What makes a house plan “green”?

Green design is everywhere, but ask anyone what it means and the answers will vary widely. 

Let’s review how most floor plans are created.  A typical house designer might begin the process by picking a style.  Colonial, craftsman, mediterranean, french country, etc.  Then some standard plans are created, based on historical precedent and what “sells”.  The pre-requisite rooms are drawn up with stylistically acceptable window openings, the elevations are tweaked and voila.  Finished.  Many of these plan designers are now promoting “green” floor plans.  Unfortunately what this typically means is they’ve bumped up the R-value of the insulation, and added better windows.  Materials and manufacturers aren’t specified so there is no control over what actually gets built.

Now let’s talk about the fundamental information that goes into designing a green home.  At SUSTAIN house, when we begin a new design, the most important thing we look at is the site.  All of the designs are based on a set solar orientation.  We use a north/south orientation to maximize natural light and minimize the effects of heat gain.  South facing walls are filled with windows with appropriately sized overhangs to provide shading during the hot summer months while still letting in lots of light for passive solar gain during the winter months.   Landscaping recommendations are provided to assist with solar shading and with selection of plant species that help conserve water.  Rainwater collection devices are specified for easy irrigation of gardens.

A green home has to be responsive to its site, first and foremost.   The next step is selection of the right materials.  Every material that goes into a green home should be responsibly sourced from renewable or recycled resources.  We specify only FSC certified wood products for framing and wood siding.  Our stone veneers are cultured stone made with recycled content, and the stucco we specify is made from recycled content.  All of the interior materials meet LEED for homes requirements.  They are made in factories that are committed to preserving the environment, have low VOCs, and are made with a set percentage of recyled content.  Kitchen and bath cabinets meet these requirements and are formaldehyde free.  Most of our light fixtures are equipped with LED bulbs that use very little electricity and with average use will last for 20 years! 

And finally, a green home has to be energy efficient.  We are an Energy Star Partner and every SUSTAIN house plan we sell carries the “Designed to Earn the Energy Star” seal.  Each of our green home plans has been independently reviewed and verified to include energy-saving features and construction practices that will result in a home that is 20–30 percent more energy efficient than a standard home.