Green Building, in it’s new and sometimes abused persona, is not really a new concept. It has always been important to use resources wisely, to build with the materials at hand, and to conserve energy. New technology has helped us to achieve some of these goals, but if we look back, we see that many before us have built green, without all the hype. Adobe homes protected Native Americans in the Southwest from sweltering heat, wattle and daub homes used materials at hand to build shelters, skyscrapers built in the late 1800’s made use of urban space. So while architects, designers, and builders today would like to take credit for this movement, they are truly just making the public more aware of the importance of building green.
The goal of Goshen’s Green Building Notes is to inform and educate. Choices are many and often confusing. Whether you choose to build a home that is certified by one of the many certification programs, (LEED, NAHB, many local and regional options), or to build a home using best practices without certification, is a very personal and budgetary decision.
Goshen Timber Frames has designed and built green homes for many years. We’ve helped our clients design and build homes that fit their lifestyle and budgets while not encouraging them to overbuild. Our material and energy efficient homes sit quietly nationwide, enjoyed by families of all ages and economies.
Your site will be all important as you move forward with your project. Whether you own your land or you are just beginning the search for a site for your new home, you need to consider how the land lays, how your home will be sited, and the impact of building on the site. If you are building in the mountains, The Mountain Home Guide is a good place to start. This guide was created with much input and thought by professionals in North Carolina.
If you are looking at land, consider how you will live in your new home. Are you a “house mouse” or a “field mouse”? Will you spend much time outdoors or do you prefer to spend your time inside? This will impact everything from how your home is sited to how it is designed. Don’t hurry this process. Changes after the fact are time consuming and expensive.
The smallest footprint will have the smallest impact. This is critical to your new home and should be taken very seriously. But, just as you shouldn’t build too much home for your lifestyle, don’t underbuild either. Your home won’t serve you well if you have to add on to live comfortably. There is a perfect fit for everyone.
Designing your home to work for you and to fit on the land will take time and energy. You will need to walk the land, visit with local builders who are familar with not only building, but with the regional landscape, have a local excavator out and discuss the impact of building on the site and how the landcape will change in order to accomodate your new home. If you are building for a view, take a ladder to the site, climb up and look around. This will likely be your first floor view. If the site is challenging, consider renting a lull or bucket to get an even higher view. Take your time. If you have the luxury of visiting the site during all four seasons, you are far ahead of the game.
Building green encompasses every aspect of designing and building your home. As you move forward, you will have to make many choices. We’ve listed some of these choices and offered some suggestions. There are hundreds, maybe thousands, of books and other resources available on green building. It is a touch phrase and has become a hot topic. In our next few posts, Goshen we will to offer some of the simplest decisions you can make that offer the largest impact.