Design and Layout
The design and layout of your home is important factor to consider when green building. Features such as extended roof overhangs over windows, especially those facing south, and window and skylight positioning to maximize natural light and minimize exposure to direct sunlight and heat will help save energy and keep your home comfortable. Also many eco-friendly building material options are available to incorporate in designing your home plans. Communicating your ideas to a qualified builder, plan designer, and architect are of the essence in the initial planning stages of green building.
Water Usage
Low flow faucets and fixtures and dual flush toilets are great ways to reduce water usage. Dual Flush Toilets have two flush settings one for liquid waste and one for solid waste. Most dual flush toilets use 0.8 gallons per flush on the liquid setting and save up to 67% of the water usage of a standard toilet. For more information on dual flush toilets see
http://dualflushtoilets.net/
Rain Water Harvesting is another green building concept to ensure sustainability and quality drinking water. Rain Water Harvesting systems are designed to capture ther rainfall from the roof surfaces of the home, flush the debris out, store the water, purify, and pressurize the water for usage in the home. Currently rainwater collection systems are often similar in cost to digging a well. Depending on water depth, soils, and subsurface water quantity and quality in the area where you plan to build, a rain water harvesting system or a well may be the best choice in providing the best water supply to a new home.
For More information on Rain Water Harvesting see:
http://www.rainwater.org/rainwater_collection_faq.html
Tankless water heaters can save up to 40% on utility bills by heating only the water you use and only begin heating water when the hot water faucet is turned on. Tank style water heaters hold a tank capacity in hot water heating and reheating it as it awaits usage. Once the tank capacity has been emptied it can take some time to heat the water in the tank to its desired usage temperature. It is important that water heaters are sized according to the usage demands and that ample gas or electric service are available to power the unit. Supplying ample sized gas lines and or ample electric service often presents a challenge in remodeling homes where older tank style water heaters are being replaced with tankless water heaters. For more information please see the link below.
http://www.rinnai.us/tankless-water-heaters/learn-about-tankless/how-tankless-works/
Solar and Wind Energy
Recent tax law changes provide tax credits for 30% of the cost of solar and wind energy generation systems for your home or business (consult a qualified accountant or www.irs.gov and http://www.energystar.gov/index.cfm?c=products.pr_tax_credits for details). Many options exist in residential solar and wind power generation. There are two basic types of solar and wind power generation systems: grid tie systems and off grid systems.
Grid tie systems are designed to generate power to be used and or put back into the electric provider grid without any storage of power. With a grid tie system many electric utility providers will credit the homeowners bill when their system generates more power than they are using (your meter spins backwards) then they will sell you back electrical power at times when your system generates less power than your usage. Grid Tie systems are usually designed to give the homeowner a net zero energy bill over a twelve month period. Several electric power providers give rebates to defray the cost of solar and wind energy power generation systems. Contact your local utility company for details.
Off Grid Systems take solar or wind power (DC= battery power) inputs and store them in large battery banks where the DC power is inverted to AC (normal residential electric power) power for usage as needed. The addition of a battery bank adds considerable cost and some maintenance requirements. However Off Grid Systems give the homeowner energy independence and may save the considerable cost of bringing electrical service to rural homesites.
Please see diagrams and website below for more information.
http://www.uni-solar.com/interior.asp?id=74 (new product that compliments standing seam metal roofs)
http://www.austinenergy.com/Energy%20Efficiency/Programs/Rebates/Solar%20Rebates/index.htm
http://www.forbes.com/2008/09/24/solar-tax-credit-tech-science-cz_as_0924solar.htmlEnergy Efficient Insulation and Windows
Icynene is a new form of insulation that is blown into wall cavities filling the space and reducing air infiltration by up to 50% thus reducing heating and cooling cost as well as reducing infiltration of outdoor allergens and pollutants. This insulation is water blown and made from plant based castor oil while fiberglass batt insulation is often made with formaldehyde an allergen and unhealthy air pollutant. Icynene is the healthier, quieter, more energy efficient means of insulating new homes and large remodels.
Energy efficient windows are important in designing and energy efficient home. The most important numbers in comparing windows energy efficiency is the Solar Heat Gain Coefficient and the U-factor raing (U-value). The Solar Heat Gain Coefficient (SHGC) measures how well a window blocks heat from sunlight. The lower a window's SHGC, the less solar heat it transmits. The U- factor is a measure of the rate of non-solar heat loss or gain through a material or assembly. The lower the U-factor is, the greater a window's resistance to heat flow and the better its insulating value. In southern climates a low SHGC and a U-factor each of less than 0.40 is desirable with lower ratings even better. Additionally a tax credit is available for approved energy efficient windows (also doors and skylights) installed in 2009 and 2010 of 30% of the purchase price only of the windows up to a $1500 total tax credit. (for more tax credit info speak to a qualified tax accountant and see http://www.energystar.gov/index.cfm?c=products.pr_tax_credits )
sample label
http://www.efficientwindows.org/