls" (pre-engineered, pre-cast and insulated concrete walls)
• Aerated concrete
• Natural stone
• Rubble trench foundations
• Boric acid termite protection
• Stainless steel micro-screen termite protection

Conditional#

• CMUs (Concrete Masonry Units)
• Poured concrete

Prohibited#

• Pressure treated wood
• Tires
• Toxic chemical termite treatment

Note: All foundation walls, unvented and conditioned crawl space walls, and floor slabs are required to be insulated.

Structural walls#

Preferred#

• Post and beam (bolted steel bracket connections)
• Timber-frame (mortise and tenon joints)
• 2×6 wood frame (finger-jointed preferred)
• 2×4 wood frame (with rigid insulation envelope)
• Steel stud frame
• ICFs (Insulated Concrete Forms)
• Straw bale (non-load bearing)
• Straw-clay (non-load bearing)
• Cob (non-load bearing)

Conditional#

• Earth shelter
• Cordwood masonry
• Pole barn frame
• Log
• Stone
• "Superior Walls" (pre-engineered, pre-cast and insulated concrete walls)
• Stress-skin panels (non-structural)
• Modular
• Brick *

Prohibited#

• Poured concrete

Note: Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certified wood is encouraged.

Exterior wall finishes#

Preferred#

• "Hardi-Plank" (fiber cement)
• Lime stucco
• Cedar siding
• Cedar shingles

Conditional#

• Brick
• Portland stucco
• T-111

Prohibited#

• Vinyl siding
• Redwood
• Tropical hardwoods *

Interior wall finishes#

Preferred#

• Lime stucco
• Local wood
• Gypsum drywall
• Ceramic tile
• No-VOC paint
• Mineral oil wood finishes

Conditional#

• Oil-based paint
• Latex paint

Structural floors#

Preferred#

• Concrete slab (with XPS rigid insulation and radiant hydronic tubing)
• "Truss-Joists" (floor joists and/or rafters)

Conditional#

• Wood frame

Floor and trim finishes#

Preferred#

• FSC certified wood *
• Local hardwood
• Cork
• Bamboo
• Jute or sisal carpet
• Reclaimed heart pine
• "Marmoleum" (linoleum)
• Ceramic tile
• Recycled glass tile
• Natural stone
• Earthen floor
• Water-based urethane

Conditional#

• Recycled carpet

Prohibited#

• Lauan (doors) and other tropical hardwoods *

Structural roofing#

Preferred#

• Post and beam (bolted steel bracket connections)
• Timber-frame (mortise and tenon joints)
• Engineered lumber (Glulam, Paralam, Microlam, LVL)
• Stress-skin panels (structural)
• Steel

Roof finishes#

Preferred#

• Cement tiles (fiber reinforced)
• Clay tile
• Slate
• Thatch
• Recycled aluminum
• Steel

Conditional#

• Copper
• Wood shingles
• Living roof system
• Rubber membrane (EPDM)

Prohibited#

• Asphalt shingles *
• "Ondura" *
• Rubber shingles

Insulation#

Preferred#

• Recycled cotton
• Straw
• Cellulose

Conditional#

• Fiberglass (no formaldehyde)
• Foam (preferred for foundation walls and floor slabs)

Windows and doors#

Preferred#

• Fiberglass frames
• Aluminum-clad wood

Conditional#

• All wood

Prohibited#

• Vinyl and vinyl-clad wood

Decks#

Preferred#

• Oak timber structure
• Local locust decking
• Wood-composite decking

Conditional#

• ACQ treated wood

Prohibited#

• Pressure treated wood

Mechanical systems#

Preferred#

• Photovoltaics (electrical production)
• Wind power (electrical production)
• Natural daylighting (ventilating skylights with internal shades)
• Passive solar heating (with thermal mass)
• Active solar hot water
• Hydronic radiant heating
• Geothermal with heat pump (high SEER, 12 or higher)
• Masonry heaters
• Fireplaces (with air-tight doors)
• Passive cooling (shading devices and natural ventilation)
• "Unico" (mini-duct air conditioning and dehumidification system)
• Ductless split system (air conditioning)
• Rainwater harvesting

Conditional#

• Forced hot air (high SEER heat pump, 12 or higher)
• Central air conditioning
• Electric baseboard
• Electric radiant panels

Notes: Ducting for forced air systems should be sealed with mastic at all joints and seams to prevent leaks. Running un-insulated ducting in unconditioned attics or crawl spaces is prohibited.