Current Green Projects We Are Working On

Click on the list to the left to see some Current Green Projects we are working on at present.  These projects share many of the same elements or qualities. 

Included are the following:

1. Good Green Design

The single most important green design decision is Size.  Smaller houses use fewer resources during construction and after you move in.  While not absolutely necessary, it is often better to stick to basic shapes. Simpler forms use less energy because they have less wall and roof area to lose precious energy you have payed for.

Solar orientation is the most important design element. Heating and cooling loads in a home could be cut significantly by orienting the long walls of houses east-west, exposing south facing windows in winter, and shading them in summer, and avoiding expanses of glass on west-facing walls that get the full brunt of the flat afternoon sun.

Properly designed Roof Overhangs can shade south and west facing windows.  Good Green Design includes the saving of selected existing trees on your site.  This not only looks nicer for the finished home, but can save energy for heating or cooling your home.

2. Durability

Moisture control is a huge focus of durability.  Durable Design includes components like generous overhangs, and Rain Screen Walls that allow siding to dry and improve paint durability.

Including proper Air Sealing in the design specifications helps to control air and moisture leakage from inside to out.  This step saves energy, and also helps prevent damaging condensation from forming in walls and roofs.

Attention to detail is another key. We can ensure careful step by step flashing, sealing, and housewrap installation sequence to ensure proper performance over the life of the building.

3. Very High Energy Efficiency

Insulation needs careful design. From a green perspective, this is very important.  And Air Sealing is at least as important as insulation.  About 40% of a typical heating or cooling bill can be from air leaking into or out of the home.  So Air infiltration must be kept as low as possible.

Good design includes putting Duct Work Inside the insulated walls and roofs of the home. Normal duct leakage can be as much as 20 percent.  If those ducts are outside the insulated portion of the home, 20% of the energy bill can be wasted.  Good Green Design includes properly sealing all duct joints.

Designing with Fluorescent, Compact Fluorescent, or LED lighting gives you more light for your energy dollar.  Four to eight times more!  They also produce far less heat and can thus save significantly on cooling loads.

Supplying Energy Star appliances is another simple way to cut down energy use.  Compare annual energy use printed on each appliance's label.

4. Waste Reduction

Waste reduction is an important Green Design strategy. A simple way to reduce waste is to design in 2 foot modules.

Designing to use recycled or reused materials reduces waste.  Designing for use of stock lengths means less waste of materials.  Design using prefabricated or prefinished materials may mean less waste on the job site.  Combining some of these measures when designing a home can mean a dumpster may not be needed, or at least a smaller one may be used.