About Green Building & Design
Building green is primarily about the process. If planned for and implemented during construction, the cost difference of a "green built" home is negligible. A few examples of the features that will give you the greatest return on investment are: properly sealing the building envelope, proper insulation, appropriate size of the mechanical system, air recirculation and filtration, careful site preparation and location of structure, passive solar design and low-e windows, rainwater collection, compact fluorescent bulbs, energy star appliances, avoiding materials with harmful chemicals, and re-purposing materials whenever possible. Before adding amenities that do cost a great deal of money without as much return, a focus on efficiency is recommended.
There are a multitude of factors guiding the design of a home and all are unique to each situation. Orientation of the site and topographical features dictate footprint, window placement, and viewpoints. Living patterns of the homeowner direct spatial relation and floorplan. Location affects the exterior façade. Desired ambiance inspires the material choices. Regardless of the details, the concept of efficient use of resources is paramount in the design process. It’s easy to create space in a large house, but much more rewarding to efficiently utilize a smart design to take advantage of space.
