A Check-list for Green Building
Environment-conscious Design and Construction
In almost two decades of study, designing, and building, I’ve developed a storehouse of knowledge and techniques for keeping the environment at the center of my work. I’ve also learned that there’s no single environmentally-aware solution for every person thinking about building. So whether I’m working on a renovation that makes a house perfect for changing circumstances or a home that makes a family’s dream come to life, I’m committed to finding the green solution that fits just right with my client’s values, vision, and needs, present and future.
I’ve put together this list of green approaches and techniques so that anyone with a building project on their mind can begin thinking about what specific measures are right for them. (This check-list is based on my philosophy of environment-conscious building; if you’d like to see a fuller version of my thinking, including how Kermit the Frog fits into it, please see my piece, “How To Build Green”, also at this website.)
And I’d be happy to talk with anyone who’s interested in any aspect of building. It’s my favorite thing to talk about, and there’s no obligation, ever.
Adam S. Ginsburg, AIA
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The Green Check-list
Renovation
If you like where you are, stay there; make it into what you want and need now. Explore the possibilities of turning your old house into a new house. It’s the ultimate form of building green.
Starting from scratch
Design for the environment
The Kermit Effect Design so it’s easy being green: make it convenient, even fun, to do all the daily green things
Recycle containers and trash
Compost organic waste for use in the garden
Hang clothes to dry in the sun
Keep wine and produce in a cool place that doesn’t require refrigeration
Store bikes simply, in minimal space
Design to minimize waste of construction materials
Place the building on the site to manage the effects of nature
Protect the building from wind, blowing snow
Maximize the effects of the sun in winter
Manage wind flow for cooling in summer
Use natural light
Saves energy, cuts the electric bill, helps the eyes, and it’s good for the heart and mind: moods, feelings, outlook on life
Placement on the lot, orientation
Clerestory windows
Light tubes
Window design and placement
Sun-powered outdoor lighting along sidewalks, driveways, patios, and decks
Manage the sun and wind
Curtains and drapes
Angle roofline, use overhangs and other features for protection from sun and wind
Landscape for wind flow
Mechanical systems: Heating, cooling, hot water
Geothermal systems
Solar panels
Appliances
Washer
Dryer
Dishwasher
Refrigerator
Freezer
TV
Water heater
Electrical Fixtures
Controls for electric lighting
Dimmers
Timers
Motion sensors
New-generation fluorescent bulbs
LEDs (Light Emitting Diodes)
Low-energy switches, fixtures
Water
Low-flow bathroom fixtures,
Gardens designed to use water efficiently
Drainage systems that re-cycle water
Minimize traditional lawn area
People and Materials
Go local. Minimize manufacturing, travel and transportation costs
Local materials
Local vendors
Local builders