| A green home minimizes the negative impact on | | | | 4. Energy: Lighting, heating, and cooling systems |
| its environment through its home design. Here are | | | | are an important consideration in green home |
| a few considerations an architect takes into | | | | design. Renewable energy systems such as solar, |
| account when designing a green home: | | | | wind, and geothermal systems use the earth's |
| 1. Site: Evaluations and analysis of access, slope, | | | | natural energy to heat and cool the home, as well |
| ledge, soil, bodies of water, and vegetation in | | | | as provide electricity to run appliances and |
| order to limit the home's impact on the site | | | | technology.. |
| environment. This includes the site location | | | | 5. Water Conservation: Building a new home |
| (farmland, wetland, protected species habitats) | | | | presents a unique opportunity to save water. |
| and proximity to public transportation, parks, | | | | Two money and energy-saving strategies which |
| schools, and stores. | | | | can be easily incorporated into an energy efficient |
| 2. Size: A green home is efficiently designed to | | | | home design are 1) reducing the overall water |
| keep the square footage to a minimum. This | | | | using in the home by specifying low-flow water |
| reduces the amount of energy to heat and cool | | | | fixtures, low-flush or composting toilets, installing |
| the home, lighting, and the quantity of building | | | | aerators on all taps, and installing low-flow |
| materials used, and also controls costs and | | | | showerhead nozzles; and 2) specifying a plumbing |
| reduces site impact. | | | | system that reuses grey water (wastewater |
| 3. Solar: Whether or not there is a plan to install a | | | | from domestic usage such as dish washing, |
| solar energy system to heat the water or | | | | laundry and bathing) for flushing toilets, watering |
| produce electricity, there are several other solar | | | | lawns, etc. (note: some grey water systems |
| considerations in green home design. Designing the | | | | require approval by most local building jurisdictions, |
| home for passive solar makes the most of solar | | | | your architect will verify this prior to design). |
| energy by harvesting it into the homes' natural | | | | Of course, a new home should use minimal |
| energy flows. Passive solar systems include | | | | amounts of fossil fuels, last a long time, and cost |
| day-lighting strategies, heating and cooling control | | | | less money. Many home design strategies don't |
| techniques, and natural ventilation. When a | | | | cost a dime in materials but can save hundreds of |
| whole-building approach is taken, energy savings | | | | dollars on heating and cooling costs. The result is a |
| can be great both in terms of reducing the | | | | beautiful, healthy home - for both the |
| home's carbon footprint and the costs associated | | | | homeowners and the environment. |
| with heating, cooling, and maintaining the home. | | | | |