The following concepts can be used in whole or in part to provide a house that:
- Doesn’t squander scarce non-renewable resources (oil, gas, old growth trees)
- Doesn’t harm the environment
- Is free of toxic chemicals, dust, pollen, bacteria & allergens
- Reduce utility costs & reduce maintenance
Energy Efficiency:
- Geothermal heat pumps (provides heating and cooling at a fraction the cost of conventional systems but are the most expensive)
- High efficiency HVAC equipment (SEER rating: +14)
- Spray foam insulation (open cell or closed cell, soybean based)
- Wet spray cellulose insulation (85% recycled content: newspapers)
- Cotton (recycled denim) batt insulation (natural fibers with no allergens)
- Energy recovery ventilation (ERV) system
- Tankless water heater
- Solar water heater
- Programmable thermostats
- Air sealing the building envelope
- High performance windows (double or triple glazed with low E glass)
- Energy Star rated appliances & light fixtures
Water Efficiency:
- Drought resistant landscaping (to reduce water use)
- Rainwater collection (reuse water for lawn & plant watering)
- Dual flush toilets (saves 7000 gallons/year)
- “WaterSense” rated plumbing fixtures (by the EPA)
- Hot water recirculating pumps activated by motion sensors (significant water & energy savings)
Renewable Energy Sources:
- Geothermal heat pumps
- Solar hot water heating (generates electricity and/or hot water)
- Wind power (generates electricity)
Site Planning & Site Preparation:
- Site work that minimizes environmental impact before & after construction
- Proper building orientation to maximize solar gain (passive solar)
- Erosion control
- Use natural/native landscaping (reduces water consumption)
- Plant trees for summer shade
- Use of permeable paving materials to minimize water runoff
Project Design:
- Smaller building footprint
- Locally appropriate design
- Deep overhangs to reduce summer heat gain
Indoor Air Quality:
- Whole house balanced ventilation system
- Prevent pollutant sources (non-toxic, formaldehyde free materials)
- Electrostatic air cleaners (trap 99% of pollen & mold spores, 98% of bacteria sized particles, 94% of respirable dust & 80% of virus-sized particles)
- Radon mitigation
Construction “Best Practices”:
- Air sealing the building envelope
- Water managed detailing (“rain screen” walls, flashing, etc)
Material Selection:
- Use of recycled & salvaged materials (i.e. wood timbers)
- Use of sustainable materials (i.e. bamboo flooring)
- Non-toxic, formaldehyde-free materials (i.e. plywood, insulation, cabinets)
- Lumber: engineered lumber (saves old growth forests)
- Siding: fiber cement siding, cedar clapboards or shingles
- Roofing: shingles made from recycled plastic, stone coated metal roofing
- Decking: wood composite decking (i.e. “Trex”)
- Paint: low or zero VOC paints, water based paints or stains
- Flooring: FSC certified wood flooring, bamboo, cork, linoleum, carpet made of recycled plastic
- Lighting: Halogen or LED bulbs
Sources for Green Certification:
- Energy Star……………………. www.energystar.gov
- Forest Stewardship Council…… www.fscus.org
- WaterSense……………………. www.epa.gov/watersense
- Ecologo……………………….. www.ecologo.org
- Greenguard……………………. www.greenguard.org
- Green Seal ……………………. www.greenseal.org
- Green Products 3rd Edition: The Greenspec Guide to Residential Bldg. Materials
- Greenspec-listed products available online @ www.buildinggreen.com/menus
DeMotte Architects | Fairfield County CT Architect | Westchester County NY Architect
Schedule a free consultation for your home project in Greenwich CT and beyond, or view our past projects in Fairfield County CT and Westchester County NY.