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Elements of Green Design
If you are an affordable housing or community development organization or private affordable housing developer, consider the basic elements of Green building listed below. All of these elements can readily be incorporated into housing designs, and will produce savings, and a healthier, more comfortable home, for affordable housing residents.
Green Building Principles for Home Renovation or New Construction (With links to additional information from the U.S. DOE Smart Communities Network)
Whole Building Design
The Whole Building Design approach means that you will make decisions about site development, energy efficiency, materials, water conservation, and construction practices in the context of other aspects of design and construction. This allows for an integrated approach that can result in an efficient, high quality home with minimum cost increases to design and build. For example, if windows are more energy efficient and additional insulation is used, you can allow for reduced sizing of the air conditioning and heating systems. The net result is a more comfortable home, which uses less energy, at little added cost.
Commercially available, cost-effective energy technologies could reduce overall energy consumption in the United States by as much as one-third -- worth some $343 billion. This link provides information on strategies such as proper siting and airtight construction, as well as installing energy-efficient equipment and appliances and renewable energy systems. Such technologies can reduce the amount of energy your building needs to operate and to keep its occupants comfortable.
The built environment has had a tremendous impact on the environment. However, your building can interact more positively with the environment if you pay special attention to preserving the site's integrity and natural characteristics, landscaping appropriately, and selecting materials that have lower embodied energy and those that are produced locally.
Conserving resources is a cornerstone of green building techniques. There are many ways to conserve resources during the building process. For example, selecting materials that have at least some recycled content can conserve natural resources and virgin materials. Minimizing construction waste can ease the impact on landfills and resources. Installing water- and energy-efficient products can conserve resources while reducing operating costs. Choosing a green (plant-covered) roof can reduce energy use, cool urban heat islands, and prevent stormwater runoff, as well as contributing to wildlife habitat and air quality.
Energy-efficient buildings are more airtight and therefore hold greater potential for indoor air quality problems, especially if not properly ventilated. Building products can contribute to poor air quality, but these potential problems can be reduced by selecting materials lower in chemicals and toxins, and installing mechanical ventilation systems to ensure an adequate fresh air supply.
Placing green building projects within easy access of public transportation, medical facilities, shopping areas, and recreational facilities decreases the need for automobiles and encourages bicycling and walking. In addition, successful green buildings blend into the community, preserving natural and historical characteristics, and will utilize existing infrastructure in order to reduce sprawl.
(References for information in the Green and Affordable Housing section include: U.S. DOE, WNC Green Building Directory, SBIC Green Building Guidelines, and B.E.S.T.) Additional Green Home Information for Affordable Housing Organizations and Developers For an article on "Building Green on a Budget", visit www.buildinggreen.com/features/lc/low_cost.cfm.
To read the "Affordable by Design" article from emagazine.com, visit www.emagazine.com/july-august_1997/0797feat1.html. For information on The Not So Big House, by Susan Susanka, AIA, visit www.notsobighouse.com. For information on the Partnership for Advancing Technology in Housing (PATH), visit www.pathnet.org. For information on the MADE to Last Homes demonstration, visit www.toolbase.org. For a technical bulletin on energy efficiency and affordable housing, visit www.southface.org/home/sfpubs/techshts/sav_nrg$.pdf. For information on affordable design practices, programs and examples of Green and Affordable housing, visit www.sustainable.doe.gov/buildings/affhousing.shtml. To arrange for Green Building Training for your affordable housing organization, contact Virginia Sustainable Building Network via email: vsbn@vsbn.org. Additional Technical Information on Green Building Detailed information on Green Building guidelines can be found at:
Technical reference books on Green Building design:
For information on Green building research, articles, and technical assistance from the National Association of Home Builders Research Center, visit www.toolbase.org. For information on Energy Star appliances, lighting, heating and cooling, and energy efficient home improvements, visit www.energystar.gov. For Fact Sheets and Technical Bulletins on a wide range of energy efficiency and Green Building topics, visit www.southface.org/home/sfpubs/miscpubs.html. For technical information from Building Science Corporation, including information on mold and moisture problems, visit www.buildingscience.com. For information on building systems and energy efficient design, visit www.eere.energy.gov/EE/buildings.html. For information on indoor air quality, visit www.epa.gov/iaq and www.lungusa.org. For information on home energy rating and energy efficient mortgages, visit www.resnet.org. Numerous additional resources have been assembled in the Links and References section of this website. Back to Green and Affordable Housing page |
 The Sustainable Building Resource Directory website is sponsored by the Virginia Sustainable Building Network, an organization that brings together representatives from diverse sectors who are interested in building healthy, environmentally friendly buildings and sustainable communities. Disclaimer.Copyright © 2008 Virginia Sustainable Building Network. |
