Site Selection

If you are considering building a green, energy efficient home within an existing community, contact your local government or the Environmental Protection Agency (”EPA”) to locate local “greyfield” or “brownfield” sites for your home.  A greyfield site is one that has been previously developed as light industrial or commercial property but is no longer in use.  A brownfield site is one that has not been previously developed, but has been cleared of its natural habitat and wildlife.  Locating a home in these areas saves “greenfield” sites where wildlife and their natural habitat remains intact, thus minimizing your home’s environmental impact.

Avoid building on steep slopes, or at the very least minimize slope destruction by analyzing soil and sediment conditions and using erosion control methods like retaining walls and minimum disturbance landscaping. Also avoid starting construction in high precipitation months when water erosion is at its worst and your home site is freshly disturbed.

Minimize your home’s footprint to save existing trees and natural wildlife habitat on the site. If you are building in a fire prone area, especially in Western states, fireproof your home. Fireproofing includes using fire resistant paint and glass, screening house openings such as vents and chimneys to prevent ember intrusion, and minimizing trees immediately around your home. Check your local building codes and get your home certified fireproof.

Take maximum advantage of your homesite’s natural features. Make sure you have clear and sunny west and south facing windows if you live in a colder climate, or large trees or obstructions to the south and west if you live in a hot climate. Use the natural topography to:

• Shelter your home from prevailing winds - hills and outcroppings make a great windbreak
• Provide late afternoon shade - leave large existing trees or build just far enough from a hill or outcropping so that you are only shaded in the afternoon
• Quickly drain stormwater - if building in a valley or river bottom, locate your home above the high water flood mark and use your landscaping features to direct water into naturally existing drainages

Building Materials and Design

Make sure you use wood that is certified renewable, meaning that it comes from farmed forests or reclaimed ones, not from an old growth forest.  This is especially true for redwood and Douglas fir; most of the wood harvested from these two types of trees is from irreplaceable old growth forest. Design your home in two foot increments so that you can use pre-fabricated frames and trusses, which use less building material more efficiently. Recycle extra wood and other materials used on your new green home by using them for planned outbuildings like a storage shed.

Keep in mind, bigger is not better.  Reduce the square footage of your new home’s rooms so that you don’t have to spend the rest of your life heating and cooling large areas that you don’t need.  Of course, maintain functionality and comfort when calculating the square footage of your house, but remember that green building guidelines recommend a 30 percent reduction from the average home’s floor plan square footage.

Stack the “wet walls” (walls that carry water, drainage, and heating and cooling ducts) of each floor on top of each other and locate them on an inner wall. This minimizes the amount of piping and ducting you use, saving you money in building materials and money in the future with increased home efficiency. Make sure you have a detailed floor plan before you start building to minimize mistakes that result in having to use more building materials.

Upgrade Windows and Insulation

Most local building codes require new homes to include adequate insulation and energy efficient windows, among other energy saving features. You have the choice, however, to upgrade your windows and insulation to exceed the minimum code requirements and make your home even more energy efficient than average.  Mention to your architect or contractor that you want to make energy efficiency a priority and ask them to discuss your options with you.

Build with Renewable Resources in Mind

There is no better time to take advantage of renewable energy resources than when you’re designing your home from scratch. The layout and construction can be planned so that solar panels for hot water and electricity are easily designed in for maximum effectiveness and minimum cost.  You may want to also consider designing into your plans a very energy efficient geothermal heat pump instead of the standard forced-air furnance and air conditioning system. 

Use Energy Efficient Appliances and Lighting

Nothing makes a home greener than filling it with energy efficient appliances and lighting. When purchasing new appliances, make sure you evaluate their energy usage and compare different brands and models to find one that meets your energy and price range needs. When considering new home lighting, use compact fluorescent lighting (”CFL”) and maximize natural lighting to reduce your energy usage. For great tips on increasing home energy efficiency, read more in the Energy Efficiency Advisor. 

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