This document provides a history of green building and sustainable architecture from the 1970s to present day. It begins by discussing how the 1973 energy crisis sparked increased interest in resource efficiency. Over the decades, key events and innovations are mentioned, like the development of passive solar concepts and materials, growth of the solar industry, and creation of green building rating systems like LEED. The document also provides biographical details about the author and examples of sustainable projects he has worked on from 1977 to the present.

1. Sustainable Architecture /Green
Building
Darryl Duffé
Duffé Design / Build Services
www.DarrylDuffe.com

2. History of Green Building
● “The Energy Crisis” awakened us from a slumber about resource use and
dependency in 1973.
● 1975- Pliny Fisk founds Center for Maximum Potential Building Systems -
Focusing on Appropriate Technology- rammed earth, low cost, buildings as
holistic systems
● 1976- First National Passive Solar Conference
● 1976- The Solar Home Book by Bruce Anderson , a textbook for solar
● The Los Alamos Lab study of 13 passive solar houses released in 1977. Results
Published in Popular Science
● 1977- Amory Lovins wrote an article for Foreign Affairs which became the book
Soft Energy Paths- identified a new demand side approach to energy
● 1979- Ed Mazria released The Passive Solar Energy Book, “The Designer's Bible”
● 1979- Solar System on White House- Carter 20% renewable energy goals for 2000
Duffé Design / Build Services
www.DarrylDuffe.com

3. History of Green Building
● 1980- Another energy price shock results from the Iran hostage crisis. New Carter
energy standards start taking effect, automobiles started getting better MPG, ap-
pliances and insulation standards helped us grow GDP without increasing our
energy consumption. While progress was being made in efficiency, Reagan sym-
bolically removed the Carter solar system from the W.H.
● 1975-1985 Cars went from 1975 average of 14 MPG to 28 MPG average in 1985.
These more efficient cars did not have as much torque for acceleration.
(Today's cars are heavier and accelerate 50% faster with no improvement in mileage.)
● 1982- W. Laurence Doxsey & I founded Progressive Energy Works, Inc. in
Asheville, NC, as working partners and brought architect Jim Samsel on board as
a shareholder
● 1981- The First Energy Rating Systems and Energy Efficient mortgage loans, Fan-
nie Mae and Freddy Mac, and other sponsors like Austin Energy Star -1985.
● 1986- 40% Federal Solar Tax Credits expire, Solar Hot Water industry suffers ma-
jor setback some state tax credits remain. My petition saves NC's 25% credit
Duffé Design / Build Services
www.DarrylDuffe.com

4. History of Green Building
● 1992- The first Green Building Guide premiered at the Earth Summit
in Rio, the project is a “sustainability” rating system coordinated by
W. Laurence Doxsey for the City of Austin, Texas. Patterned after the
Austin Energy Star Rating System except that “green points” 4 areas
of consideration:
WATER, ENERGY, BUILDING MATERIALS & SOLID WASTE
● 1986- Nuclear Disaster at Chernobyl
● 1993- First meeting to form what would become the USGBC. LEED
rating system would go from pilot program to LEED 1.0 in 2000 with
the choice of 12 LEED rated buildings from the pilot program
● 1993 – Pacific Gas and Electric Company installs the first grid-sup-
ported PV system in Kerman, CA. This 500-kilowatt system is the first
“distributed power” PV installation. Renewable expansion continues
and this is now the greenest utility company.
Duffé Design / Build Services
www.DarrylDuffe.com

5. History of Green Building
● 2000- Denmark enacts
legislation to encourage a
national goal of 20% renewable
energy by 2010. They used
'feed-in” tariffs to finance
investment in wind and solar
and reach the 20% goal 3 years
early.
● 2003- George W. Bush installs a
9KW PV system on the White
House and 2 solar water heating
systems on the grounds
maintenance building. This was
Denmark harnesses renewables never announced publicly on
the basis of “national security
reasons”????
Duffé Design / Build Services
www.DarrylDuffe.com

6. History of Green Building
●
2004- California Gov.
Schwartzenegger Million Solar
Roofs initiative to reach goal by
2017.
● 2004- Gov. Kathleen Sibelius
issued a mandate for Kansas to
produce 1 Gigawatt of renewable
energy by 2015 per executive order
● 2005- polysilicon usage for solar
power exceed use of polysilicon for
computer chips and all other uses.
● 2006- 40% efficiency sunlight-to-
electricity barrier achieved .
Duffé Design / Build Services
www.DarrylDuffe.com

7. History of Green Building
●
What are Feed-in Tariffs?
Feed-in tariffs are simply payments per kilowatt-hour for electricity generated by a renewable resource.
Regardless of the name, they are the world's most successful policy mechanism for stimulating the rapid
development of renewable energy.
Feed-in tariffs are also the most egalitarian method for determining where, when, and how much
renewable generating capacity will be installed. Renewable Tariffs enable homeowners, farmers,
cooperatives, and First Nations (Native Americans) to participate on an equal footing with large
commercial developers of renewable energy.
Electricity Feed Laws permit the interconnection of renewable sources of electricity with the electric-utility
network and at the same time specify how much the renewable generator is paid for their electricity.
Electricity Feed Laws are widely used in Europe.
Advanced Renewable Tariffs (ARTs) are the modern version of Electricity Feed Laws. ARTs differ from the
simpler feed-in tariffs in several important ways. Tariffs are differentiated by technology. There is one price
for wind energy, another price for solar, and so on. Tariffs within each technology can also differentiated
by project size or, in the case of wind energy, by the productivity of the resource. Tariffs for new projects
are also subject to periodic review to determine if the program is sufficiently robust.
2008- Feed In Tariffs finally came to America in nearby Gainesville, FL. G.R.U.- Gainesville Regional
Utilities contracted for 4 megawatts of additional capacity with this incentive program, paying 20 cents per
KWH for 20 years guaranteed
Duffé Design / Build Services
www.DarrylDuffe.com

8. History of Green Building
Dec. 2007-Nanosolar roll printed solar cells shipped the first
commercial printed PV flexible sheet, claiming that they will
eventually ship for less than $1/ Watt. However, the company
does not publicly disclose the technical specifications or
current selling price of the modules. Their first year’s output
was purchased in advance by solar utilites in Germany with
the feed-in tariff program. They have a factory in San Jose, CA
which produces more solar capacity per year than any other
factory in the world and they are building another similar
factory in Germany. Their CIGS nano ink is the “secret sauce.”
Duffé Design / Build Services
www.DarrylDuffe.com

9. History of USGBC LEED
● LEED was created to accomplish the following
• Define quot;green buildingquot; by establishing a common standard of measurement
• Promote integrated, whole-building design practices
• Recognize environmental leadership in the building industry
• Stimulate green competition
• Raise consumer awareness of green building benefits
• Transform the building market
LEED has just launched Version 3 which is bringing a whole new level of
professionalism.
LEED 3.0- 2 levels, LEED Green Associate and the LEED AP- Now requires
more rigorous continuing education requiring the LEED professionals to stay
up on current knowledge
Duffé Design / Build Services
www.DarrylDuffe.com

10. LEED PROGRAMS
● The full range of categories
which LEED has a sustainability
rating system for-
● The levels of sustainability are
rated as follows:
Certified
Silver
Gold
Platinum
Duffé Design / Build Services
www.DarrylDuffe.com

11. My Work 1977 to present
● My First solar
greenhouse
addition Fairview,
NC
●
Adds heat and
grows plants
● This photo from
the Sierra Club
Solar Home tour
Duffé Design / Build Services
www.DarrylDuffe.com

12. Richmond / Grams ..... Moog
Retrofit / Addition
●
1978 2-Story attached
sunspace addition on
farmhouse circa 1890
● Water thermal storage in
55 gal. Drums painted
black with “Sunsponge” on
south side.
●
Amazing performance, oil
furnace Not Used, ¼ cord
of wood used entire first
winter to heat house warm
enough for newborn infant.
Duffé Design / Build Services
www.DarrylDuffe.com

13. Richmond / Grams ..... Moog
Retrofit / Addition
● 11- 55 gal drums full of water
with a temperature rise of 52
degrees to 87 degrees, these
can store approximately 170,000
Btus. A thermostatically
controlled fan blows heat into
the living quarters during full
sun.
● The 2 story effect and the
consequent stratification is
paramount to enhanced
performance. Since the first
floor of the sunspace is at the
basement level. The lower level
of the sunspace can afford to
get cooler while the useful heat
rises onto the living levels.
Duffé Design / Build Services
www.DarrylDuffe.com

14. First House- Superinsulated Solar
● 1986-1987 Highlands, NC
● R- 37 walls R-40 attic insulation
● Heat Mirror 88 R-4 glazing on 2- story sunspace
● 12” thick concrete mass wall on rear, brick veneer on side
walls.
● No heat was necessary lowest temperature about 60
degrees F with no heat
● This solar house plan can be seen at the NC Solar Center
at NCSU
Duffé Design / Build Services
www.DarrylDuffe.com

15. Second House I built
● 1988 Fender Residence
Swannanoa, NC
●
Well Insulated “Sun
Tempered”
● R-22 walls R-38 Roof
● Chimney used as thermal
mass
● Low E glass on three sides
● Double pane clear on south
side for maximum solar gain
Duffé Design / Build Services
www.DarrylDuffe.com

16. Flat Top Mountain overlooking
Fairview
● Drabka sun tempered residence at 5000' elevation- clerestory
● Built on solid granite gneiss
● Efficient Japanese kerosene water heater, framing treated with borate
Duffé Design / Build Services
www.DarrylDuffe.com

17. K & K Health Resort
Wolf Laurel, NC
● Earth sheltered dug into slope with sod roof on the north side
● Motorized continuous vent air intakes below
● Thermal stratification was very well demonstrated
Duffé Design / Build Services
www.DarrylDuffe.com

18. DESIGNED MOM'S HOUSE
● 1986 Lake City, FL
● Built Heat Mirror 66 Solarium, Hurd HM 66 R-4 Windows
● Less than 10 years later HM failed fogged up, wrinkled film
● Heat Mirror discontinued by Hurd... Alpen purchased by Serious
Duffé Design / Build Services
www.DarrylDuffe.com

19. Storefront in Asheville, NC
● Shelter Technology
Center 5,000 SF
● Progressive Energy Works-
Building envelope concerns:
high tech windows and shades,
superinsulation, passive solar,
some solar hot water, design
and construction.
● Fleming Associates-
State of the art mechanical
systems, sealed combustion
boilers, warm floors, solar
interface.
Duffé Design / Build Services
www.DarrylDuffe.com

20. Skylights and Sunspaces
●
Duffé Design / Build Services
www.DarrylDuffe.com

21. Skylights and Sunspaces
●
Duffé Design / Build Services
www.DarrylDuffe.com

22. Skylights and Sunspaces
●
Duffé Design / Build Services
www.DarrylDuffe.com

23. Passive Solar Houses
●
Duffé Design / Build Services
www.DarrylDuffe.com

24. Structural Insulated Panels
● 1.6 + times stronger than a stud
wall with plywood sheathing,
a 2 x 4 SIP wall is better insulated
than a 2 x 6 stud wall with
fiberglass batts
● Virtually airtight if installed
correctly. Make it tight. Ventilate
right. SIPs have less impact on
forests than wood framing. There's
less need for hurricane strapping.
Withstood hurricanes and
earthquakes. Quicker than stick
building. Whole walls can be
fabricated and shipped. EPS can
be melted down and made into
polystyrene resin beads again or
can be ground up to use as a
potting soil amendment like perlite
Duffé Design / Build Services
www.DarrylDuffe.com

25. Structural Insulated Panels
● Can be used for roofs walls and floors
and can be shipped pre-fabricated, you
can also hang a picture anywhere.
Duffé Design / Build Services
www.DarrylDuffe.com

26. Insulating Concrete Forms
● Super strong, Super insulated
● Comfortable, noise reducing, air tight
● Concrete cures 50% stronger inside
foam form due to moisture not
evaporating as quickly as in a normal
concrete pour.
Duffé Design / Build Services
www.DarrylDuffe.com

27. Insulating Concrete Forms
●
Duffé Design / Build Services
www.DarrylDuffe.com

28. Florida Projects
Amelia Coastal Realty’s Office may not look like a gas station today but it is a
former Brownfield site. When Phil and Janet were searching for a building to house
the new office there were no buildings that were new and energy efficient. This
former gas station became the perfect site for a test project to build an energy
efficient building using sustainable building practices.
Plans were submitted to the City of Fernandina Beach in early 2005. Unfortunately
local Ordinances were not written to allow sustainable building standards such as
low water usage and on site water retention. A local Green development expert and
friend, Darryl Duffe, then designed the 1,500 square foot building and redeveloped
the site to allow for on site water retention, low energy usage and at the same time
enhance the street appeal as an office. The former 100 feet of entrance for the gas
station was narrowed to 16 feet. 500 square feet of impervious asphalt along the
front of the parcel and planted with native species that required no water once
bedded. The parking lot was sloped to self water the plants and eliminate most site
runoff.
The building itself was stripped down to one block wall and the footers. Clean
concrete and block debris were donated to local property owners with riverfront for
use as erosion control material (rip rap). The building was then reconstructed
using Structural Insulated Panels (SIPS) and the roof system sealed with Icynene to
further minimize heating and cooling. Low voltage lighting, low VOC paints and
other green products were installed to minimize green house gases and minimize
energy costs. Other features include solar lighting, low flush toilets, low voltage
lighting and a high efficient HVAC system. Monthly electric bills average $74 and
water bills are less than $35. Total energy usage on the 1,250 net square foot
heated and cooled building is less than $1.10 per square foot per year.
excerpted from www.ameliacoastalrealty.com
Duffé Design / Build Services
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29. Florida Projects
Gas Station Conversions on S. 8th Street Duplex townhomes
Duffé Design / Build Services
www.DarrylDuffe.com

30. Solar Hot Water
SOLAR PATHFINDER
Solar Equivalent of Geiger Counter
Both help prospect for where the radiation is
Duffé Design / Build Services
www.DarrylDuffe.com

31. Solar Hot Water
DHW in NC
Duffé Design / Build Services
www.DarrylDuffe.com

32. Solar Electricity
●
Duffé Design / Build Services
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33. Best Efficiency Strategies for this
Climate
Duffé Design / Build Services
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34. New Technologies
●
Duffé Design / Build Services
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35. Thermal Imagery
●
Inefficient Building Efficient Building
Duffé Design / Build Services
www.DarrylDuffe.com

36. Earth
Too Big to Fail, Too Precious to Ruin
Let's not be our own waste enemy.
Duffé Design / Build Services
www.DarrylDuffe.com