Principles of Green Building Design
The LEED system gives you a sense of how to make your newly built or remodeled home healthy, easy on the earth, and efficient. This section explains some of the key pieces of the green building puzzle in more detail so you can design and build your earth-friendly home or redo your current place to make it greener.
Tip
When designing a house, think small. Smaller homes cost less to heat and cool, and cozy, multi-use rooms may be preferable to large, rarely used ones. (Should You Downsize? lists other advantages of downsizing.) Work with your architect to see where you can scale back.
Building In Energy Efficiency
To help plan your new home, scan the home energy audit checklist on Evaluating Your Home's Energy Use. Whether you're building from the ground up or renovating, that list can help you focus on ways to conserve energy and improve efficiency. And be sure to discuss these issues with your contractor:
Efficient ventilation, lighting, and appliances. Insist on Energy Star–rated products whenever possible. And go for the most efficient equipment you can afford to save energy dollars down the road.
Insulation. To keep your home snug, use a nontoxic insulation made from stuff like soybeans or cotton (see Insulation). The kind you choose should have a high R-factor, which measures how well it keeps heat from getting transferred from inside your house to outdoors or vice versa.
Windows and doors. Energy Star rates windows, skylights, and exterior doors. ...