IT'S GETTING EASIER TO BE GREEN!

ollow the links on the left for more information on building green. We begin with a quick lesson on Traditional Solar Design theory then move on to a discussion about what we've learned over the years we've been designing green and passive solar homes in Our Sustainable Home Design. The Green Dilemma points out the different approaches to green building, using natural materials and high-tech materials to build a green home. Small Homes show you where you can have the biggest impact on building green... building small! Whole Wall R-Values explains how to calculate overall heat loss and gain more accurately by considering the materials in the wall as a whole, not simply the R-values of the individual materials. The Resources page is full of links to relevant sites on the web and The Green Q+A page answers some common questions about green building.

Along with the many approaches to building green, there are many degrees of building green as well. Some of our clients have other priorities that compete with building green. Some have a limited budget, or a beautiful north view, limited southern exposure for passive solar gain or design needs that limit the use of solar design. Others have large families and require a larger home, or a climate with very little sun! Each situation needs to be considered individually to meet the particular needs of each client. We support any attempt to build a more sustainable home and help each client find the best approach for their particular situation.

As energy prices continue to rise, people are looking at alternative sources for their power. Federal tax rebates are helping to offset the cost of these systems and many states are offering their own incentives as well. DSIRE is a comprehensive source of information on state, local, utility, and federal incentives that promote renewable energy and energy efficiency. Visit them at dsireusa.org/.

Follow the arrows to read the next page in our green pages, Traditional Solar Design.