WHAT MAKES A BUILDING GREEN?

      Design - Sustainable design requires long term thinking of your home's entire life cycle.  A good design will create properly sized, comfortable and useful spaces.  It will consider the site requirements of topography and solar orientation to blend with the original environment and maximize passive solar options.  It will consider energy consumption from initial embodied energy to maintenance & replacement and will utilize materials wisely.  It considers the long term health of the occupants by ensuring high indoor air quality with natural and mechanical ventilation options.  The windows will be oriented with consideration for passive solar gain and natural lighting.  Finally it will be designed for longevity.

      Materials - Choose locally produced products that are easy and inexpensive to find and transport whenever possible.  Choose products which will reliably do their jobs for many years to come.  Sustainably produced products which are easy to replenish will help to ensure the health and welfare of future generations.  Materials which are non-toxic or low-toxic will reduce pollution at the factory, in the home and in the landfill.

      Implementation - The best design intentions will not be realized if care is not taken during the construction process.  It is important to choose a contractor who will take care to follow through and spend the time to ensure that important details are properly understood and considered throughout the building process.

      Verification - Inspections throughout the construction process to ensure proper materials were used and that they were properly installed.  Final verification including a blower door test to confirm proper air sealing.

      Maintenance - Repairing gutters, leaks and exterior finishes to prevent deterioration of structural elements.  Maintaining weather stripping, ventilation and mechanical equipment to keep the home operating at maximum efficiency.

HOW TO GO GREEN

      Light Green – Low or no cost solutions

      Reduce Site Disturbance, protect existing trees, restore habitat, xeriscape to reduce future irrigation needs

      Install and maintain controls for sedimentation runoff which is a leading source of river pollution

      Ensure proper site drainage to reduce relative humidity indoors which will help control dust mites and mold

      Construction waste disposal, recycling

      Solar Orientation of building, window orientation, shading of windows

      Quality Construction, properly installed insulation

      Air sealing, air sealing, air sealing

      Advanced framing techniques to conserve lumber & improve continuity of the insulation barrier

      Material choices, many Green options cost the same as their common counterpart

      Efficient properly sized heating/cooling system,  low flow fixtures, programmable thermostats, fluorescent lighting, natural ventilation

      Smaller is greener, size your rooms properly to eliminate wasted space that costs more money to build, maintain and heat

      Straighten driveways to save trees and reduce cost of road surfacing materials

     Smart Green – Cost Shifting

      By increasing insulation and buying high performance windows, you can choose a smaller heating and air conditioning system so the costs will offset each other. 

      There are currently tax incentives for building energy efficient homes and for including renewable energy components

      Investing in proper design & planning to reduce construction frustrations, material waste and time wasted during the building phase

      Rich Green – Spend now Save later

      Energy Star appliances & mechanical equipment, will help qualify for a 5% reduction in electricity rates

      Low E coated / Argon filled properly installed windows can reduce heat loss by 30%

      Increased insulation and proper duct sealing will lower long term energy costs

      Renewable Energy systems, photovoltaic, solar hot water

      Deep Green – Invest in the future

      Choose certified sustainably produced lumber to help preserve our forests

      Choose products made from recycled materials

      Low VOC paints, caulks, carpeting, lumber will give you a cleaner living space and increase your long term health

      Consider a vegetated roof to reduce heating and cooling loads and to restore green space to your site