Construct "Green"

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A Virginia couple wanted to begin building a new family home. They had some requirements that they needed to be met as they went.

1. They had a budget and needed to stick to it.
2. They wanted it to be sleek and modern. Edgy and yet comfortable.
3. Green. Eco-friendly. As world saving as possible without breaking the budget. Going green is important but can be expensive if you are not careful.

This is how they accomplished their goals.

The layout of the house was based upon the lay of the property and the direction of the sun. They wanted to take advantage of passive solar heating. To the south, east and west, they installed large windows to allow in light during the cold winter months. During the summer, a roof overhang will help block the scorching rays, keeping the inside temp cooler.

They chose Superior Walls for the basement and structural insulated panels for the first and second floors. These are great energy savers.

The beams and joists are constructed from engineered woods that are produced from scraps and not old-growth forests. The house also has one steel beam which is from recycled material.

Heating and cooling will be provided by a very efficient heat pump. They believe with the efficient windows, walls and insulation they are using that the heating and cooling costs will remain low.

They have chosen to use low- or no-VOC paint, sealants and glues throughout the home. VOC’s are volatile organic compounds and they release harmful vapors into the atmosphere.

They have picked fluorescent or LED lighting to go throughout the house. They say it was a bit of a challenge to find the look they wanted but have been successful.

Energy star has been an important thing for the couple. All of their appliances are energy star. The toilets and faucets are low-flow.

This home is not yet finished, they are still in the process but it sounds as though they are doing a wonderful job of keeping it as enviromentally as possible and still keep in touch with their budget. We all could learn a thing or two from this I would imagine.