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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2008/05/28 - Agenda Packet - Specialssta~ AGENDA CITY COUNCIL, FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT, REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY AND PLANNING COMMISSION SPECIAL JOINT MEETING Wednesday, May 28, 2008 ~ 5:00 p.m. City Hall ~ Tri Communities Room 10500 Civic Center Drive ~ Rancho Cucamonga, CA 91730 A. C+.~I.I. ~rc~ ORDER Pledge of Allegiance 2. Roll Call: MayorlPresidentlChairman Kurth Mayor Pro TemNice PresidentNice Chairman Michael Council/Board/Agencymembers Gutierrez, Spagnolo and Williams Chairman Stewart Vice Chairman Fletcher Commissioners Howdyshell, Munoz, Wimberly B. ~~O~I~Il~til('.~'l~lOV'~ FIZOyi '['HE PUBLIC This is the time and place for the general public to address the City Council, Flre Protection District, Redevelopment Agency and Planning Commission on any Item listed on the agenda. State law prohibits the Council, Fire Board, Agency and Commission from addressing any issue not previously included on the Agenda. The Counclt, Fire Board, Agency and Commisslon may receive testimony and set the matter for a subsequent meeting. Comments are to be limited to flue minutes per individual or less, as deemed necessary by the Chair, depending upon the number of individuals desiring to speak. All communications are to be addressed dlrectty to the Council, Flre Board, Agency and Commisslon, not to the members of the audience. This Is a professional business meeting and courtesy and decorum are expected. Please refrain from any debate between audience and speaker, making loud noises, or engaging In any activity which might be disruptive to the decorum of the meeting. The public communications period will not exceed one hour prior to the commencement of the business portion of the agenda. During this one hour period, all those who wish to speak on a topic contained in the business portion of the agenda will be given priority, and no further speaker cards for these business Items (with the exception of public hear(ng items) will be accepted once the business portion of the agenda commences. Any other public communications which have not concluded during this one hour period may resume after the regular business portion of the agenda has been completed. C. I~l'I~;~I Oh' DIS('USSION 1. PRESENTATION OF "GREEN" SUSTAINABILITY PROGRAM IN RANCHO CUCAMONGA -SHORT TERM INITIATIVES D. ADJOURNMENT I, Debra J. Adams, City Clerk of the City of Rancho Cucamonga, hereby certify that a true, accurate copy of the foregoing agenda was posted on May 22, 2008, per Government Code 54954.2 at 10500 Civic Center Drive, Rancho Cucamonga, California. z .- T H E C I T Y O F RnNCno CUCAMONCA Staff Report DATE: May 28, 2008 TO: Mayor and Members of the City Council Jack Lam, AICP, City Manager FROM: James R. Troyer, Planning Director BY: Jennifer Nakamura, Associate Planner SUBJECT: PRESENTATION OF "GREErP' SUSTAINABILf1Y PROGRAM IN RANCHO CUCAMONGA- SHORTTERM INfiIATNES RECOMMENDATION: That the City Council and Planning Commission reviews the information provided in the staff report and attachments and provide direction to staff as needed. BACKGROUND: Last summer, the City identified the need to update its General Plan to reflect the changing development of the City and provide an updated blueprint for the future. Through the competitive bid process, staff selected Hogle-Ireland to guide us through the process. On November 7, 2007, Council confirmed staff's selection. The City Council identified Healthy Cities and Sustainability as the main themes to be interwoven throughout the General Plan. With Council support of the Healthy Cities program, staff has began looking at elements of Sustainability that can be incorporated into the General Plan. Staff conducted research on other municipalities sustainability programs to see what is being done and determine how to incorporate sustainability into future development and maintenance of the City through the General Plan. On March 12, 2008, a staff workshop was held to learn more about concepts of sustainability and present a list of current actions various departments are already doing that promote sustainability. Over 25 staff members from various departments attended. The session was led by our General Plan Consultant, Hogle-Ireland and their sustainability consultant John Zinner. On April 2, 2008, a special workshop was held with the City Council to present an overview of the concepts of sustainability. Sam Gennawey from Hogle-Ireland, as well as John Zinner, led the discussion on defining sustainability and why sustainability is relevant in Rancho Cucamonga. Council directed staff to begin developing sustainability initiatives that could be implemented prior to the completion of the General Plan update that would provide for the development of a more "green" community and would enhance Rancho Cucamonga's premier community status. Staff, working with Hogle-Ireland and John Zinner, has identified some short CITY COUNCIUPLANNING COMMISSION STAFF REPORT 'GREEf~!'SUSTAINABILfTY PROGRAM-SHORTTERM INf1lATNES May 28, 2008 Page 2 term strategies for developing a Citywide sustainability Plan. The purpose of this Staff Report is to identify several short term "quick wins" to get our sustainability plan started. , POTENTIAL FOR SHORT TERM INITIATIVES: Although the City may seek to join a variety of Accords/Organizations cited on the list below to further our goal of a "Sustainable City", membership/participation to each accord/organization may be limited due to funding constraints. Prior to making a final commitment to any organization/program, staff will carefully consider the fiscal impacts and review all alternatives prior to making any recommendations. All alternatives will be considered prior to making final recommendations to City Council. One initial action step would be to sign or join one or several of the state, national or global sustainability agreements. There are four major sustainability accords that are worthy of consideration: U.S. Conference of Mayors Climate Protection Agreement, United Nations Urban Environmental Accords, Green Cities California and the California Climate Action Registry. In addition to joining one or more of these sustainability accords/organizations, the City has chosen to become a member of the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC). U. S. Conference of Mayors Climate Protection Agreement: In 2005, the U.S. Conference of Mayors endorsed the Climate Protection Agreement, an initiative launched by Seattle Mayor Greg Nickels. Under the Agreement, participating cities commit to take following three actions: 1) Strive to meet or beat the Kyoto Protocol targets in their own communities, through actions ranging from anti-sprawl land-use policies to public information campaigns; 2) Urge their state governments, and the federal government, to enact policies and programs to meet or beat the greenhouse gas emission reduction targets suggested for the United States in the Kyoto Protocol -- 7% reduction from 1990 levels by 2012; and 3) Urge the U.S. Congress to pass the bipartisan greenhouse gas reduction legislation, which would establish a national emission trading system. There is no membership fee and the only requirement is a signature commitment to these accords. Currently, 122 mayors from cities across the United States are participating in the Agreement. 27 of them are from Southern California, including the Mayors of Claremont, Hemet, Redlands, Rialto, Riverside, and San Bernardino. United Nations Urban Environmental Accords: The United Nations Urban Environmental Accords are a set of guidelines to build an ecologically sustainable and economically dynamic future for urban citizens. Signatory cities commit to these guidelines as they develop policies and create programs to address their urban problems. The Accords are legally and financially non-binding. Their adoption, however, reflects a commitment on the part of the City to use them as guidelines. The Accords are also flexible in their methods of application. Within the Accords' general framework, a city is free to choose and prioritize the Actions it will execute and the method of execution, establish its own benchmarks, and assess the results. This level of flexibility recognizes that each city's particular circumstances will vary, that environmental challenges will not be experienced to the-same degree everywhere and that financial resources will differ. Signatory cities have 7 years to implement the recommended Actions. Currently, there are 13 signatory cities in the Accords, including Pasadena and Santa Monica. CITY COUNCIL/PLANNING COMMISSION STAFF REPORT "GREEN" SUSTAINABILfTYPROGRAM-SHORTTERM INITIATIVES May 28, 2008 Page 3 Green Cities California: Green Cities California, representing over 8 million residents in the State of~California, works to accelerate sustainability efforts from the local to international levels. Adoption of the resolution requires the City to commit to working with the other member cities to 1) Influence state and federal policy to promote sustainability and promote funding of local sustainability initiatives; 2) Assist other local governments throughout California and the country to adopt and implement sustainable practices; and 3) Adopt and implement several specific initiatives within City operations to promote sustainability. It is anticipated that participation in the Green Cities California would benefit by networking with other member cities in development of sustainability programs and policies; through the adoption of state and federal legislation consistent with existing City policies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, improve air and water quality and community quality of life; and through increased access to funds for local sustainability projects from various government agencies and foundations. Fees include a voluntary contribution of $5000 to help establish the Green Cities California organization and to fund initial outreach efforts. Participating cities currently include Berkeley, Los Angeles, Pasadena; Oakland, Sacramento, San Diego, San Francisco, San Jose, Santa Barbara, Santa Monica, and the County of Marin. California Climate Action ReAistN: The California Climate Action Registry is a private non-profit organization originally formed by the State of California. The California Registry serves as a voluntary greenhouse gas (GHG) registry to protect and promote early actions to reduce GHG emissions by organizations. The California Registry provides leadership on climate change by developing and promoting credible, accurate, and consistent GHG reporting standards and tools for organizations to measure, monitor, third-party verify and reduce their GHG emissions consistently across industry sectors and geographical borders. California Registry members voluntarily measure, verify, and publicly report their GHG emissions, are leaders in their respective industry sectors, and are actively participating in solving the challenge of climate change. In turn, the State of California offers its best efforts to ensure that California Registry members receive appropriate consideration for early actions in light of future state, federal or international GHG regulatory programs. Registry members are well prepared to participate in market based solutions and upcoming regulatory requirements. There are three costs associated with California Registry participation: the California Registry annual fee; third party verification cost: contact approved verifiers directly for an estimate; and member organization's internal staff time to gather necessary data. The California Climate Action Registry consists of 343 members from various private sector businesses, cities, counties and other government agencies. Currently, 16 cities in California are participating in the Registry. There are 7 from Southern California which includes Long Beach, Los Angeles, Santa Barbara, Santa Monica, Thousand Oaks, Ventura and West Hollywood. U. S. Green Building Council: USGBC is anon-profit organization dedicated to sustainable building design and construction. USGBC developed the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) building rating system. LEED is a third party certification program and the nationally accepted benchmark for the design, construction and operation of high performance green buildings. LEED gives building owners and operators the tools they need to have an immediate and measurable CITY COUNCIUPLANNING COMMISSION STAFF REPORT `GREEf~!'SUSTAINAf31LfTY PROGRAM-SHORTTERM INffIATNES May 28, 2008 Page 4 impact on their buildings' performance. LEED promotes a whole-building approach to sustainability by recognizing performance in five key areas of human and environmental health: sustainable site development, water savings, energy efficiency, materials selection and indoor environmental quality. To earn LEED certification, a project must satisfy all prerequisites and a minimum number of points outlined in the LEED Rating System. LEED ratings are awarded on the following scale: Certified, Silver, Gold and Platinum. The City of Rancho Cucamonga will have its first LEED project, Cucamonga Valley Water District's Frontier Project, before the Planning Commission soon for review. This project will be certified as a LEED Platinum building. DIRECTIVES/SUGGESTIONS Inter-Departmental Green Team (in-house): With a commitment being made to developing a sustainable community, the next step is to coalesce the City's efforts through the development of an inter-departmental "Green Team" composed of City Staff. This team will consist of 14 members of City Staff across multiple departments. In addition to team members, the "Green Team" will also include a Sustainable Program Coordinator that will function to coordinate the efforts of the group and serve as a point of contact. The team will meet monthly with the purpose of coordinating all "green" efforts throughout the City and to ensure that sustainable practices are incorporated in all departments. Some possible initial municipal initiatives are included in the listed below. Possible Initial Municipal Initiatives • Purchase "100% post-consumer recycled" paper for all government operations • Green cleaning supplies • Eliminate the purchase of bottled water for governmental operations and events and/or aim for zero waste (compost all supplies) • Develop and adopt o A campaign for the municipal purchase of local California foods o A carbon offset plan for municipal air travel o Fuel efficiencystandardstor municipal vehicles fleets • Purchase Energy Star equipment • Install LED traffic signals • Healthy landscape maintenance practices (minimize herbicides/pesticides), including integrated pest management ` • Plant street trees • Additional Employee incentives to rideshare/Metrolink/bike/bus to work CITY COUNCIUPLANNING COMMISSION STAFF REPORT "GREET!'SUSTAINABILfTYPROGRAM-SHORTTERM INfT1ATNES May 28, 2008 Page 5 Internal Training: The City has identified some initial steps that will target internal staff training. Staff citywide will get some initial training in Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design. Internal training is a key component of developing a strong sustainability plan. As previously mentioned the City is joining the United States Green Building Council and will be sending key Community Development staff to an initial "LEED for New Construction" training. Green Building Ordinance: One of the key actions that the City will need to develop in the future is a Green Building Ordinance. A Green Building Ordinance would, among other things, identify thresholds for the development of green buildings. The initial strategy for the City would be to implement green building standards to facilitate the construction of green buildings in the community. The City currently has an opportunity where there are seven proposed municipal projects that are coming on-line in the next few years. The City strategy would be to certify these municipal projects under the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Program and set a mandatory requirement for municipal projects. An aggressive threshold being used by California cities is mandatory LEED certification for municipal projects of 5,000 to 10,000 square feet. The parallel effort would be development of a voluntary to mandatory program for commercial and industrial projects. Aggressive sustainable Green Building Ordinances use a mandatory threshold of LEED certification for buildings of 25,000-50,000 square feet in size. For the residential sector there is a variety of programs that staff is looking into. Among the programs that staff is reviewing is the California Green Builder program developed by the Building Industry Association; the Green Point Rated program developed by the non-profit organization Build it Green, and the' LEED for Homes program developed by the United States Green Building Council. City Incentives: Staff is currently reviewing a variety of incentives that could be offered to the private sector to facilitate the construction of green buildings. Some of the incentives that could be offered would be priority Planning Commission scheduling for green projects; guaranteed expedited plan check review; reduced building permit- fees; density bonuses; increased lot coverages and reduced parking standards. CONCLUSION: These are examples of policies and programs that could be incorporated into a City of Rancho Cucamonga sustainable plan in the future. Staff will accept direction from the City Council and Planning Commission after the conclusion of a power point presentation on the proposed sustainability program. Respectfully submitted, Jame .Troyer, AICP Planning Director . 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O ~- ~ O ~ ~ O ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ C6 ~ ~ ~ O O ~ ~ ~ ~1--~ ~ ~ ~ ~ c~ ~ ~ U .~ I ~ ~ ~ > Q ~ '~ .~ O L to 1~ c ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~_ ~ ~ O N O ~ ~ `~Cn ^. ~ ~ i ~ (~ .~ V -~ ~ o ~ o a _ L Q .U ~ ~ ~ ~ O ~ '~ ~ ~ Q 4~ ~' ~` °' .~ O ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ U ~ ^ C~ .~ ~ ~ ~ ~ a ~ Q, ~ ~~ ~ o - cn N L o ~ ~:~o~ /L U ~ O ~ ~ U ~ li ~ ~ Q' .Q ~ ~_ ~ O t~ ~ ~ .~ ~ .~ ~ ~ ~ -- O ~ ~ .. ~O ~ ~ ~. C 00 .~ O ~ QN p ~ _O O U U (~ ~~ - ~ ~ QO Q .~.~ U C ~'~ O ~ ~ N -p ,N NV .O O ~ ~ O N O~ C~ Z a.~ cn cn U ~ U ~ i~ U ~ ~.. ~~ u~ _ m o E y O ~V Conserving Resources, Preserving the Environment, and Measuring the Impact ^ ^ The California Green Builder program (CGB) is fhe effective and cost-effective green building program for production builders and California homebuyers. Created by homebuilders for homebuilders, the voluntary program meets the needs of builders, buyers, and California's cities and counties alike. • Builders like CGB because it differentiates them from their competitors, enhances sales and can get them significant benefits from jurisdictions in entitlement, permitting, plan-check and inspections. • Homebuyers like CGB because it helps them save money and help the environment at the same time. • California's cities and counties like CGB because it saves energy, water and landfill capacity. The California Green Builder program saves energy, water, and resources -and is the one green builder program that really works! Q&A Q: Aren't there a lot of "green" programs out there? What's so special about California Green Builder?^ A: Yes. Many are points-based, complicated and driven by outside groups. California Green Builder keeps the building industry in charge of the agenda, helps localities meet mandates in water and wood savings and waste diversion, and is voluntary. It includes independent third party inspections and diagnostic testing of energy features. ^ ^ Q: Don't homes built under "green" program guidelines cost more to build?^ A: Many green building techniques can be applied at little or no extra cost. Additionally, heating, cooling, and water use in green buildings often cost less so up-front costs to buyers can be offset in the long run. ^ Q: Isn't "green" building more complicated?^ A: The requirements for CGB include building to exceed energy efficiency standards; diverting at least 50% of construction and jobsite waste; reducing water use by at least 20,000 gallons compared to contemporary "non green" homes; and include guidelines for efficient lumber and wood usage. Many builders are nearly meeting CGB standards unknowingly.^ Q: Why should builders want to build under the CGB guidelines? What's in it for them?^ A: Many builders are already building partially green, and there are many advantages. CGB builders may get fee deferrals and enhance their opportunity to build or achieve higher densities. CGB offers marketing support, sponsorship support, certificates and achievement plaques, and possible recognition from elected officials. CGB is a great opportunity for builders to be perceived as even more socially responsible stewards of the environment. Additionally, CGB quantifies energy and resource savings that CGB builders can use as a selling tool. ~ ^ Q: Isn't it true that consumers aren't concerned with building "green"?^ A: No, recent studies have shown that many homebuyers want green homes. People want lower ozone-depleting gas emissions, sustainable forests, and less landfill waste. Builders report that "green" homebuyers have higher satisfaction, knowing they have done something good for the environment.^ ^ Q: What kind of research do you have that backs up your claims that "green" homes really help the environment?^ A: CGB was conceived and created by The Building Industry Institute (BII), the research arm of the California Building Industry Association (CBIA). The BII continues to research and monitor crucial elements of green building techniques and make that data available to CGB program builders. The BII also conducted extensive literature research to verify and quantify the benefits for incorporated measures. ^^ Q: How does building "green" improve the environment? • CGB Homes use 15-20 percent less energy than homes built to California's exacting Title-24 requirements. It is estimated that for every 100 CGB homes, 267,413 pounds of carbon dioxide and 70 pounds of nitrous oxide are not produced annually. ~ •CGB homes reduce'water usage by at least 20,000 gallons/year compared to contemporary "non-green" homes. Additionally, water delivery and treatment costs are reduced by building green, benefiting the public. Homeowners pay reduced water bills. • During construction, builders divert at least 50 percent, sometimes as much as 80 percent of their on-site construction wastes. This reduces landfill consumption and helps create new uses for second-hand products. • CGB homes have better indoor air quality because of advanced HVAC designs with MERV filtering and through increased use of low VOC materials. . Four credible, sustainable forest certifiers are included in CGB, including the Sustainable Forestry Initiative (SFI), the American Tree Farm System (AYES), the Canadian Standards Association's Sustainable Forest Management System Standards (CAN/CSA), and the Forest Stewardship Council (ESC). Other sustainable forest certifiers may be included when warranted. Q: What is a California Green Builder home, exactly? What are the requirements?~ ^ Higher Energy Efficiency Standards: CGB homes are designed and built to exceed California's stringent Title 24 energy efficiency standards by at least 15%. CGB homes will feature: • Improved insulation installation • Engineered HVAC systems • Tight HVAC Ducts • High-efficiency glazing. (SHGC and U-value < 0.40) • Independent third-party inspections and diagnostics of energy features Water Resource Conservation: CGB homes use at least 20,000 gallons less water than similar, newly constructed "non green" homes by featuring: • Innovative plumbing systems and fixtures o Parallel hot water piping; or o Hot water recirculation system o Ultra-low flow toilet(s) (= 1.28 gpf) o High-efficiency clothes washer as a buyer option (water factor <_ 6.0) • New designs for landscaping and irrigation o Weather-based irrigation controllers that provide only the amount of water required to sustain the landscaping (Smart Controller) o Front yard landscaping with a maximum of 75% turf, drought tolerant plants, and ahigh-efficiency drip irrigation system o OR • Enrollment in the Metropolitan Water District of Southern Califomia's California Friendly water conservation program. For more information, visit www.bewaterwise.com. (Rebates may be applicable to MWD customers only. Other water districts may offer similar rebates and programs) Wood Conservation:•,Certified wood products that come from forests overseen by SFI, ATFS: CAN/CSA or will qualify under CGB. Improved Indoor Air Quality: CGB Requires ACCA design protocols be used to ensure comfort and adequate ventilation. In addition, Minimum Efficiency Reporting Values (MERV) 6 filters and use of low/no Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC) help improve indoor air quality. Waste Diversion: CGB requires that at least 50% of on-site construction waste be diverted from landfills. This helps communities meet their AB 939 mandates. ^f7^ Q: Don't "green" homes look like something out of the Flintstones? What creature comforts do I have to give up to live "green"?^ A: No, CGB homes look and feel just like traditional homes, except they use less energy, help power plants to emit fewer greenhouse gases, conserve water and wood, send less solid waste to landiffs, provide better indoor air quality, and save homebuyers money on energy and water bills. Save Money and Resources: Benefits for the Homebuyer • With natural gas and water prices on the rise, properly-sized and highly- efficientfurnaces, air-conditioners, and water heaters save money every month. They also require less maintenance than standard units. • Energy Star° units use much less electricity and water than average appliances, and make a smaller dent in your family's utility budget. • Advanced lighting packages, including compact fluorescent bulbs (CFCs), offer excellent light quality, extremely long life, and require only a fraction of the electricity of a normal bulb. • Optimally-insulated walls and roofs are an integral part of an energy- efficientand comfortable building "shell". Built Green builders use both blown-in products and expertly-installed batts to ensure that no energy is wasted in heating and cooling the home. • Draft-free, well-insulated low-emissivity (Low-e) windows make a significant contribution to the overall performance of the "building envelope". And since they resist the transfer of cold air, they expand the area of useable, comfortable space in a room. • "Low-flow' faucets, shower heads, and toilets perform at least as well as their water-wasting counterparts, and markedly cut back on the household's increasingly-expensive "water budget". • Advanced irrigation practices take the guess-work out of watering the lawn and complying with water restrictions. Landscaped areas receive the optimal amount of water, and become less of a burden on homeowners' time and wallets. • Furnaces and water heaters are situated centrally to where they'll be most often needed, and their lines and ducts are well-insulated to minimize energy losses. Less waiting for hot water and more consistent levels of conditioned air are the result. • "Can lights" can have the unintended consequence of poking dozens of holes in a home's insulated envelope. Air-tight versions of these lights solve the problem of air leakage and associated thermal losses. • "Xeriscape" yard treatments combine drought-resistance with natural beauty, and marry creativity to the goal of conserving water with the inclusion of hearty native plant selection. • Well-insulated doors are as stylish as any other, but offer the added benefit of correcting this thermal Achilles-heel of many building envelopes. Durability and Low-maintenance: • Expertly air-sealed building envelopes fitted with meticulously-detailed moisture planes combine to create a wall system that resists the degrading effects of air and water transmission that can plague lower- performing walls. • A properly drained and insulated foundation is a key factor is avoided unwanted moisture below grade. These elements are critical to maintaining a dry and comfortable basement. • Outdoor decking and landscaping products made from low-impact polymers and composite recycled products not only look better than many types of lumber, but they also wear several times longer and require much less maintenance over time. • "Engineered lumber" can be used throughout the home's frame, and can provide a straighter, stronger, more consistent structure that protects forests by using only fast-growing, rapidly renewable tree species. • Tough, long-lasting exterior finishes like brick, stucco, and fiber cement help to ensure that a home endures for generations, and that it requires less upkeep over those years as well. • Landfills are heaped with lower-quality roofing products, but that won't happen when your builder selects either long-rated shingles or durable materials like slate, cement, or metal. • Even simple items like downspout extensions on gutters provide an effective means of keeping water away from foundations and basement walls. Healthy and Comfortable Indoor Environments • Ducts transport conditioned air from the furnace or air conditioner throughout every room in the house. Or at least they're supposed to. Too often, installed ducts are leaky enough to create negative pressures in a home that draw combustion gasses from the furnace and water heater into the living space. Tight ducts prevent this potentially dangerous situation, and make sure that the correct amount of warm or cool air is reaching every room. • Since tight home enclosures make outside air much less likely to randomly leak into the living space, mechanical ventilation is a great means of providing the right amount of fresh air for your family around the clock. • Sealed-combustion furnaces and power-vented water heaters mean protection for your family from combustion gasses that might otherwise be introduced to indoor air space. • Careful attention to the location and particular performance qualities of windows throughout the home contribute to not only increased energy efficiency, but also to protection from overheating, glare, and damage to furnishings from excessive solar radiation. • Carpets made from recycled materials or from less toxic materials look great, wear like iron, and improve the quality of the air you breathe every day. • Cabinets made with low volatile organic compound (VOC) materials are a stylish assurance that the air in your home is as free from these chemical baddies as possible. • There are a range of paints and finishes available to builders, from run-of-the-mill to top-of--the-line. The latter category includes products that perform better than average while emitting none of the chemical by-products of their counterparts, in the process making for a more beautiful and healthy home. • Best-practice air filtrations methods, whether high-efficiency particulate air filters (HEPA) or others, offer added assurance for families with sensitive children or heightened concern for indoor air quality. • When.special sealing practices are undertaken to isolate the garage from the house, homeowners can rest assured that what comes out of their car won't go into their lungs. • Central vacuum systems are not only incredibly effective and convenient; they also isolate the collection of household floor pollutants to a location safely outside the living space.