Sustainable Design creates human environments that provide efficiency, comfort and convenience while preserving our natural resources for future generations by maximizing the use of renewable resources and minimizing consumption of non-renewable resources.
In the technology of the 21st Century, our priorities must include developing and using non-polluting and renewable sources of energy — sun, wind — long-lasting or remanufactured building materials — metals, concrete, recycled materials — innovative adaptations of ancient building techniques — stone, adobe and rammed earth — quickly renewable resources — straw bale, soft woods and bamboo.
All of these products and techniques are available to today’s homeowner. Many simple and affordable techniques and materials exist that can boost the energy efficiency of your home, reduce maintenance, and provide greater strength and beauty while helping to conserve natural resources. And they are applicable whether your project is large or small, whether you are building a new home, remodeling an older home or making interior design changes.
- Metal framing and roofing
- Masonry materials
- Stained Concrete floors and countertops
- Factory finished metal roofing and siding
- Factory-finished metal clad wood window frames to reduce maintenance and painting in uncontrolled envrionment
- High quality windows and exterior doors
- Efficient and “Smart” temperature control systems such as ground source heat pump, radiant heating, and energy efficient appliances
- High efficiency wood burning stoves and enclosed fireplaces with ducted and dampered supply air intakes from outside to reduce waste of heated air
- Air-lock entry areas to reduce air exchange with outdoor during extreme weather
- Low-E glazing on windows to control heat exchange between interior and exterior spaces
- Maximize insulation in all exterior surfaces, including basement
- Site orientation for passive solar gain
- Attached Sun space/Greenhouse for solar energy gain
- Incorporate high internal thermal mass to store heat and stablize interior temperatures
- Optimal dimension lumber and composite wood framing materials from farmed trees
- Straw bales and straw boards
- Bamboo products
- Tile from recycled glass and plastic bottles
- Reclaimed wood, lumber, timbers, doors, other elements from existing buildings
- Cellulose insulation from newspapers
- Roofing materials and flooring from tires and other reclaimed rubber products
- Decking from wood-fiber waste and recycled plastics
- Passive solar design - working with the natural environment to maximize heat gain in winter, minimize heat gain in summer and provide natural ventilation
- Active solar for water and space heating; to generate electricity
- Wind power to generate electricity