Project Site
-Rainwater: Incorporate landscape swales and vegetation to absorb rainfall on site and minimize runoff to adjacent areas.
-Solar Access: Orient home for winter solar exposure and utilize new or existing trees for shading in summer.
-Natural Ventilation: Orient entries & windows to access summer breezes and avoid prevailing winter winds.
-Urban Heat Island Effect: Use light colored paving & roofing to minimize solar absorption.
Water Use
-Landscaping: Utilize native & drought resistant planting types.
-Irrigation: Consider rainwater capture & recycling.
-Plumbing: Utilize low flow plumbing fixtures.
Energy use
-Passive Solar Design: Orient home to maximize south facing windows for winter heat gain and minimize east/west openings for summer cooling.
-Insulation: Exceed Energy Code requirements for R Value of Walls, Roof/Ceiling, Floors & Windows/Doors.
-Natural Ventilation: Locate operable windows for intake at lower level & exhaust of air upper level, utilizing chimney effect.
-HVAC Equipment: Utilize Energy Star rated equipment. Consider Geothermal heat pump options for maximum efficiency.
-Solar Photovoltaics (PV): Evaluate tax credits for PV system installation. Consider use as an alternative to generators during outages.
-Lighting: Utilize LED type fixtures, as well as reflected/indirect types to reduce glare.
-Controls: Consider Occupancy sensors to reduce lighting & HVAC use.
Materials and Resources
-Construction Waste: Concrete, Metals, Wood, Paper & Drywall should be recycled at a minimum.
-Renewable Materials: Utilize lumber & finish wood products that are certified by Forest Stewardship Council (FSC). Consider products that are not petroleum based, and come from sustainable sources.
-Recycled Content: Utilize products that contain post-industrial and/or post-consumer content. Common products with recycled content include concrete, structural steel, engineered wood, gypsum board, ceramic tiles, carpeting.
-Local Materials: Utilize products that are produced regionally, if possible.
-Durable Products: Utilize products that have a long life span and are easy to maintain.
Indoor Environmental Quality
-Natural Materials: Consider natural products as an alternative to petroleum based ones, to minimize off-gassing of Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC).
-Low VOC Products: Utilize products that are shown to have low levels of VOC off-gassing, to meet Green Seal standards. Examples include paints & stains, carpeting and sealants.
-Outside Air Ventilation: Utilize HVAC systems which optimize the amount of fresh air, with HEPA filtration. Consider use of a heat exchanger at air intake for winter operation.
References
-US Green Building Council LEED Green Building Rating System for Homes, Version 4. usgbc.org
Christopher Pyzik, Architect 