In this age of energy-efficiency another method of building the top of a building is taking root: green roofs. On such “upland” terrain one can grow foods from strawberries to cornstalks, enjoy the view, even have fountains and topiary—whatever one’s
Once you’ve analyzed the weather and the landscape around a building, your next line of defense towards making its indoor spaces economically comfortable every hour of the year is insulating its lowest floor, outer walls, and roof: what is known
Globally, about one-quarter of greenhouse gas emissions are building related. And that figure is even higher in developed nations. With this massive opportunity to cut GHGs, the non-profit Architecture 2030 has created the 2030 Challenge, an initiative that asks the
When dust and debris from construction sites get blown into the air they can cause respiratory problems and property damage. It’s a big problem, particularly in populated cities with numerous construction projects. Wherever possible, prefab homes could be an answer
1. Working with contractors – Know the vocabulary. You’ll have a better chance of negotiating successfully with builders if you know about breaker boxes, water pressure tanks, load-bearing walls and other such construction anatomy. A good way to learn is
The New Ecological Home: A Complete Guide to Green Building Options Dan Chiras [Chelsea Green Publishing, 336 pages] THE QUANTITY OF BOOKS ON GREEN and sustainable home design grows by the day. Many of them cover similar material in similar
It’s a buyers’ market, and here are the four things that today’s buyers are looking for: Modest floor plans So long, McMansions! Surveys show that Americans are considering smaller homes. Organization and comfort A National Association of Builders survey identified
If you’re thinking that building or remodelling your home in an eco-friendly manner means spending more, think again. In fact, I urge architects, designers and builders—not to mention the homeowners who hire them—that building green doesn’t necessarily mean spending a
I like tiny homes—homes that are generally no larger than about 500 square feet. In fact, I lived in a 264 square foot home in the mountains of Taos, NM, for five years. And yes, I had an indoor toilet.
Recently, I overheard two people arguing about the relative efficiency of an old, small, inefficient, cold climate home in the Northeast versus a newly constructed large Southern California home using energy efficient methods. At first I guessed that because of
