ENVIRONMENTAL BUILDING

900 sf passive solar house

Buildings have significant environmental impact: resources are used for their construction, energy is used to obtain and process these resources, energy is used to operate the building, and habitat and natural features are disrupted by their siting. We use a wide variety of "greenbuilding" strategies to help us minimize environmental impact in our buildings and landscapes. We try to incorporate renewable energy production (solar and wind) whenever we can.

The following is a list of design strategies divided into three categories:

• Standard SMC practices which we try to incorporate, as a matter of course, in all buildings; (these strategies are easy to implement and form the basis for a serious commitment to environmental building);
• Strategies (that entail significant additional cost) that we offer as opportunities for our clients to go further to reduce environmental impact (also see the next page on Renewable Energy and Conservation for additional details and programs);
• Community planning issues that we try to incorporate in development projects.

Standard SMC practice
• minimize square footage and volume of building; see EBN Small is Beautiful
• renovate wherever possible instead of demolishing and rebuilding;
• employ suntempering techniques (±10% south glass to floor area);
• site buildings to minimize visual and habitat impact;
• provide enough clear south facing roof to accommodate future solar use;
• protect existing trees, plants, and landscape features on site from construction damage;
• avoid use of pesticides and chemicals that may leach into groundwater;
• use local plant species well adapted to the climate;
• find positive use for as much construction and demolition waste as possible;
• use salvaged materials as extensively as we can;
• use locally produced materials;
• use high quality, meticulously installed insulation (we use cellulose, made from recycled newspaper);
• use airtight construction (with blower door testing / verification);
• use high performance low emissivity insulated glass;
• install whole house mechanical ventilation;
• design good daylighting and cross ventilation throughout (including light on two sides of every room)
• design for natural summer cooling - use energy efficient cooling appliances where needed;
• employ water conservation measures;
• avoid toxic construction materials;
• incorporate materials with high recycled content;
• incorporate materials that are easily recyclable at the end of their service life;
• incorporate resource efficient composite materials;
• incorporate materials which require no finishes;
• design area for convenient solid waste separation/storage (cans, glass, etc.);
• use highly energy efficient appliances, heating systems, and lighting.

Installing a "cricket"

Island CoHousing rendering

Community Planning Strategies for Neighborhoods
• attach houses or cluster tightly;
• renovate older buildings to new uses and today's standards;
• create shared systems and functions whenever possible;
• design pedestrian environments that isolate vehicles, limit paving, ,and maximize green space;
• preserve existing vegetation - work around it;
• preserve and create prime agricultural land;
• locate close to public transportation.