Green Home Design 

Course Outline

Siting and Land Use

•  Understand Climatic Issues

•  Use The Site Wisely

•  Reduce The Dependence on Automobiles

Building Design

•  Design for Uses not Rooms

•  Efficient layout- double use rooms and efficient circulation

•  Design for change of use over time.

•  Design built in storage to save space.

•  Design efficient storage

•  Make use of the earth for sheltering from extremes of climate

•  Use uninhabited and less inhabited spaces to the North

•  Orient Building for Solar Strategy

•  Design for Day-lighting

•  South Facing Roof for Future Active Solar

•  Place chimney within building envelope

•  Design for natural air patterns within the building

Energy Efficiency

•  Space Heating/Cooling

•  Water Heating

•  Electricity Use

Climatic Design

•  Bioclimatic design strategies

•  Building shapes that respond to climate

•  Climatically specific natural ventilation

•  Materials that respond well to climatic conditions

Materials Choices

•  Locally Produced Material

•  Renewable Resources

•  Salvaged Materials

•  Certified Sustainably Harvested Material

•  Efficient Use of Materials- Do More with Less

•  Durable Materials

•  Materials with Recycled Content

•  Non-Toxic

•  Structure as Finish

•  Materials with Low Embodied Energy

Durable Detailing

•  Protect Structure with Continuous Drainage Plane

•  Install Siding as Rain Screen

•  Flash Rough Openings

•  Reduce Ice Dams

•  Reduce Thermal Bridging

•  Reduce Water Splash Back

•  Keep materials away from excessive moisture

•  Make Adequate Roof Overhangs

•  Use Stainless Steel Fasteners

•  Prime All Painted Exterior Wood On All Sides

•  Use Fiberglass or Cladding for Windows

•  Use masonry patio instead of wood deck

Indoor Environment

•  Reduce Moisture

•  Ventilation

•  Remove Toxins

Human Comfort

•  Temperature and Relative Humidity

•  Radiant Heat

•  Sun

•  Stoves

•  Floors

•  Move the air with Fans

•  Cool the house at Night

•  Shade the house- Especially the west

•  Remove Moisture with HRV

•  Use AC if unavoidable- shade the unit

Environmental and Resource Impact

•  Think Globally

•  When Possible Reduce Greenhouse Gases

•  If Possible Absorb CO2 in the Building

•  Generate Clean Energy and Export to Grid

•  Act Locally

•  Reduce Pollution caused by Home

•  Recycle

•  Use Low Maintenance Materials

•  Use Less Water

•  Reuse Grey Water

•  Use Composting Toilets

•  Compost Food Scraps