Top Ten Green Building Tips

10. Solar panels or Geothermal for heating and cooling.
9. Solar hot water. Vacuum tubes that take the heat from sun.
30 Percent more efficient than pv panels
8. Small wind turbines with only LED lighting in your home.
7. Limit site disruption and development.
6. Use landscaping that requires little watering or cutting.
5. Rain collection used for watering landscape
4. Super insulated walls air tightness with heat recovery unit
3. Windows with a U Value of .32 or lower
2. Good roof geometry that allows or manages snow and rain well.
1. Simple planning and design that takes good advantage of the solar orientation.

The design discussions and drawings to build reflect the least amount of space needed to acomplish the functional goals but the outcome is a great looking building which feels spacious and functions well.

It does not have to look green or have fancy expensive gizmos to be considered green or sustainable design. You do not need lots of glass on the south side with plants growing in a two story interior space like they did in the 70's. Lets not make the same mistake twice and make bad looking buildings that scream green. I can not tell you how many times someone has told me that they do not want a green building because they look bad.

Minimize to maximize your goals for a sustainable lifestyle.

Tread Lightly or Less
Be Green
Be Happy

and remember save the expensive gizmos for the people who can afford it.

If you only accomplish 1 thru 8 your doing extremely well on your goal to live a more sustainable lifestyle.

Eric H. Gjerde AIA
Architect