Location—Where you build is the first step in going green.
Taking advantage of how your home orients to the sun and the shade helps
determine how much energy you will save on cooling and heating costs. Choosing a
homesite that doesn’t encroach on environmentally sensitive land is obvious, but
you can go even further by building in a higher-density area within easy walking
distance of work, schools, and shopping.
Size—Economy of size matters. That 5,000-sq. ft. McMansion is
going to drain the energy grid at a much faster rate than a home half the size,
even if you build it to the highest green specifications. In addition to
requiring more energy use, larger than necessary homes also use more natural
resources to build and they create more stormwater runoff. Think big when it
comes to sustainable living, but think small when it comes to the size of your
home.
Design—What your home is made of and how it is oriented on the
building site are more important to its greenness that its architectural theme.
The more renewable materials (bamboo and recycled-content tiles, for instance)
used, the better. Position your home to get the most out of natural sunlight and
prevailing winds and incorporate as many dual-glaze windows as possible to let
in the sun and rein in heat gain and heat loss. Trees do a great job of shading
a home and can be supplemented with canopies and other shading devices. Finally,
choose a ENERGY STAR roof that will reflect more of the sun’s rays and decrease
the amount of heat that reaches your home’s interior.
Building Materials—You’ll go a long way towards reaching your
goal of building green by focusing on building materials that are locally
sourced, rapidly renewable, high in recycled content, or are salvageable. There
are a lot of choices here, but your architect and builder can guide you. Whether
you choose bamboo (easily and quickly grown) or a locally harvested wood (less
energy consumed to get it to the site) for your floors, use recycled-content
materials or materials that can be recycled for your countertops, keep in mind
that you are trying to reduce the overall impact your building materials have on
the environment.
Energy Efficiency—The homes we live in and the buildings we
work in not only use huge amounts of energy to keep them well-lit and
temperature controlled, but are the first line of defense against the effects of
global warming. The first place to start in making your new home energy
efficient is to install insulation with a high R value (the higher the value,
the better its ability to hold in your home’s temperature). Next, install tight
sealing ENERGY STAR windows and doors to keep your home from leaking air where
insulation can’t protect. Appliances, lighting fixtures and light bulbs all come
ENERGY STAR rated as well and their use can greatly reduce your energy
consumption. Renewable energy systems, such as solar panels and wind turbines,
may be viable options, depending on your location.
Water Efficiency—Water conservation and efficiency come down
to the three R’s: reduce, reuse, recycle. The easiest place to start is with
your kitchen and bathroom fixtures and appliances. The key here is “low-flow”
and we’re not just talking toilets (where you can up the ante by going
“dual-flush”) anymore. Install low-flow showerheads and faucets and you may cut
your annual water consumption in half. Look to ENERGY STAR washing machines and
dishwashers for both water and energy efficiency. Finally, you can take it to
the next level by considering water-conserving irrigation systems, rainwater
collection and storage, hot water recirculation systems, and whole-house
graywater systems.
Healthy Indoor Environment—Let the sunshine in! Your green home’s design
and orientation on the homesite should allow for plenty of natural daylight and
natural ventilation. You’ll rely less on artificial light and breathe easier.
Windows that open wide and fans will help fill your house with fresh air. Be
sure your HVAC system is efficiently sized for your square footage and that it
not only heats and cools, but filters incoming air and takes out stale air. And
it is important to ensure your paints and finishes aren’t releasing toxins
inside your home. Low-VOC (Volatile Organic Compounds) paints and finishes are
now widely available from most manufacturers.
